This bookis roughly chronological, beginning with early Spanish and French exploration of the New World and proceeding through the French colonization of Louisiana in the late 17th century, the hand-off of Louisianafrom French to Spanish controlin 1762, the reverse hand-off back to the French in 1803 just in time for the sale...20 days later...by Napoleon of Louisiana to the fledgling United Statesthat same year.But this basic outline is augmented by numerous supplementary topics, chiefamong them the ongoing importation of African slaves and theirdefiningimpact on the culture of New Orleans.A principle African contribution was music; Sublette is clearly passionate about this subject and it too is a "recurring theme" throughout the book. But many other topics are explored as well. Indeed, the author covers a lot of ground in The World That Made New Orleans and some readers might be frustrated withits lack of focus. In addition tothe European colonization of Louisiana and the hugeimpact ofAfrican slavery, Sublette also exploresthe colonization and eventual overthrow of Saint-Domingue (later know as Haiti) andtheeffect of this slave rebellionon the Caribbean; the parallel relationship between New Orleans and Havana, Cuba; political intrigue amongst competing European countries, their colonies in the New World, and the United States; and so on and so forth.And yet, despitethis dizzying array ofsubjects,allthevariousthreadssomehow interweave themselves into a unified work,just as the wide variety of influences withinNew Orleans itself creates a richly diverse yet(largely) harmonious city.

This book is the result of Sublette's year-long research fellowship at Tulane University, just before Katrina slammed into New Orleans in 2005. Consequently, The World That Made New Orleans is finely researched and full of historical and cultural detail. But, more than that, it is full of humor, enthusiasm, and love-of-place...all of which makeit a delightful read. Ned Sublette clearly lovesNew Orleans. Read this book, then visit the Big Easy,andmaybe you will love it, too!

French Milk is agraphic novel (that termmay be a little bit of amisnomer) bya talentedyoung cartoonist namedLucy Knisely. Herartwork and narrative style brings to mind the local cartoonist, Ellen Forney, whoillustrated Sherman Alexie's wildly popular Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.

French Milk is a travel memoir at heart, created using cartoons depicting the author's post-college graduation trip to Paris with her mom (and a brief visit by her dad.)There are two things I really like about this book. The first is the author's point of view -- honest, passionate, and sentimental. If you've seen the movie Midnight in Paris, you might be reminded a little of Owen Wilson's character.

Secondly, I was impressed by the way the author incorporates personal photographsinto her work. Sometimes she pairs a real photograph from the tripwith a cartoondepicting the same moment. Looking at the two together gives the reader a real senseof the exaggerated nature of the cartoon image.A similar technique was used in theway more seriousgraphic novelThe Photographer.

If you like travel memoirs,love the city ofParis,or have aninterest in cartooning as creative expression, then you might enjoy this book. Not sure? Check out Lucy Knisley's website, where much of her work is available to look at for free.

When Wanderers Cease To Roam: A Traveler's JournalOf Staying Put
Vivian Swift.

After wandering for over 20 years, Vivian Swift found herself so attracted to a small town near Long Island Sound that she stayed put for 10 years. She found delight and variety in the small beauties of nature, the cycle of the year, and the quiet pleasures of village life. Luckily for us she was inspired to write, illustrate and publish this journal.

The result is a book with great visual appeal. The hand lettered text wanders around on the page, the size and shape of the letters giving emphasis to the content. Wonderfully expressive watercolors illustrate everything from the 14 kinds of mud that appear in March (fresh mud, dried mud, gloppy mud, ooze, mire, grime and grit among others) to a variety of tea cups the author collected in foreign travel, to the way that the non-wanderer can put suitcases to use.

The text meditates on both the immediate (November is described as "the Blues, the Blahs, the Weary Dismals") and on Swift's memories of her wandering days in Europe, South America, and the Middle East. Her observations of the world around her are often the starting point for memories of distant adventures.

When Wanderers Cease to Roam delights the eye and the mind. It charms without veering into sentimentality, and encourages readers to take a close look at their own surroundings.

If this story whets your appetite to learn more about this genocide (the word genocide was, in fact, createdto describe this slaughter), you could also try the young adult novel, Forgotten Fire by Adam Bagdassarian, a finalist for the National Book Award, about an innocent Armenian boy living with a well-to-do family in Turkey, forced to confront the horrors of his family members murdered, some right before his eyes, and subsequent struggles.

AND, if you want a more straightforward history of these histories, try the poet historian and chronicler Peter Balakian's book, The burning Tigris : the Armenian genocide and America's response

The Yangtze River flows almost 4,000 miles through the heart of China, from its headwaters high in Tibet to its mouth in the East China Sea near Shanghai. It is known for the dramatic geology that formed its twisted path, the great beauty of its landscapes, and its deadly floods. As all great rivers do, it has attracted human settlement throughout history, since it provides transportation, water for irrigation and power for industry.

In 1996, before the controversial Three Gorges dam was built, Simon Winchester traveled up the Yangtze River, from Shanghai almost to its inaccessible headwaters 16,000 feet above sea level. In this book he shares his fascination with the sights he sees, the varied ecology of the river banks, and the people he meets on the journey. He probes the history and prehistory of the various regions, and speculates on how the dam, meant to produce much needed power and control flooding, will destroy archeological artifacts, villages and ways of life.

Winchester's tone is that of an intensely curious and very knowledgeable traveler, respectful of the land he is traveling through. He recalls the past to help understand the present and tries to present people's lives and cultures from their own point of view. He is always aware that he is recording ways of life that are about to either change forever or be completely destroyed. His clear, concise yet vividly descriptive language draws you into the story. It is a gripping voyage.

After a spat with her travel companion, recent college graduate Alice embarks on a solo journey in The Elephant God. She seeks solace in a simple ashram, and accepts teachings from the ashram swami. But, after running low on cash funds, Alice accepts a job at a call center, where she trains workers on their American accents. She is conflicted by her contributions to their success, and struggles with her influence on their behavior. Alice meets a local boy, Shan, on a train ride. He soon becomes enraptured with Alice, and stalks her relentlessly. A tragic turn of events shatters her existence, yet the ending proves Alice is more powerful than her circumstances.

Many Western travelers head to India to explore their lives, to seek reflection and clarity. One can experience an explosion of sensations and emotions while traveling through the exotic country. Theroux exposes the underbelly of this spiritual haven and the characters that breathe its routine daily.

It is quite revealing to see the different way the journey is described from each perspective, including her encounter witha young manthat edges on intimacy. Nan observes that turning fifty is a "time of losses". She recalls how easily she's drawn to tears by simple things such as Kotex in the store and a mother helping her small girl pick out crayons.

A lot of the emotions and experiencesNan describes resonated with me since I just turned fifty. Even though Nan describes this time as full of losses the reader witnesses her gaining a lot of insight. She recalls the joys of raising herdaughter and intimate moments with her husband.

Her cross country journey isa straightforward metaphor for the journeyduring a lifetimeas one ages and processes their life's events.Nan meets a lot of interesting people, including an older woman who is the only one left in her group of friends still livingin her house. They share life stories as theyshell peas on the woman's front porch. She also has a run-in at a beauty salon that encourages her to allow her gray hairto show naturally.

Though she's dialoguing with her husband in letters home throughouther travels, the story is really about her inner journey. One of the biggest discoveries she makes is her own authentic self who got lost in the shuffle of raising children and marriage. You'll feel the pull of the moon as you follow Nan along on her travels