But the book made me sad for two reasons. First, very few magazines pay for and publish the long and detailed pieces that Solomon did these days. Second, it made me so homesick for being on the road.
I love to travel. It’s probably my family’s greatest extravagance. I can get lots of reading and writing done thanks to the white noise on airplanes. I love a big, cool hotel bed and a room-service breakfast. I love hotel bars. And, I love meeting new people, inhaling the atmosphere of a new place, checking out museums and grocery stores and literary events. I like trying to make a home somewhere for a few months, and I like the mindless beauty of a beach resort. Whether it’s a roadtrip to Milwaukee or a summer in Chengdu, I can be packed up and ready to go. Or just get me there and I’ll find a pharmacy and an H&M.
But we’re not going to be able to travel any time soon, as even local trips and overnight stays are fraught with risk.
After reading Far and Away, though, I had an inspiration. A few years ago, I wanted to learn more about Africa and decided to read a book or watch a movie about every country on the continent. I discovered some great writers and learned a lot of new things. I’m hardly an expert (and have never been to the continent), but I know more than I once did. So why not try reading a book, watching a movie, or otherwise trying to learn even a little bit about every country in the world?
So that’s what I’m going to do, until things open up again.
