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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
I quite liked the travelogue portions of this book, vicariously learning about the adventure and challenge of bike touring in Asia. I especially loved all the unplanned ‘home stays’ amid the culture of welcome. The philosophical, historical, science parts of the book were not as enjoyable for me.
adventurous
informative
reflective
medium-paced
I love this book with my entire heart. I read an early copy of it, and it's been on my mind near constantly for the past year.
"What I pictured at the end of the road was a log cabin insulated with books near the Juneau Icefield—an existence rich in mountains, words, stars, wildness, really everything but money, but when it comes to that, who needs more than enough?"
"What I pictured at the end of the road was a log cabin insulated with books near the Juneau Icefield—an existence rich in mountains, words, stars, wildness, really everything but money, but when it comes to that, who needs more than enough?"
An extremely thoughtful meditation of the world and its borders and lack thereof. This was my first foray into travel writing and it was a good one to start. Harris has a beautiful and idyllic view of the world and her passion for exploring and getting lost is more than a little contagious. I found the meditative nature of her writing to be a little too intangible to be riveted, but I enjoyed being along for her ride through the Silk Road.
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
In the midst of another lockdown, this was the perfect companion of a book. Detailing her exploitative nature through childhood, through her Science degrees & lab work, she finally sets off on an unforgettable trip on bicycle through the silk road, ending in the Siachen Glacier. Highly recommend for anybody who likes biking, exploring, science, and existential thought while temporarily unmoored from the general constraints of ordinary life.
This was a great travel memoir! I love reading about adventures and how other people approached them, endured and experienced ... Great read!
Could not read any more of this on account of bad aftertaste of privilege and ignorance. Just think that it’s uncool to brag about sneaking into Tibet and breaking the law in a country where other people who break the law suffer real consequences, because she assumes she will be protected by her education, relative wealth, race and Canadian-ness. And this law-breaking wasn’t even for some noble goal like serious scientific research, religious pilgrimage, or distributing photos of the Dalai Lama, but rather, a cool exotic vacation. And, presumably, to put on one’s CV.
(And in addition, her re-enactment of the Escape from Alcatraz wasn’t even necessary because other travellers in her group just walked up to the border guards, showed them their papers, or lack thereof, and were allowed to proceed. 🤦🏻♀️)
(And in addition, her re-enactment of the Escape from Alcatraz wasn’t even necessary because other travellers in her group just walked up to the border guards, showed them their papers, or lack thereof, and were allowed to proceed. 🤦🏻♀️)
Kate Harris says near the beginning of her book, Lands of Lost Borders: Out of Bounds on the Silk Road, by explaining that she believes she was born in the wrong era. After reading her informative and impressive blend of travelogue and history of science and ecology, I agree—but I’m also glad that people with an undaunted desire to go out into the world and bring back their impressions for the rest of us still pop up from time to time. I would never be able to do what Harris and her fried, Mel Yule, did and spend ten months biking (biking!) along parts of the old Silk Road from Istanbul to Leh, in Ladakh. This book gave me the opportunity to tag along, like a Go Pro on their shoulders, on this remarkable journey...
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss, for review consideration.
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss, for review consideration.
adventurous
medium-paced