This is a very peculiar book. One I savored for a long while, because it’s fascinating, both in concept and in storytelling. Did you know that there’s a glacier tucked away in Scotland? Or a desert in Spain? I was aware about the latter, and of course the existence of the Hungarian steppe is common knowledge, but the glacier stumped me. Same with the Białowieża, a primeval Polish forest.
Tag: NetGalley
Pretty Little London: A Seasonal Guide to the City’s Most Instagrammable Places – S. Santini, A. Di Filippo
Santini and Di Filippo, two Italian expats who run @prettylittlelondon on Instagram, have put together a book featuring both cool, instagrammable pictures and activities to do when you’re visiting London.
Amazing Art Adventures: Around the world in 400 immersive experiences – Yolanda Zappaterra
Amazing Art Adventures does indeed feature a lot of amazing art. Zappaterra put together a comprehensive book featuring a lot of different installments, museums, and exhibitions. Doubling down as a travel guide, it touches every continent and showcases many of the best art pieces worldwide.
Under Western Skies: Visionary Gardens from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Coast – J. Jewell, C. Atkinson
Under Western Skies, written by Jennifer Jewell, is an ode to plant diversity. Together with photographer Caitlin Atkinson, Jewell covers the whole Western area, from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Coast, interviewing landscapers and horticulturists, artists and gardners. Each of them opened up their house--or sanctuary, or park, or--and talked about the places they shaped up with time and patience.
Castles of the World – Phyllis G. Jestice
CotW, written by Phyllis G. Jestice, is a visual travel among castles. From the oldest, built to withstand actual attacks, to the modern and more decorative ones, Jestice put together an informative book, filled with pictures and cultural tidbits. It might be a niche topic, but it sure is interesting. Built atop of hills, surrounded by moats, sometimes only reachable by boat, in the general imaginary they’re a stronghold; visiting them, even by proxy, feels like taking a step in the past.
Subterranea: Discovering the Earth’s Extraordinary Hidden Depth – Chris Fitch
Subterranea is a +200 pages long travel through the depths of the Earth, courtesy of Chris Fitch. After donning a rock-climbing helmet, Chris takes us on a worldwide tour featuring both natural and artificial caves, with an eye for the lesser-known ones.
Bees: Heroes of the Garden – Tom Jackson
Did you know that ‘bee’ is a very generic term, encompassing 20k different species? Did you know that social bees are just a small fraction of a broader group of insects? Did you know that their only source of food is nectar and pollen? There are many misconceptions regarding bees, and this book helps setting them straight.
Abandoned London: Discover the hidden secrets of the city in photographs – Katie Wignall
Abandoned London is all that and more. I don’t know if Katie Wignall shares my same habits, but her book is an ode to (London-based) urban explorers.
The Necklace – Matt Witten
TN follows the journey of Susan, a woman who lost her daughter to a heinous crime. While traveling to North Dakota to witness the execution of the murderer, she comes across new evidence that would clear his name.
London’s Museums and Galleries – Eleanor Ross
This book offers a comprehensive list of what to visit when you’re donning your tourist hat, from big museums like the British to more secluded places like The Viktor Wynd or Deptford. Divided in sections - that’s handy! - and with a map at the end, it covers the whole city.
