The Third Tower Up from the Road: A Compilation of Columns from McSweeney's Internet Tendency's Kevin Dolgin Tells You About Places You Should Go (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. In this wide-eyed travelogue, there are no phone numbers, websites, addresses or other helpful resources: "you'll get pretty much no practical advice whatsoever in these pages... but if you're looking for a reason to travel, then perhaps this book might provide what you need." New York-born, Paris-based writer Dolgin, a frequent business traveler, has a gift for opening up the world in his popular McSweeney Internet Tendency column, dozens of which are collected here. Dolgin has been seemingly everywhere: Beirut, Prague, Rome, Provence, Huanghuacheng (China), and the Grand Canyon are just a few destinations covered. Quite a few columns are devoted to the island of Corsica, where Dolgin has a summer home with his family. A perfect travel companion, Dolgin has friends (and the ability to make new ones) all over the world, a droll sense of humor and an insatiable curiosity about local history. Again and again, he introduces his readers to charming, unique aspects of familiar and exotic locales, doing an excellent job conveying sights "too wonderful to be imagined." A highly enjoyable read, this should charm any sightseer, and inspire a number of travel plans.

Review

"Again and again, he introduces his readers to charming, unique aspects of familiar and exotic locales . . . A highly enjoyable read, this should charm any sightseer, and inspire a number of travel plans."  —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Reminiscent of the writing of Dave Barry or Tim Cahill, Dolgin's observations will leave you wishing he was your traveling partner . . . this book will make an excellent companion in your armchair or on your own adventure."  —Library Journal

The essays manage to be entertaining while still providing information and a good glimpse at the region or site under discussion.—ForeWord Magazine

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Product Details Paperback: 312 pages Publisher: Santa Monica Press (June 1, 2009) Language: English ISBN-10: 1595800433 ISBN-13: 978-1595800435 Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #805,660 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Travel, July 7, 2009 By  Traveling Mom (Florida) - See all my reviews I read and enjoyed some of this author's columns on the internet. It's great now to have a compilation in one volume that I cam pick up, read and re-read whenever I choose. He brings to life places in Europe, Asia and the U.S. that I have not visited - not to present facts and figures, but to bring them to life - picking up on some nuance or impression that I would probably not be aware of or be sensitive to. He writes in an easy, conversational tone - sometimes humorous, sometimes thought-provoking and sometimes (as in the column on taxis) causing me to recall some of my own experiences. Kevin Dolgin isn't just telling us about his experiences. He is sharing with us the enjoyment of travel. Perhaps encouraging us not to rush through a city or neighborhood, but to linger, observe and relate to the environment. Kudos to him for presenting a different viewpoint and sharing his love of travel. 5.0 out of 5 stars Where are we going tonight?, August 30, 2009 By  Philip Graham (Urbana, Illinois) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    First off, I have to say that I was living in Lisbon and writing my own dispatches about that experience when Kevin Dolgin's travel series came to my attention on the McSweeney's website. I came to look forward to reading the latest news of his peripatetic travels--seeing as I was digging in to one specific place, I felt a touch envious that he was rousting about in a French chateau, a Corsican fort, a Scottish island, and seemingly everywhere in between, and with an excess of charm and lightly-worn wisdom. Now back home in the U.S., it's even better to have Dolgin's dispatches in book form, good to park them on my night table and read one just before sleep. "Where are we going tonight?" my wife asks before I start reading aloud. Whether Barcelona or Bangkok, Rome, Vienna, Bruges, or Nara, Japan, these short essays are the ideal push from the shore before drifting into sleep and dreams. 5.0 out of 5 stars One of the BEST books I have read this year!, July 16, 2009 By  MotherLodeBeth "MotherLodeBeth" (Sierras of California) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)       Being well traveled and an observer of all places visited, I am always interested in reading books such as this one, to see if the author has seen the same things I have when in the same places. So I was pleased to see he observed many of the same things as I had when in France, Sweden, Scotland, Italy, Japan,Brazil, Greece and even Oregon. In fact reading of his visit to southern Oregon and places like Ashland where the Shakespeare Theatre is, and then the Rogue River area and Crater Lake, held my attention and made me smile so hard my face hurt. You see, Crater Lake as an example is one of those wonderful places that really does leave you speechless. Having spent many weeks there since I was in my teens, I have see the blue of the lake defy's description. Have often wondered why its not listed on more 10 must see places of the world. Also liked his take on San Francisco, since we are a California native family and love reading peoples views of our area of the world. Just wish he has come to the Mother Lode and the wonders we have here. As well as the San Juan Islands in Washington state which are like Crater Lake often beyond description. So nice to see an author who writes so well and whose descriptions are so on target as well as interesting. He literally brings words to life and develops great visuals.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars Romp Around the Globe When my daughter finished reading this collection, she remarked: "It's like taking a romp around the globe." That sums it up pretty well. Read more Published 4 months ago by P. Rehring Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Santa Monica Press (June 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595800433
• ISBN-13: 978-1595800435
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #805,660 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Travel, July 7, 2009

By	Traveling Mom (Florida) - See all my reviews

I read and enjoyed some of this author's columns on the internet. It's great now to have a compilation in one volume that I cam pick up, read and re-read whenever I choose. He brings to life places in Europe, Asia and the U.S. that I have not visited - not to present facts and figures, but to bring them to life - picking up on some nuance or impression that I would probably not be aware of or be sensitive to. He writes in an easy, conversational tone - sometimes humorous, sometimes thought-provoking and sometimes (as in the column on taxis) causing me to recall some of my own experiences.

Kevin Dolgin isn't just telling us about his experiences. He is sharing with us the enjoyment of travel. Perhaps encouraging us not to rush through a city or neighborhood, but to linger, observe and relate to the environment.

Kudos to him for presenting a different viewpoint and sharing his love of travel.

5.0 out of 5 stars Where are we going tonight?, August 30, 2009

By	Philip Graham (Urbana, Illinois) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

First off, I have to say that I was living in Lisbon and writing my own dispatches about that experience when Kevin Dolgin's travel series came to my attention on the McSweeney's website. I came to look forward to reading the latest news of his peripatetic travels--seeing as I was digging in to one specific place, I felt a touch envious that he was rousting about in a French chateau, a Corsican fort, a Scottish island, and seemingly everywhere in between, and with an excess of charm and lightly-worn wisdom.

Now back home in the U.S., it's even better to have Dolgin's dispatches in book form, good to park them on my night table and read one just before sleep. "Where are we going tonight?" my wife asks before I start reading aloud. Whether Barcelona or Bangkok, Rome, Vienna, Bruges, or Nara, Japan, these short essays are the ideal push from the shore before drifting into sleep and dreams.

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the BEST books I have read this year!, July 16, 2009

By	MotherLodeBeth "MotherLodeBeth" (Sierras of California) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

Being well traveled and an observer of all places visited, I am always interested in reading books such as this one, to see if the author has seen the same things I have when in the same places.

So I was pleased to see he observed many of the same things as I had when in France, Sweden, Scotland, Italy, Japan,Brazil, Greece and even Oregon. In fact reading of his visit to southern Oregon and places like Ashland where the Shakespeare Theatre is, and then the Rogue River area and Crater Lake, held my attention and made me smile so hard my face hurt.

You see, Crater Lake as an example is one of those wonderful places that really does leave you speechless. Having spent many weeks there since I was in my teens, I have see the blue of the lake defy's description.

Have often wondered why its not listed on more 10 must see places of the world. Also liked his take on San Francisco, since we are a California native family and love reading peoples views of our area of the world.

Just wish he has come to the Mother Lode and the wonders we have here. As well as the San Juan Islands in Washington state which are like Crater Lake often beyond description.

So nice to see an author who writes so well and whose descriptions are so on target as well as interesting. He literally brings words to life and develops great visuals.