To Timbuktu: Nine Countries, Two People, One True Story
Casey Scieszka and Steven Weinberg
March 2011
496 pages
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Casey and Stephen met in college, while they were both studying overseas in Morocco. After graduation, they moved together to China to teach English. And then after the teaching gig, they travelled through Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand, before landing in Mali, where Casey had a Fulbright scholarship to study the impact of Islam on the school system.
It sounds like a lot, but the book moves fast. And it’s illustrated (Casey does the words, Steven the pictures), so, you know…less words per page. 
The bulk of the book is focused on their teaching experiences in Beijing, and then living in Mali. Some of the teaching stories are hilarious, and this was probably my favorite part of the book. Besides the observations about Beijing, and the frequent gushing over food, and the funny kid stories, there are also reflections on living together, and the frustrations of living abroad. Also, the frustrations of living together and reflections on living abroad. I liked the honesty of the book, that it wasn’t always “OMG I’m living in a foreign country and everything is so, so, so perfect!”
Laos, Vietnam and Thailand don’t get much press time, but the introductions to each county (in the form of brief interviews) were hysterical.
Mali was frustrating for the authors in a number of different ways. It was also the scariest country to read about, since there were some close encounters with the police and locals who weren’t all that happy about Casey’s research questions. Yet the authors still developed some close friendships and were able to portray a lot of good with the bad.
This is a fun take on travel memoirs, especially since Steven’s fairly spare, cartoonish sketches really added to the story. I’m not sure that I would’ve appreciated the book otherwise, since I found the writing to be a bit choppy at times and at other times a bit adolescent (I’m a fine one to point fingers, right?). But together, it totally works.
And so after I wrote this I got curious and googled ‘em both, and they both have blogs. And it turns out Casey’s blog is totally readable…the woman’s got skillz. Well, they both do, but I think that choppiness I was complaining about is more a result of the layout of the book. If I think of it as more like a series of vignettes than an actual narrative piece, then the choppiness sort of makes sense.
This sounds interesting to me. I get tired of books that make living abroad sound like a constant joy – I’ve done it so I know it’s not.
bermudaonion(Kathy)´s last [type] ..Wondrous Words Wednesday
Don’t you be recommending yet more blogs to follow! :–)
Well, I gotta say, this one sounds pretty damn good to me! Never heard of it before, so thank you!
Debi´s last [type] ..Locke & Key…thoughts along the way…
I absolutely go crazy when authors actually are out there, doing stuff like regular folks. And even though this isn’t exactly a graphic novel, it is close enough for me to check out.
Sandy´s last [type] ..Not So Wordless Wednesday: Kiawah #3
I heard about this some time back, got intrigued and forgot it totally. I have to check this out, because the mix of words and pictures is quite nice.
Athira´s last [type] ..The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
I think that I could get into this book, and that the choppiness and abruptness of the narrative wouldn’t bother me because of the great illustrations and the humorousness of the story.
zibilee´s last [type] ..Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans — 288 pgs
How have I never heard of this?! Sounds right up my alley…pictures – hell yes! I even think I could get my husband to give this one a shot since he loves to hear stories about foreigners in Asian countries (he was born in Taiwan).
Brooke´s last [type] ..Little Bee by Chris Cleave and More Food!
This sounds great! I love funny teaching stories.
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Oh fabulous, a book to add to the list and 2 more blogs to read!
Lisa´s last [type] ..Fairy Tale Fridays – The Science Behind The Tales
A travel memoir with pictures? I’m usually not a fan of memoirs but you might have convinced me. I could use something with nice pictures in it, as I’m sure you needed them as well.
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Drat. I don’t need to be adding to my wish list.
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Totally and completely want this book!
bybee´s last [type] ..Not My Emily
Oh, this sounds neat, and I don’t think I’ve come across mention of it before, so thanks!
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