Tuesday, June 29, 2010

THE LUNATIC EXPRESS: PREVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED
THE LUNATIC EXPRESS

BY CARL HOFFMAN

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Indonesian Ferry Sinks. Peruvian Bus Plunges Off Cliff. African Train Attacked by Mobs. Whenever he picked up the newspaper, Carl Hoffman noticed those short news bulletins, which seemed about as far from the idea of tourism, travel as the pursuit of pleasure, as it was possible to get. So off he went, spending six months circumnavigating the globe on the world's worst conveyances: the statistically most dangerous airlines, the most crowded and dangerous ferries, the slowest buses, and the most rickety trains. The Lunatic Express takes us into the heart of the world, to some its most teeming cities and remotest places: from Havana to Bogotá on the perilous Cuban Airways. Lima to the Amazon on crowded night buses where the road is a washed-out track. Across Indonesia and Bangladesh by overcrowded ferries that kill 1,000 passengers a year. On commuter trains in Mumbai so crowded that dozens perish daily, across Afghanistan as the Taliban closes in, and, scariest of all, Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., by Greyhound.

The Lunatic Express is the story of traveling with seatmates and deckmates who have left home without American Express cards on conveyances that don't take Visa, and seldom take you anywhere you'd want to go. But it's also the story of traveling as it used to be -- a sometimes harrowing trial, of finding adventure in a modern, rapidly urbanizing world and the generosity of poor strangers, from ear cleaners to urban bus drivers to itinerant roughnecks, who make up most of the world's population. More than just an adventure story, The Lunatic Express is a funny, harrowing and insightful look at the world as it is, a planet full of hundreds of millions of people, mostly poor, on the move and seeking their fortunes.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Carl Hoffman has driven the Baja 1000, ridden reindeer in Siberia, sailed an open dinghy 250 miles, and traveled to 65 countries. When he's able to stay put for more than a few months at a time, he lives in Washington, D.C., where his three children make fun of him on a pretty constant basis. He is a contributing editor at National Geographic Traveler and Wired magazines, and his stories about travel and technology also appear in Outside, National Geographic Adventure, Men's Journal and Popular Mechanics.
REVIEW:

WATCH FOR MY REVIEW AND BONUS ENTRIES COMING SOON!


GIVEAWAY

THANK YOU TO MY FRIENDS AT
BROADWAY/RANDOM HOUSE, I HAVE
ONE COPY OF THIS INTERESTING BOOK
TO GIVE AWAY TO ONE LUCKY WINNER!



--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!

HOW TO ENTER

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FOUND INTERESTING ABOUT THE INFORMATION FOR THE LUNATIC EXPRESS ABOVE THAT MAKES YOU WANT TO WIN

+1 MORE ENTRY:
BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND THEN COME BACK AND LEAVE A LINK

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE OTHER CURRENT GIVEAWAY YOU HAVE ENTERED. ONLY ONE THIS TIME, PLEASE!

+5 MORE ENTRIES???:
COMMENT ON IF YOU ARE A SUBSCRIBER TO SWAGBUCKS WITH ME AND IF SO, GO TO SWAGBUCKS AND SEARCH AND WIN SOME BUCKS, COME BACK AND TELL ME HOW MANY YOU WIN AND YOU WILL GET ENTRIES UP TO +5 IF YOU WIN 5 OR MORE SWAGBUCKS! THERE IS A WIDGET AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE IF YOU WANT TO SEARCH FROM THERE AS WELL AS IN THE RIGHT HAND COLUMN!


GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, JULY 12

49 comments:

Pamela Keener said...

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Pamela Keener said...

OMG I want to read this book if only for the education of travelling via Greyhound from LA to DC.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

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Pam
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traveler said...

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Benita said...

I find it interesting that this is a story of traveling. It's a way a reader can travel along. I'd love to read this book.


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rubynreba said...

I entered 32 candles giveaway.
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rubynreba said...

Lunatic Express takes us to some of the most remote places as well as to cities.
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Linda Kish said...

I entered the Wrong giveaway

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Linda Kish said...

It is gutsy but wonderful that he was able to travel to so many areas as the locals do. Maybe I can find some of the articles he has written about his travels as well.

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debbie said...

When you get away from the tourist locations, you really see what the country is like. It sounds like a interesting book.
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debbie said...

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Steve Capell said...

Air travel use to be fun and enjoyable; however, anymore the airline industry seems to treat you like a number and charges you for everything they can and many are now even charging you to haul your luggage … I fail to understand! I have flown many trips over the years, but I am sure that I have never flow the “most dangerous airline” as Carl Hoffman describes it … maybe the second most dangerous airline. This book somehow sounds interesting. Maybe I can take a most dangerous trip and never leave the safety and comfort of my reading chair by reading this novel. GREAT review you have defiantly peaked my interest. Thank you so much for hosting this giveaway.

steven(dot)capell(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

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Margie said...

I also entered your giveaway for Mr. Rosenblum.
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Margie said...

This book looks fascinating to me. I always enjoy memoirs and new insights into other cultures. The travel aspect of this book is also very intriguing.
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Laura said...

I love travel memoirs and would love to find out about his journey into finding the dangerous aspects of traveling. I am a follwer.
Laura
laura.leahj@gmail.com

Margie said...

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rubynreba said...

Story of traveling as it used to be and the generosity of poor strangers.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Tina said...

I had to catch my breath---I think I've probably had some of these adventures - or at least some just as scary- I'd love to read this book.

tbranco(at)hughes(dot)net

Tina said...

I entered "secrets of Newberry"

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MRWriter said...

Sounds exciting. I would love to read the domestic part about riding Greyhound from LA to DC. LOL.

AlexDean03(at)yahoo.com

urbanL said...

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urbanL said...

well At first I wasn't sure I wanted to read this book but that was based on the cover. I can't help myself when I do that my wife is the same way, but after reading it. I like to see how everyone else lives, doesn't sound safe at all. Interesting. wonder if this book i will help make a change.

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Unknown said...

The first few sentences were interesting about transportation that must really suck, I've seen that kind of thing on the amazing race one year than had to take this old train where everyone was in there like a sardine can and it smelled terrible too.

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Shirley said...

I'm not surer this is my kind of book, but I know my son in law will read it. The transportation issues sounds like an interesting subject.

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