Peace Corps Worldwide – promoting Peace Corps writers since 1989

The Secret Lives of Brando, Pacino, Dolly Parton, and More, by Lawrence Grobel (Ghana, 1966-68) in Vanity Fair

Jul 15 2025

The Secret Celebrity Diaries: A Master Interviewer’s Behind-the-Scenes Chronicles For decades, veteran celebrity interviewer Lawrence Grobel has been getting Hollywood’s biggest stars to open up in ways few journalists ever have. But while conducting legendary interviews with icons like Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, and Dolly Parton for Playboy magazine, he was secretly keeping a detailed diary of everything that happened behind the scenes—the anxious phone calls, the unexpected friendships, the creative struggles, and the deeply human moments that never made it into print. In this fascinating Vanity Fair excerpt from his unpublished journals, Grobel reveals what it was really like to spend ten days on Brando’s private island near Tahiti, to watch a paranoid Pacino worry he’d revealed too much, and to have Dolly Parton talk him out of interviewing Charles Manson because “he’d steal your soul.” The diary entries span from 1977 to 1981 and read like a time capsule of both Hollywood’s golden . . .

Review: The Village, by Bill Owens (Jamaica 1964-66)

Jul 01 2025

Neiger Green-Patrick (Haiti, 2005) reviews Bill Owens’s The Village. This photography book is available on Amazon and Bookshop.org. Title: The Village Author: Bill Owens Published: January 25, 2014 (True North Editions) Review by Neiger Green-Patrick (Haiti, 2005) Before diving into this review, I must preface it by sharing that I am a student of documentary photography. My Peace Corps service in Haiti was made more dynamic by the presence of my Nikon 35mm. The way my community was drawn to the lens opened a view of Haiti that felt nothing short of magical. In The Village, Bill Owens elevates the everyday with a narrative and aesthetic sensibility that’s graceful. Moving beyond the conventional portrayals of Jamaica—lush greenery, crystal clear waters, and unapologetic use of color—Owens captures the daily rhythms of Central Village and the life of the communities that most visitors might not see. Through the intimacy of service and proximity, he offers viewers a more grounded, deeply . . .

Book Review: Head Strong, by Christy Bailey (Honduras 2002-04)

Jun 27 2025

Robert Thurston (Venezuela, 1968-70) reviews Christy Bailey’s Head Strong. This memoir, published posthumously, is available on Amazon. Title: Head Strong: Embracing Alopecia and Becoming Pañuelo Girl Author: Christy Bailey / Editor: Susana Donato Published: April 27, 2025 (Kindle Direct Publishing) Review by Robert Thurston (RPCV Venezuela, 1968-70; PC Staff, 1972-77) When I was asked to review Head Strong: Embracing Alopecia and Becoming Pañuelo Girl by Christy Bailey, I thought there must have been a mistake, as I had agreed to review works of fiction that draw on Peace Corps experiences. Bailey’s superbly written memoir of her life-long personal struggle with alopecia and the transformational challenges she experienced as a Peace Corps volunteer in Honduras had me questioning how I could do justice to her powerful account. Sure, I’d managed Peace Corps programs in Honduras, but I worked with forestry and agriculture volunteers, almost all of whom were young men working in a stereotypically macho work world and society. . . .

Review: California Against the Sea, by Rosanna Xia (Mongolia 2009-11)

Jun 18 2025

Evelyn la Torre (Peru, 1964-66) reviews Rosanna Xia’s California Against the Sea. This non-fiction book is available from Heyday Books and Amazon. Title: California Against the Sea Author: Rosanna Xia Published: September 26, 2023 (Heyday Books) Review by Evelyn La Torre (Peru, 1964-66) Ocean waves are devouring California’s coastal cliffs and beaches quicker than previously predicted, with an increasing speed and force that many don’t realize. Rich and poor land- and homeowners from Imperial Beach to Marin City are adversely affected. In California Against the Sea, Rosanna Xia, an environmental reporter for the Los Angeles Times and returned Peace Corps volunteer (Mongolia, 2009-11), describes precisely where the increasingly high waves and water levels along the coast are causing damage, amounting to more than that caused by fires and earthquakes in the state. As a California resident, this book spurred me to more actively support environmental causes. The author illustrates the numerous efforts employed in the past and present to ward off . . .

Book Review: London, by Taylor Dibbert (Guatemala, 2006-08)

Jun 13 2025

Bill Preston (Thailand, 1977-80) reviews Taylor Dibbert’s London. This book of poetry is available on Amazon. Title: London Author: Taylor Dibbert Published: March 1, 2024 (Alien Buddha Press Review by Bill Preston (Thailand, 1977-80) Anyone who has lost a beloved pet can relate to the pain and emptiness that accompany such loss. The grieving process, immediate, intense, often overwhelming, continues to ebb and flow, triggered by memories, dreams, and past associations. It’s been said that though we may never completely get over a deep personal loss, we can–in time, and with support–get through it. London is poet Taylor Dibbert’s collection of linked poems addressing the death of his eponymous canine companion. It is a chronicle of grieving, a meditation on navigating loss—in his words, through heartbreak, resilience, and enduring love. Early in the collection, Dibbert’s poems confront the immediate pain. In Angel Wings, a particularly poignant flashback, he describes London’s last moments. (All excerpts presented in italics.) . . .

SALAMANDER MAN, BY JAMES A. WOLTER ‧ REVIEWED BY EPHANTUS MURIUKI

Jun 09 2025

Salamander Man by James A. Wolter is an emotionally charged coming-of-age tale about a boy whose social inclusion, acceptance, confidence, and self-worth are jeopardized by a sickness that leaves him unable to use his legs. Mohamed Idris bin Mohamed Ibrahim was born strong and healthy until the age of four, when he contracted polio, which he dubs the “evil eye.” At this point, his legs became “useless twisted stumps,” which earned him the scorn of his peers and the nickname “Salamander Man.” He would further develop a biting obsession with finding ways to outdo other boys to “feel like a king” time and again. None, however, could be sustained. At the age of six, his desire to attend Tengku Bariah Primary School was quashed by a headmaster who warned his father that the school was not for “his kind.” This not only gravely crushed his spirits, but also drove the . . .

The Lost Trees of Willow Avenue, by Mike Tidwell (Zaire 1985-87)

Jun 08 2025

Title: The Lost Trees of Willow Avenue Author: Mike Tidwell (Zaire, now Democratic Republic of Congo, 1985-87) Publisher: St. Martin’s Press; March 25, 2025 Number of pages: 288 Available on Amazon, Bookshop, Goodreads, Thriftbooks, and more Reviewer’s name: Ben East (Malawi 1996-98) Reading The Lost Trees of Willow Avenue feels like strolling the hometown with an affable neighbor, one filled with deep respect for the natural world and a pragmatic concern for its demise. Along the way we meet other neighbors, including state and national political figures; students, scientists, arborists, and public works personnel; a farmer, a midwife, the local pastor. Despite dire news regarding humanity’s relationship with nature, the company makes for an exceptional walk. On one level Mike Tidwell recounts a single year—2023—in a Washington, DC suburb whose residents cope with the local effects of global climate change. These are the tombstone stumps of new-fallen trees, the sudden gaps in rich canopy across which the . . .

Our legacy, our resilience: A reflection about the Peace Corps, by Diane Glover (Philippines 2018-20)

Jun 06 2025

There are times when people wonder about the relevancy of a tiny agency whose entire mission is based on spreading global peace and friendship. Then there are moments that remind me why the Peace Corps has endured. Moments that prove our impact is not just measured in years served, but also in lifetimes changed. Pacific country leaders inspired by Peace Corps Volunteers I think back to last year, when I walked into a meeting with Pacific heads of mission (Pacific countries ambassadors and permanent representatives to the UN) at the State Department. It was their final meeting in a long day, and yet the moment the Peace Corps was mentioned, the room came alive. They didn’t just want to talk about policy or logistics—they wanted to share their stories. They spoke of the Volunteers who taught them, mentored them, and became part of their families. Their voices carried admiration, gratitude, . . .

Before Before: A Story of Discovery and Loss in Sierra Leone by Betsy Small

Jun 01 2025

A debut author blends autobiography and ethnography in this exploration of Sierra Leone in the 1980s. The recent history of Sierra Leone is one often associated with violence, disease, and tragedy. From the decade-long Blood Diamond War of the 1990s through the Ebola outbreak of the 2010s that killed tens of thousands and displaced millions, the West African nation has been the epicenter of human rights crises for the past 30 years. In this book, Small not only encourages readers to place those tragedies within a larger post-colonial context, but also highlights a vibrant history of the nation from a grassroots perspective in the decade that predated the violence of the ’90s. A Peace Corps volunteer who was born only a year after Sierra Leone became an independent country in 1961, the author spent three years in Tokpombu, a village located 250 miles from the nation’s Atlantic coast (“Here I . . .

Peace Corps Worldwide: New Horizons

May 19 2025

A Legacy of Service Continues In October 2024, this group’s co-founders John Coyne and Marian Biel entrusted me with the stewardship of Peace Corps Worldwide and Peace Corps Writers. These platforms have been vital resources for the Peace Corps community for more than three decades, thanks to their unwavering dedication and countless hours of volunteer time, as well as to the contributions of Joanne Roll, Noah Biel, Dean Jefferson, and many others. As we gradually transition ownership and responsibilities, we are committed to celebrating, strengthening, and building upon their extraordinary legacy of service to the Peace Corps community. Their work has made immeasurable contributions to the Peace Corps’ Third Goal of promoting a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans, and I fully intend to to what I can to honor and amplify that legacy. Building a Foundation for Growth Meet Our Founding Advisory Council One of . . .

Married to Amazement: A Memoir, by Kathleen Coskran (Ethiopia 1965-67)

May 16 2025

Married to Amazement is both a memoir and a celebration of the life passages we all experience with a brush of wonder and amazement. It’s not a Pollyanna approach, there is loss and error here, nobody escapes pain, but the foundational gifts of author Kathleen Coskran’s life have been wonder, through undeserved luck, she says, and an instinct for paying attention. Like Mary Oliver, Coskran too doesn’t “… want to end up having simply visited this world.” The first essay quotes a fellow Ethiopia Peace Corps Volunteer who, every day, spread his arms wide as they walked down “a clay road that sucked at our shoes in the rainy season and streaked our clothes with dust in the dry season,” and proclaimed, “So This is Paris!” The essays that follow celebrate the joy of becoming a parent (with five children born in five countries on three continents), the love of . . .

The 2024 Paris Olympics, by Steve Kaffen (Russia 1994-96; HQ staff 2003-11)

May 07 2025

About the book The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris had everything: a stunning setting, precise planning and execution, welcoming hospitality and goodwill by the residents and the 45,000 volunteers, camaraderie among the visitors, and the Games themselves. It was an Olympics of fun, joy, and spirited energy for the millions, including many families, that came from Europe and throughout the world for an Olympic vacation and to support their countries’ participants. The individual and team performances of the 10,500 athletes representing over 200 countries captivated those in attendance and the billions watching at home, and gave everyone a rest and refocus from the political, social, and economic issues gripping the planet. Author Steve Kaffen arrived two months before the opening ceremony to observe the preparations and returned for the Games. Using descriptive text and hundreds of original photos, he takes us to the unique opening ceremony, 12 different sports, the . . .

A Cup of Stars, Stories by Joseph Monninger (Burkina Faso 1975-77)

Apr 22 2025

A Cup of Stars, Stories by Joseph Monninger (Burkina-Faso 1975-77) Available on Amazon ($10.99); 458 pages; ISBN 979-8649356534 Reviewed by Eugénie de Rosier (Philippines 2006-08) A Cup of Stars, Stories by Joseph Monniger, invites through oral lore and historic anecdotes and contemporary writing in this long book. Two fantasies about supernatural women—are re-spun tales inspired by an Irish myth and an Arctic fable. Kathleen’s Celtic spirit entangles with an injured WWI soldier healing in rural Maine. He walks across the state to claim and rebuild an inheritance, a ramshackle farm, and his life takes on paranormal shifts. Sedna, hemmed in by patriarchy, is forced into a bad marriage to a brutish “evil witch-man,” who changed shapes. Inspired by Inuit folklore, she flees her husband across a lifetime and around the globe, adopting metaphysical abilities to breathe in water, take to winged flight, and gallop with herds, until she confronts him for his cruelty. . . .

Ah, Where the Light Shines Through, by Patricia Waak (Brazil 1966-68)

Apr 18 2025

Review This self- published book of poetry by former Peace Corps Volunteer, Patricia Waak, will appeal to those who wish to commune with nature through words. It begins with the hope of changing seasons and ends with thoughts on growing old. The author, in lyrical phrasing, writes about the weather, plants, insects, and wildlife of the countryside of Colorado, where she is content in her natural world. Many of the 68 poems depict weather in changing seasons, and how light, wind, and snow affect the author’s spirit. “Crystal” is used frequently and found in trees, grass, and clouds. Besides insects such as moths and dragonflies, animals like coyotes, dogs, birds, chickens, and a lizard appear sometimes in rhyme, sometimes not. The most memorable and relatable pieces are about the inevitability of aging. This work is recommended for city-dwellers who long to recall the natural world of wide-open spaces, and for . . .

Eyes of Iris, by Joshua A.H. Harris (Mali 1996-98)

Apr 11 2025

Eyes of Iris, by Joshua A.H. Harris Book Description What did Iris see? Was it an accurate vision of the future or merely a drug-induced hallucination? Iris, a twenty-year-old genius, stumbles into the ER after participating in an Ayahuasca ceremony, claiming to have traveled to the future. Dr. Kairos–the hospital psychiatrist on call that day–surreptitiously hits record on his iPhone as she begins recounting her time-travel tale. Iris’s vivid descriptions of Earth circa 2300, its bizarre inhabitants, and her harrowing escape are far more detailed and imaginative than any delusional story Dr. Kairos has ever encountered. By the end of the interview, he believes he’s captured one of the most important delusional accounts ever told. But little does he know, her story–and his role within it–may, in the end, alter the fate of humanity. Inspired by H.G. Wells’s The Time Machine, Eyes of Iris challenges our perceptions of reality and . . .