Other books that might interest you

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  Desperately Seeking Paradise -...

  Ziauddin Sardar

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  “A curious, often amusing travelogue of [Sardar’s] quest for understanding and the Muslims he has encountered along his journeys.”—Publishers Weekly   Ziauddin Sardar, one of the foremost Muslim intellectuals in Britain, learned the Koran at his mother’s knee in Pakistan. As a young student in London he set out to grasp the meaning of his religion, and, hopefully, to find “paradise,” his quest leading him throughout the Muslim world, from Iran to China to Turkey. Along the way he accepts that he may never reach paradise—but it’s the journey that’s important. At a time when the view of Islam in the West is so often distorted and simplistic, Desperately Seeking Paradise—self-mocking, frank and passionate—is essential reading.   “Intoxicating . . . upon finishing the book, I turned back and started reading it all over again.”—Kamila Shamise, New Statesman   “At once and earnest and humorous, light-hearted and profound, this is a book that displays a sustained capacity for self-questioning of a kind that has few parallels in the liberal West.”—The Independent   “This challenging book not only acts as a guide for Muslims but provides insight and clarification for those outside the Islamic faith.”—Financial Times   “The only funny book I’ve read about Islam.”—Mail on Sunday

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  Haunted Hills - Ghosts and...

  Stephanie Burt Williams

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  The author of Wicked Charlotte roots out the spirited secrets of two small towns deep in the Appalachian Mountains.   When the sun slips behind the trees and shadows lengthen near dusk, the mountains and valleys of Highlands and Cashiers whisper their tales of lost loves, deals gone bad, and ghosts who walk the night. This tourist destination is rich in folklore and legend—from rumors of a magical mountain volcano to the ghost of a white owl. Learn the stories and firsthand accounts of hauntings and the hard to explain. Listen to the voices winding through the hemlocks, or is it just the wind?   Includes photos!

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  Haunted Burlington - Spirits of...

  Thea Lewis

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  “[Burlington’s] Ghost Guru . . . is responsible for keeping alive those things that are dead but still floating around, sometimes quite literally” (Ravenous Monster).   The vibrant city of Burlington is a perpetual hub of activity, with hordes of shoppers strolling up and down Church Street and groups of college students scattered about the lawns of UVM. Stop and listen to the stories of Queen City Ghostwalk guide Thea Lewis, and discover the ghostly shapes and spirits that appear among the throngs of the city’s living. Meet the mischievous poltergeist who haunts Converse Hall and the ghost of the Flynn Theater. Take a peek at peculiar happenings at the Firehouse Center or the old Howard Opera House. Lewis delivers plenty of chills with a strong dose of history and a pinch of humor.   “For Lewis, a gifted storyteller, a good story makes a haunted place all the more compelling.” —Happy Vermont   Includes photos!

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  Brazilian Adventure

  Peter Fleming

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  It began with an advertisement in The Times: 'Leaving England June, to explore rivers Central Brazil, if possible ascertain fate Colonel Fawcett; abundance game, big and small; exceptional fishing; room two more guns.' Colonel Fawcett and his son Jack had embarked on a journey in 1925 in search of a supposed lost city in the Amazon and were never seen again. This expedition was too much of a temptation for Peter Fleming, a young journalist with energy and an appetite for adventure. The journey, which begins in a
  reckless spirit of can-do frivolity, slowly darkens into something very personal and deeply testing 'for which Rider Haggard might have written the plot and Conrad designed the scenery.' Fleming recounts it in brilliant prose, leavening the danger with humour and honesty.

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  California

  J. Tyrwhitt Brooks

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  Henry Vizetelly, writing under the pseudonym J. Tyrwhitt Brooks, recalls an expedition to California he took between 1847-1848 . Originally, he planned to enlist as a surgeon for the US Army during the Mexican war, but conflicts had ended by the time he applied. In a quick change of plans, he joined a group of prospectors on their way to the newly found gold fields of California. While he might not find service in the military, his training as a physician made him a valuable addition to the ragtag team of explorers.His training as a physician gives us an exacting perspective of the events and people who struck out from more sedate routines to prospect gold in the Californian wilderness. However, he is unprepared to find a cure for the gold fever that has depopulated the surrounding towns. Only one member of the group, an experienced fur-trapper, is able to resist the lustrous lure of nuggets, flakes and gold richly deposited in the dusty desert.Like the others who have left jobs to prospect for gold, he learns how to live on the land and struggle through hardship away from the security of city life. His motley group of changing characters ride through sudden fortunes and disasters while meeting Mormons, Indians and not least of all a bountiful harvest of gold. Before he returns to his home in England, another quick change of fortune undoes his plans for a comfortable retirement and shows us the extent of greed that has sprung up in the mining camps.

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  The Nepali Flat

  Gordon Alexander

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  Join Gordon Alexander in Nepal as he drags his "heavy ass" over the Himalayas in this hilarious, adventure-soaked account of the Three Passes Trek, culminating in a visit to Everest Base Camp. 
  Together with guide Subash and porter Nima, Gordon tackles high passes in excess of 5,400 meters (17,700 feet) and explains how high altitude affects a mildly overweight road builder from sea level in the tropics. Each part of the journey brings new challenges, including sub-freezing temperatures, almost falling into a crevasse, and alarmingly warm beer. Along the way he discovers the local Kukri Rum, traverses glaciers, interacts with eccentric and curious characters, and takes in the most beautiful views on the planet. 
  Contains mature themes.

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