New books by Peace Corps writers — February 2018

 

To purchase any of these books from Amazon.com — Click on the book cover, the bold book title, or the publishing format you would like — and Peace Corps Worldwide, an Amazon Associate, will receive a small remittance from your purchase that will help support the site and the annual Peace Corps Writers awards.

 

We are now including a one-sentence description — provided by the author — for the books listed here in hopes of encouraging readers  1) to order the book and 2) to volunteer to review it. See a book you’d like to review for Peace Corps Worldwide? Send a note to Marian at peacecorpsworldwide@gmail.com, and we’ll send you a copy along with a few instructions.

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The Delight of Being Ordinary: A Road Trip with the Pope and the Dalai Lama
by Roland Merullo (Micronesia 1979–80)
Vintage
March 2018
384 pages
$17.00 (paperback), $26.95 (hard cover), $9.99 (Kindle)
(Novel)

A playful, eloquent, and life-affirming novel that finds the world’s two holiest men teaming up for an unsanctioned road trip through the Italian countryside — where they rediscover the everyday joys and challenges of ordinary life.

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Drums for a Lost Song
by Jorge Velasco Mackenzie;
Rob Gunther (Ecuador 2oo9–12) [translator] Hanging Loose Press
200 pages
March 15, 2017
$18.00 (paperback)
(Novel)

A tale of José Margarito,“the Singer,” escaping from slavery in nineteenth-century Ecuador, that combines elements of Ecuadorean history, magic realism, and the African Yoru pursued through the landscape and the towns of coastal Ecuador by his master, Captain Manda.

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Longing to Be Free: The Bear, the Eagle and the Crown
by Judith Guskin (Thailand 1962–64)
Wonder Spirit Press
March 2018
436 pages
$16.99 (paperback), $11.99 (Kindle)
(Historical novel)

Set in tumultuous times 1630-1677 in colonial New England and London Comfort Bradford, daughter of the Governor of Plymouth Plantation, is a lifelong friend of the Native American Metacom who decades later almost destroys the colonies.

 

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Insight, Hindsight & Flights of Fancy
Shadow of the Mountain Writers Guild: Phyllis Greenberg Houseman (Ecuador 1962–64), contributor
Andrew Benzie Books
February, 2018
360 pages
$14.99 (paperback), $4.99 (Kindle)
(Short stories)

The tales of Insight, Hindsight & Flights of Fancy provide adventure, tragedy, love, and humor by a diverse group of published writers.

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East of Edgerton: A Memoir of Peace Corps and Beyond
by Jim  Krosschell (Korea 1975–77)
CreateSpace
January, 2018
220 pages
$16.95 (paperback), $4.99 (Kindle)
(Peace Corps memoir)

The sights, sounds, and tastes of Asia take center stage in this memoir about Peace Corps and its subsequent effect on the author’s life.

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Travels in South America
by Lawrence F. Lihosit (Honduras 1975–77)
CreateSpace
December 2017 — second edition
418 pages
$22.95 (paperback)
(Memoir/travelogue)

Traveling on a shoe-string by plane, bus, hydrofoil, barge, dugout canoe, horse, ox and on foot, the author explores the ruins of ancient peoples and modern towns, befriending an incredible array of locals, bathing in volcanic hot springs alongside Indians, consulting shamans, drinking mate with lawyers, hanging out with musicians, actors, artists, cattle ranchers, cowboys, businessmen, teachers, priests, students, doctors and architects.

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Jesus Was Arrested in Mexico City & Missed the Wedding
by Lawrence F. Lihosit (Honduras, 1975-1977)
Create Space
September 2017 – second edition
108 pages
$13.95  (paperback)
(Memoir/travelogue)

A family wedding in Mexico City forces the author to return years after dangerous political intrigue to both complete family duty and to reconcile with his old friends from the long forgotten political battle.

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Across the Yucatan
by Lawrence F. Lihosit (Honduras, 1975-1977)
Create Space
December 2017 — second edition
134 pages
$13.95 (paperback)
(Memoir/travelogue)

With less hair, less teeth, wider around the middle, the author takes his two teenage sons south to explore Mayan ruins, swim in cenotes and more importantly mingle with the locals so all three can practice their Spanish.

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Tax Free Ride On A Midnight Carousel
by Basil Rose
[pen name of John Flynn (Republic of Moldova 1993–95)] Australia: Jaffa Books
2016
319 pages
$5.00 (Kindle)
(Novel)

This novel takes place in Newport, Ri, and Fall River, MA, and chronicles the life of a Portuguese-American commercial fisherman who is trying to do the right thing . . . of course, there are complications.

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So My Teacher Wrote a Book
by Derek William Smith (Nepal 2004, Moldova 2004–06)
CreateSpace
2015
266 pages
$15.00 (paperback), $3.99 (Kindle)
(Memoir including Peace Corps)

Derek Smith’s memoir has some mishaps and adventures, sure — but that’s not the main draw, it’s Nick, the book’s Jiminy Crickett, an unfiltered voice to counteract what is always a dangerous scenario.