Synopses & Reviews
Finalist for the Eric Hoffer AwardIPPY Award Gold Medalist for Travel EssayNext Generation Indie Book Award Winner for General Non-FictionNext Generation Indie Book Award Finalist for Travel/Travel Guide Both a memoir and a memorial, these collected letters and diary entries recount one familys adventurous journey in 1967 attempting to drive around the world in a VW bus. Not intended as a book at the time of the writing, the intimate and poignant story details the familys travels through Europe, the Middle East, and into Asia, challenging preconceptions about different cultures and illuminating how one-year-old Zerky had a magical effect on everyone they met along the way. The book features maps and pictures of the trek yet is more than just a travelogue; Zerky and his mother died shortly after the trip and this narrative serves as tribute to their lives.
Review
"This powerful, wonderful and compelling book . . . is for anyone who savors and celebrates personal stories of epic journeys, vividly brought to life in a dramatic way." Greg Mortenson, author, Three Cups of Tea
Review
Bill, JoAnne, their 18-month old son Zerky and their fearless dachshund Tarzan packed into their VW van to set-off to see the world. Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Sikkim, Assam, Nepal, Thailand, China. Bill takes you along on that rugged ride. Letters to Zerky captures those innocent times in this touching blast to the past and tender tribute to a son.” Brandon Wilson, Lowell Thomas Award-Winning author of Along the Templar Trail and Yak Butter Blues
Review
A masterful storyteller and beautiful description. A tale that keeps readers turning the page for more. The book will appeal to a wide audience, including those interested in travel, Middle Eastern history, and simply a well-written story of adventure.” Christine Canfield, ForeWord Magazine
Review
That rare travelogue with no ego and a true sense of discovery. A compelling and poignant read. The glimpses into Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal and China are invaluable.” Kyle Wagner, The Denver Post
Review
A testament to the power of the human spiritto wonder, endure and remember. The adventure quotient here is high, but the main ballast of the book is emotional, a testament to the power of the human spiritto wander, endure and remember. A chronicle of travels through a bygone world.” Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
In 1967, Bill and JoAnne tried to drive a Volkswagen bus around the world with their baby son, Zerky, and dog, Tarzan. From San Francisco they flew to Germany, where they purchased the camper van and headed east across southern Europe, into Asia, as far as they could go. They traveled across Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Sikkim, India, and Assam, where they hoped to take the Burma Road into China, but were turned back. From there they headed for Thailand and Hong Kong, one-year-old Zerky having a magical effect on everyone they met along the way. An adventure story about a once-upon-a-time journey, this is a story that will challenge pre-conceptions about people of the Middle East and beyond.
Synopsis
In 1967, Bill and JoAnne tried to drive a Volkswagen bus around the world with their baby son, Zerky, and dog, Tarzan. From San Francisco they flew to Germany, where they purchased the camper van and headed east across southern Europe, into Asia, as far as they could go. They traveled across Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Sikkim, India, and Assam, where they hoped to take the Burma Road into China, but were turned back. From there they headed for Thailand and Hong Kong, one-year-old Zerky having a magical effect on everyone they met along the way. An adventure story about a once-upon-a-time journey, this is a story that will challenge pre-conceptions about people of the Middle East and beyond.
About the Author
Bill Raney dropped out of college in 1959 to become a beatnik in San Franciscos North Beach district. In the late 1960s, he founded the Nickelodeon Theatre, a local art theatre still alive and successful today. He lives in Santa Cruz, California. JoAnne Walker Raney moved to Paris in 1955 and from there went hitchhiking through Yugoslavia during the 1956 Hungarian Uprising. She returned to San Francisco in the late 1950s to buy and remodel a small art theatre, The Movie.