The Best American Travel Writing 2002 [Paperback]

Jason Wilson (Editor), Frances Mayes (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Best American Travel Writing | Publication Date: October 15, 2002

The Best American Travel Writing 2002 is edited by Frances Mayes, the author of Under the Tuscan Sun and Bella Tuscany and the master of “running away to live in the place of one’s dreams” (Los Angeles Times). Giving new life to armchair travel for 2002 are David Sedaris on God and airports, Kate Wheeler on a most dangerous Bolivian festival, André Aciman on the eternal pleasures of Rome, and many more.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Writer Mayes (Under the Tuscan Sun) is the guest editor of this third annual collection, in which "writers cover many latitudes and longitudes, physically and metaphorically." Several pieces are topical and look at how political realities have reshaped travel destinations, as in Scott Anderson's "Below Canal Street" and Adam Gopnik's "The City and the Pillars," both about New York City on and after September 11; or Edward Hoagland's thought-provoking "Visiting Norah," about a trip to Uganda to visit a family of orphans to whom he'd been sending money. Some are lighthearted, such as David Sedaris's boisterous account of a Logan Airport layover, "The Man Upstairs" ("The cancellation was a reminder that I do not govern the activities of major airports, which seems obvious enough but always comes as a terrible shock when stated out loud"). More traditional essays include "Spain in a Minor Key" by Tony Perrottet, a leisurely look at Menorca, and Lawrence Millman's evocative and informative "In the Land of the White Rajahs," about his travels through Malaysian islands. P.J. O'Rourke, Andre Aciman, Molly O'Neill and many other authors are featured here, while destinations range from Bolivia to the Sahara. It's a captivating literary anthology that can be enjoyed on location or in the oft-mentioned armchair.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Mayes, author of the best-selling Under the Tuscan Sun, is the guest editor of the third annual volume in this series, with the previous volumes edited by Bryce and Theroux. The 26 articles in the collection appeared in three newspapers and 15 periodicals, some well known (e.g., The New Yorker and Esquire) and some less known (e.g., Islands and Hemispheres). The writers also vary in fame and their essays in experience: Some are grim and serious, such as Scott Anderson's "Below Canal Street" and Adam Gopnik's "The City and the Pillars," both depicting New York on and after 9/11. Others are quite humorous, such as David Sedaris's "The Man Upstairs," which describes an annoying airport layover. Then there are more traditional travelogs, such as Edward Hoagland's "Visiting Norah," which recounts his trip to Uganda, and Lawrence Millman's "In the Land of the White Rajahs," recounting his travels through Malaysian islands. With the continents of Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America well represented, the quality of the writing is very good, and the subject matter will generally hold the reader's interest. As with any compilation, some essays, depending on one's taste, will be more appealing than others. Recommended for large public libraries and those with extensive travel collections. An optional purchase for all others. John McCormick, New Hampshire State Lib., Concord
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 351 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin; 2002 edition (October 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618118802
• ISBN-13: 978-0618118809
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #847,826 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Francis Mayes' style is evident, January 15, 2005

By 

Sinecure - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Best American Travel Writing 2002 (Paperback)

I have been a big fan of this series and really enjoyed last year's compilation edited by Theroux. I also must admit that I really enjoy Theroux's travel writing as well. This year's edition, edited by Mayes, has the same faults that her books do, namely, they are long on description and short on plot. I have not gotten all of the way through The Best American Travel Writing of 2002 yet but what I have read is very similar to Mayes' "Under the Tuscan Sun". If you really like tales of flowery, descriptive (and dull) walks though Italian streets, etc. you will probably enjoy this book but if you are looking for more "great adventures" travel stories, try the 2001 edition instead.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Uneven collection..., February 14, 2005

By 

Annie M. "Annie M" (Concord, NH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Best American Travel Writing 2002 (Paperback)

This was a frustratingly uneven collection - when I pick up a book like this I expect consistent quality because the editors have done the work for me. But like another reviewer, perhaps I should have considered the fact that Frances Mayes edited this collection, and I'm not a fan of her work.
That said, a number of these pieces are worth seeking out. The best include Michael Finkel's "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Void," which will take you into the heart of the Sahara. Devin Friedman's "Forty Years in Acapulco," William Booth's "Throw Junior from the Car," and Lawrence Millman's "In the Land of the White Rajahs" are all very funny takes on the people and places that move us to travel. Kate Wheeler's "The Fist of God" is a stunning piece on the shocking fight festivals still held in some corners of Bolivia. Isabelle Tree's "Spetses, Greece" is a charming glipse of a corner of the world she has made into a home. And Tom Mueller's "Ancient Roads, Walled Cities" is a moving meditation on Roman roads and the power of stone to hold memory. David Sedaris' "The Man Upstairs" is funny but quite short.
On the downside, three pieces on 9/11 challenged my definition of travel writing. Only Scott Anderson's "Below Canal Street" had anything new to say on the topic, although to be fair all were writen much closer to that tragic day. Steven Bodio's "Sovereigns of the Sky" was much less about a place than a sport, and an archaic one that I didn't want to see up this close - hunting with birds. Rod Davis' "A Rio Runs Through It" told us a lot about the state and culture of life along the Rio Grande, but it is overlong and gets redundant. And I found Elizabeth Nickerson's "Where the Bee Sucks" to be a self-indulgent mess.
When this collection is good it's very good, but when it's bad it's awful.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every Year It Gets Better, February 10, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Best American Travel Writing 2002 (Paperback)

Scott Anderson's "Below Canal Street"is worth the entire price of the book: a vivid description of the city on September 11th. The aim of the essay is not to upset or exploit, its goal it to take you there and make you see the whole through each tiny detail. You walk with Scott through the day, seeing as he did. A beautiful piece.

The rest of the essays are all well written, with this year's selection more varied and relaxed than last year's (The Best American Travel Writing 2001). Frances Mayes was an inspired choice for editor and you can sense her professionalism (she is an English professor) throughout.

I look forward to the 2003 edition!