I recently read a novel that completely pulled me into the universe –and what a universe it is! Fling!, the new novel from writer and educator Lily Iona Mackenzie, is set in many countries. It’s at once a glimpse into new, interesting characters - and new, interesting worlds. It’s a saga that spans time, all at once. It’s color, and cold; light, and dark; memory, and forgetfulness; mothers, daughters, granddaughters; culture, and chaos. I love it.
My favorite book genre is YA (young adult) - it perfectly captures that magical time of life when anything is possible, while also discussing the very real problems of life, growing up, and finding yourself. It's the ultimate genre of hope, possibility, and growth.
FREAK Circus is a bold new concept in literary magazines from the successful team who brought you the immensely popular Poetry Circus performance poetry nights and slams at the Dalraida Bar, Portobello.
You know those books - the ones that grab you and don't let go? The ones that teach you about a place, culture, people? Such is the case with a new book written by Eleni Gage, entitled The Ladies of Managua. Eleni is a journalist who writes regularly for publications including Travel+Leisure, The New York Times, T: The New York Times Travel Magazine, Dwell, Elle, Elle Décor, Real Simple, Parade, and The American Scholar.
The sun was shining when I stopped my motorbike by an old tractor in rural Norway. 15 years earlier, I had worked on a machine just like it for my brother-in-law and I was looking forward to telling him about it at the kitchen table one evening in the future. At the same moment I remembered what I had seen and tried in Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France and England. My travelogue was getting too long for me to tell it over a single cup of tea.
Wandering Educators will remember the extraordinary photography of Ugo Cei - he has been featured as one of our photographers of the month. Now there is more goodness to see and read - Ugo recently published an excellent new ebook with his business partner, Massimiliano Cremascoli, called Urban Morocco. This book? It's an intimate glimpse into the vibrant culture of Morocco.
It’s difficult to move. It’s even more difficult when you’re a teenager – and you’re moving to another country. Such is the case with protagonist Maggie Lynch in Jessie Ann Foley’s fantastic new book, The Carnival at Bray.
Imagine: You’re sitting on the beach of a tropical island in the middle of paradise. Your beach chair is painted white, no splinters, and your feet are in the sparkling blue sea. Gulls cry overhead, and hermit crabs make tracks across the white expanse of sand. Behind you, palm trees wave their branches in the slight breeze and tropical birds serenade your perfect evening. You decide it’s the perfect moment to read your new adventure travel novel. Reaching into your bag, you pull out... what?
I've recently been entranced with a guidebook series, written by James Kaiser (see our interview with this award-winning author and photographer here).
I've recently read a book that has changed, for me, the face of international education. Long a proponent of international education in any form (study abroad, work abroad, living abroad, hosting international exchange students, etc.), I am always on the lookout for new ways to teach and incorporate international education in our daily lives - and, of course, on this site.