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The Best American Travel Writing 2007 (The Best American Series (TM))
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Customer Reviews
Rating:  - A depressing entry in an otherwise great series
For those of you looking for travel writing as a form of appealing escapism, avoid this book. Susan Orlean is either clinically depressed or prefers to roll around in the more tragic underbelly of the world's great places. Those of us who travel know that the world is a far from perfect place and that great poverty and cruelty exist in the world, but is it really necessary to throw it in our faces, essay after essay after essay? I mean, seriously, essays children surviving on scavanging on mountain-high mounds of garbage? Drug-induced stupors in Djibouti? Hunger induced cannibalism in the Andes? Even the few fluff pieces she picked are depressing, i.e., surviving off of processed foods on Swan Island. What a depressing entry in an otherwise great series. Someone get that woman a Prozac subscription stat.
Rating: - my first year
I've long been a fan of the various Best American books, but this was my first year to read the travel writing, but I figured, Susan Orlean, okay. My mistake. Most of the pieces were tedious, though I did enjoy Jason Anthony, Ian Frazier, Steve Friedman, Nando Parrado (but didn't he already write this), and my two favorites, though I'm not sure I'd call them travel writing, Andrew Solomon and Jonathan Stern. It's because of them two that I'll probably pick up next year's edition.
Rating:  - Fun, Fast, Diverse -- Highly Recommended
This is the fifth in this series that I have read. Only one other (I think it was 2002) was this good. I love this series and give it as Christmas gifts every year. This editor had exactly the right point of view in compiling these stories.
Rating: - Excellent collection
I loved this year's collection, edited by Susan Orlean. Many great essays, but the highlight is definitely Elizabeth Gilbert's report of a two week eating/walking tour through Provence via rural trails.
Rating:  - pathetic
This has to be the worst "Best American Travel Writing" edition I've seen so far. As a big taveler and a big fan of travel writing, I buy this book every year. There's usually four or five great essays in it, which makes it worth the money for me. But this issue of 2007 is so off the mark. I found almost nothing in it of real interest. I don't know what the editor was thinking. As far as I can tell, Susan Orlean is not known a a traveller. Why she was chosen to put together this year's editon of this book is beyond me. I think it takes one to know one.
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