The Best American Travel Writing 2020

September 1, 2020
The Covid-19 pandemic-inspired version of this venerable series begins with a foreword from series editor Wilson and introduction from guest editor Macfarlane, both mourning the carefree travel that flourished just months before its publication. Fortunately, these fairly gloomy musings are immediately followed by an upbeat profile of TV travel aficionado Rick Steves. As in previous collections, there's something for everyone: a harsh account of traversing the desert terrain refugees cross between Mexico and the U.S., a reconsideration of do-good volunteerism, wistful pieces on the joys of travel in Iceland before its glaciers started melting, and a brutally honest consideration of what constitutes beauty. Pieces tell of trips back home, or to new destinations as varied as Iran, Jamaica, Palermo, and Kazakhstan. Readers will find both tales of escapism, whether of chasing after the northern lights or being chased by bears, and thought-provoking accounts concerning migrants and refugees, acts of racism, and climate change. One particularly apt entry describes a convention for mediums and spiritualists, an other-worldly tale that fits in nicely with surrealistic aspects of life under lockdown.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

September 21, 2020
Macfarlane opens this provocative but unfortunately timed entry in the long-running series with a sobering message: “I write from a world in which travel has stopped.” Indeed, readers may feel a jarring sense of dissonance delving into suddenly anachronistic essays on unfettered travel, though they often are framed with still-relevant political conscience. Kyle Chayka probes what it means to have an “authentic” experience in Iceland, where tourists outnumbered inhabitants. Alejandra Oliva accompanies Central American migrants traveling north in hopes of entering the United States, and Jackie Bryant deposits water jugs in the Sonoran Desert for those who surreptitiously cross the border and risk dehydration. Lacy M. Johnson attends a memorial service for an Icelandic glacier that melted due to global warming. In a standout piece, Ashley Powers illuminates an essential Sicilian sense of multiculturism through the lives of migrants who are revivifying Palermo’s once abandoned alleyways. “We don’t say, when we were invaded by Arabs,” a Sicilian tells her. “We say, when we were Arabs.” Shanna B. Tiayon similarly distills the U.S. into its essential parts when she describes a family vacation to the Grand Canyon marred by racism. These layered explorations of who travels how (and why) offer a discomfiting but rewarding armchair experience of the world at large. Agent: Jim Rutman, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Nov.)Correction: An earlier version of this review misstated Ashley Powers's last name.

Starred review from November 1, 2020

In this latest in the "Best American" series, selected essays compiled by editors Wilson and Macfarlane explore current issues including identity, faith, the Mexico-U.S. border, race and racism, sex, and disability. Each striking selection showcases a traveler who was seeking something authentic locally or abroad. Lacy M. Johnson's "How To Mourn a Glacier" looks at the devastating cost of global warming in Iceland. Courtney Desiree Morris's "My Father's Land" investigates various histories and peoples through the author's trip to Jamaica visiting great houses with her family. While some essays delve into larger issues through personal experience, others focus on more intimate connections. "Lost in Summerland" captures Barrett Swanson's attempts to connect with his brother, a budding spiritualist, during a trip to Lily Dale, NY. In "Revisiting My Grandfather's Garden," Mojgan Ghazirad returns to Tehran to dive into memory by revisiting locations. Jeff MacGregor's "The Last of the Great American Hobos" was also impactful as a human interest study of homelessness in Britt, IA. Whether authors found what they were looking for during their travels, this is a clear celebration of new experience, of place, and of the knowledge and wonders waiting for us at home or abroad. VERDICT An immersive, thought-provoking dive into myriad travel experiences. Highly recommended for both travel aficionados and general readers.--Katie Lawrence, Grand Rapids, MI

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