Author - Marian Haley Beil

2,000 Miles Around the Tree of Life: A Naturalist Hikes the Appalachian Trail by Richard W. Carroll (Central Africa Republic 1976–82) A Peace Corps Writers Book December 2014 126 pages $10.00 (paperback), $8.95 (Kindle) Reviewed by Mary-Ann Tirone Smith (Cameroon 1965–67) • Readers of Richard W. Carroll’s 2,000 Miles Around the Tree of Life about his extraordinary five-month journey from the southernmost point of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia, to his arrival at the northernmost end (or beginning depending on where you start) in Maine, need to understand that is not a memoir as the jacket copy states. It is, rather, a journal — something Carrol explains on the final page of the book — meant to “keep the memories alive.” So expect grand courage, an oh-so impressive stoicism as he suffers the often dire rigors of such a momentous hike, and experience his joy vicariously with each discovery he . . .

What the Zhang Boys Know: A Novel in Stories by Clifford Garstang (Korea 1976–77) Press 53 2012 201 pages $17.95 (paperback) Reviewed by Jan Worth-Nelson (Tonga 76-78) • Clifford Garstang calls What the Zhang Boys Know a “novel in stories,” and it’s an appropriate characterization. The 12 linked tales all take place in and around a sprawling condo complex in Washington, D.C. called the Nanking Mansion, and the characters within compellingly weave in and out of all the intersecting plots. The big old edifice serves effectively as narrative frame and plot architecture. As in any good novel, the inhabitants of Nanking Mansion, a colorful mix of artists, writers, young professionals and dislocated immigrants, are absorbing and complex. One roots for them, cares about them, despairs of their tragedies major and minor, and celebrates their vindications. In the launching story, we meet everyone in the midst of a complicated melee in . . .

In December, James Beebe (Philippines from 1968-73) published his “Peace Corps memoir” Those Were the Days — A Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines in the Late ‘60s with Peace Corps Writers. I interviewed James about his impressive accomplishments, and about writing his memoir. — Marian • What was your Peace Corp project assignment? I was an Education Volunteer — elementary science, rice production, part-time college teaching. . Tell us about where you lived and worked prior to Peace Corps and  your educational background. I grew up mostly in New Orleans, Louisiana and Panama City, Florida. My education includes: before Peace Corps I was a student at Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, Florida; Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana; and New York University; after Peace Corps, I was a graduate student at Stanford University where I earned an M.A. in anthropology, an M.A. in Food Research (International Development . . .

Finding Neguinho by David Randle (Brazil 1964-66; Brazil staff 1967–69); with illustrations by Mary M. Jones Page Publishing June 2014 256 pages $25.95 (paperback), $9.99 (Kindle) Reviewed by Barbara E. Joe (Honduras 2000-03) • In 1964, after college graduation, newlyweds David and Inga Randle, both from Indiana farming families, find themselves far from home in the Peace Corps in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, “bigger than Texas,” a region sharing traits with the American Wild West . . . with disagreements being settled through the barrel of a gun. Also, a military coup has just occurred in Brazil, but is little felt in that remote world. Neighbors call the author “Dr. David,” — as, indeed, Hondurans still call me “Doctora Bárbara” on my annual visits there. He is permitted to drive a Peace Corps 4 x 4 Willy’s  station wagon, and often gives people a lift — who are helpful when . . .

Imagine you are on a plane to a destination you know very little about and you will be living there for two years. On top of that, you don’t know anyone else going on this adventure, you only have a vague idea of what you will be doing, and you are not sure if you even made the right decision to go in the first place. A major comfort, though, is you know that you aren’t the only person having this anxiety because this is just the beginning of a Peace Corps Volunteer’s service. Tales from a Muzungu by Nicholas Duncan tells of the highs and lows of his two-year experience in Uganda from 2010 to 2012 as a Peace Corps Volunteer. In his book, he details a variety of topics including: The atmosphere of Uganda. The the day-to-day life of a Volunteer. What his first impressions were of the . . .

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 that will help support the site and the annual Peace Corps Writers awards. • The Road to Tamazunchale (Novel – reissue as ebook) by Ron Arias (Peru 1963–65) Bilingual Press September 2014 134 pages $8.69 (Kindle) • Truth Poker: Stories by Mark Brazaitis (Guatemala 1991–93) Autumn House Press January 2015 180 pages $17.95 (paperback) • 2,000 Miles Around the Tree of Life: A Naturalist Hikes  the Appalachian Trail (Memoir) by Richard W. Carroll Peace Corps Writers December 2014 126 pages $10.00 (paperback), $8.82 (Kindle) • Lily of Peru (Romance, thriller) by David C. Edmonds (Peru 1963–65) Peace Corps Writers December 2014 402 pages $15.95 (paperback) • Global Political Economy by Eddie James Girdner . . .

Getting to Where I Am by Richard Carroll (1976–82) I walked the Appalachian Trail in 1975 in a journey that spanned five months and one day. I stepped across an engraved plaque set in stone at Springer Mountain, Georgia marking the southern terminus of the A.T. on April 14th, and climbed Mt. Katahdin, Maine, the northern terminus, on September 15th. I would have completed the climb the day before, but it had snowed on the mountain, and the park service closed the trail, thus I wound up experiencing all four seasons on the Appalachian Trail. That last night I rested in a shelter, let my guard down, and got a commemorative hole in my pack from a mouse rummaging around for the remnants of the food I carried. After five months of hanging my pack, boots, food bag, and anything edible or sweaty in trees to stave off bears, porcupines, . . .

Mongolia Monologues: The Trials, Tribulations, Triumphs and Truths of a Feisty, Fifty-Something Peace Corps Volunteer by Joanne Nussbaum (Mongolia 2010–12) BookBaby November 2014 103 pages $3.99 (Kindle) Reviewed by Bob Arias (Colombia 1964–66) Age is just a Number! Young at heart, Joanne, a mother,  sets out to become a Peace Corps Volunteer in 2010 at the age of 53. “Can I make it,” she asks herself, “and Peace Corps wants to send me to Mongolia . . . where is that?” Training is rough and so are her first six months in beautiful Mongolia. Joanne tries, but the Mongolian language is difficult and she never is able to master it. But her heart is with her new community, and is full of the Peace Corps spirit to learn from others. Her students see her as a true friend and someone they trust, and they enjoy spending time together. These are HER students! . . .

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 that will help support the site and the annual Peace Corps Writers awards. Those Were the Days: A Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines in the Late ‘60s (Peace Corps essay collection) by James Beebe (Philippines 1968–73) Peace Corps Writers December 2014 162 pages $14.95 (paperback) • Rapid Qualitative Inquiry: A Field Guide to Team-Based Assessment (Second Edition) by James Beebe (Philippines 1968–73) Rowman & Littlefield Publishers October 2014 282 pages $38.00 (paperback) • Tales from A Muzungu (Peace Corps memoir) by Nicholas Duncan (Uganda 2010–12) Peace Corps Writers December 2014 156 pages $14.95 (paperback) • 100 Things to Do in Tampa Bay before You Die by Kristen Hare (Guyana 2000–02) St. Louis: . . .

Those Were the Days, published by Peace Corps Writers, is a series of vignettes of significant, often funny, and sometimes quite serious events, from James Beebe’s Peace Corps experience in the Philippine from October 1968 to May 1973. During that time he was profoundly changed by the joy of life and economic inequality he discovered. As a Volunteer he helped introduce a new activity-based approach to science teaching, learned the truth of the children’s rhyme that “Planting Rice is No Fun,” and taught part-time at a college. For him life included buying a one-of-a-kind mosquito net, being offered a love potion, witnessing funeral processions of poor babies, celebrating holidays, and being attacked by dogs after eating dog meat. The cloud of the Vietnam War also had a significant impact on James. But his most life-changing event almost didn’t happen when Maria, the “matchmaker’s” intended choice for James, accused the Peace . . .

100 Things to Do in Tampa Bay before You Die by Kristen Hare (Guyana 2000–02) St. Louis: Reedy Press June 2014 140 pages $16.00 (paperback) Reviewed by Leita Kaldi Davis (Senegal 1993-96) Kristen Hare describes her Peace Corps experience in Guyana as “sweaty, wonderful, sad and hard, and I’d do it again in a second.” Kristen married a Guyanese man and, in 2012, they moved to Tampa with their children. Kristen has the soul of a reporter. Presently a reporter for The Poynter Institute, she previously worked as a staff writer with the St. Louis Beacon and as a features writer with the St. Joseph News-Press. Her stories have earned national honors, including the Darrell Sifford Memorial Prize in Journalism from the University of Missouri and first place wins from the Society for Features Journalism. I loved her blog, Hard Corps, a collection of hilarious, horrible Peace Corps stories. So, . . .

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 that will help support our annual writers awards. • Ladyboy and the Volunteer (Peace Corps Memoir) by Susanne Aspley (Thailand 1989–91) Peace Corps Writers November 2014 288 pages $13.99 (paperback), $2.99 (Kindle) • Water Skiing on the Amazon: A Memoir for My Grandchildren (Peace Corps Memoir) by Patricia S. Taylor Edmisten (Peru 1962–64) Jewelweed October 2014 166 pages $20.79 (paperback) • Unhinged: Reflections, Opinions, Humor, Reminiscences, an Occasional Rant, Reportage — A Random Chronicle of Our Times (Essays) by Gerald Karey (Turkey 1965–67) Small Batch Books October 2014 414 pages $19.95 (paperback) • Mongolia Monologues: The Trials, Tribulations, Triumphs and Truths of a Feisty, Fifty-Something Peace Corps Volunteer by Joanne Nussbaum (Mongolia 2010–12) . . .

In Manchuria: A Village Called Wasteland and the Transformation of Rural China by Michael Meyer (China 1995–97) Bloomsbury Press February 2015 384 pages Pre-order: $28.00 (Hardcover), $9.99 (Kindle) Reviewed by William Siegel (Ethiopia 1962-64) I’ve had an interest in literature about China since I discovered a volume of translated Chinese poems on my parent’s bookshelves. The book, a handsome hardbound edition in bright orange linen, had a picture on the front of a lone figure in flowing robes standing on a boat poling across a swift river. Inside was a poem by Li Po titled “The River Merchant’s Wife.” In the poem, as a nine or ten year old, I first found that words could evoke feelings such as the notion of longing. Michael Meyer’s absorbing second book about China (his first, The Last Days of Old Beijing, is one I’m looking forward to reading), brings us a fresh, inside . . .