Far Country: Stories from Abroad and Other Places
Product ID: 14704258
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It is easy to get caught up in Tim Kenny๏ฟฝs rich stories about Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, the U.S., and elsewhere. Behind every story about his experiences are drive and perseverance--often exhibited during turbulent times in foreign lands--that give substance to the stories. I admire the way he shows the unfamiliar, but ultimately it is the way he makes me experience the familiar in a different way that I find most rewarding. I am pulled in by the stories about foreign countries, yet more fascinating is the expectation of ๏ฟฝhome๏ฟฝ that he builds, a sense of how it feels to be away from home, by comparing the strangeness of different countries to what he knows--but then does the same in the story about the uneasiness and loss he feels in returning to Detroit after years away. This notion of home that Kenny produces is stunning." ~Adnan Mahmutovic, Co-editor, Two-Thirds North, Stockholm, Sweden Review: Understanding the world, one story at a time - Timothy Kenny is an experienced journalist who has traveled extensively throughout the world both as a reporter and a journalism trainer. In Far Country, he is telling stories from places such as Kosovo, Baku, Kabul, Sarajevo and Bucharest, as well as his hometown Detroit and his current home in Connecticut -- snippets of life, sometimes dramatic and sad, sometimes absurd, sometimes even funny. Everything in the book converges to make us understand that what may seem strange and extraordinary to us is nothing but the usual for people living in other parts of the world. Just like our standard of normality may seem far-fetched to them. The world is incredibly diverse, and in order for us to truly begin to understand it, we must look at it with an open mind. Instead of blocking our view by trying to see the world through the filter of our own local background and experience, we should rather accept that our way of living and looking at things is just one of many. The stories in the book will probably help you make more sense of all the disturbing news floating around, and maybe even understand (if not agree with) some of the motivations driving people from remote corners of the world. Far Country is, undeniably, a sad book. It tells us that people will get used to the worst circumstances: those in Kabul and in war-time Sarajevo to living in constant fear; those in Kosovo or Bucharest to having to face packs of stray dogs every night; those in Baku to corruption at all levels; those in Detroit to seeing their city fall into decay; those getting old to the reality of their own mortality. The world, however, is not hopeless. Sarajevo has found a new life after the war, and people everywhere do go on with their existence. Even Detroit is redefining itself, sort of. Toward the end of the book, Kenny introduces his young daughter, Caitlin, for whom the "worst Sunday ever" is the day she could not bowl at the local bowling emporium. For her, the world is quite a different place than the one in most of her father's stories. Review: Good memoir + good journalism - Timothy Kennyโs Far Country offers something found in many memoirs โ entertaining recollections and anecdotes โ and something less common -- good journalism. His tales from the Balkans, the Mideast and elsewhere are fun reading, but Tim also does a great job of reporting along the way. His interviews are particularly insightful, showing a careful preparation for a book that some authors prefer to write from memory alone. I can vouch for Timโs reporting from Kosovo and Afghanistan because our professional paths intersected in both places. He gives an honest portrayal of those bewildering lands without ever sacrificing good story-telling. His reflections on and assessment of Detroit, his hometown, also match what I recall from my time there. If youโre looking for an interesting and highly readable memoir from a first-rate journalist and teacher, this is a book for you.
| Best Sellers Rank | #5,348,924 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #862 in General Middle East Travel Guides #2,154 in Historical Middle East Biographies #13,242 in Middle East History |
| Customer Reviews | 4.8 out of 5 stars 12 Reviews |
B**U
Understanding the world, one story at a time
Timothy Kenny is an experienced journalist who has traveled extensively throughout the world both as a reporter and a journalism trainer. In Far Country, he is telling stories from places such as Kosovo, Baku, Kabul, Sarajevo and Bucharest, as well as his hometown Detroit and his current home in Connecticut -- snippets of life, sometimes dramatic and sad, sometimes absurd, sometimes even funny. Everything in the book converges to make us understand that what may seem strange and extraordinary to us is nothing but the usual for people living in other parts of the world. Just like our standard of normality may seem far-fetched to them. The world is incredibly diverse, and in order for us to truly begin to understand it, we must look at it with an open mind. Instead of blocking our view by trying to see the world through the filter of our own local background and experience, we should rather accept that our way of living and looking at things is just one of many. The stories in the book will probably help you make more sense of all the disturbing news floating around, and maybe even understand (if not agree with) some of the motivations driving people from remote corners of the world. Far Country is, undeniably, a sad book. It tells us that people will get used to the worst circumstances: those in Kabul and in war-time Sarajevo to living in constant fear; those in Kosovo or Bucharest to having to face packs of stray dogs every night; those in Baku to corruption at all levels; those in Detroit to seeing their city fall into decay; those getting old to the reality of their own mortality. The world, however, is not hopeless. Sarajevo has found a new life after the war, and people everywhere do go on with their existence. Even Detroit is redefining itself, sort of. Toward the end of the book, Kenny introduces his young daughter, Caitlin, for whom the "worst Sunday ever" is the day she could not bowl at the local bowling emporium. For her, the world is quite a different place than the one in most of her father's stories.
T**F
Good memoir + good journalism
Timothy Kennyโs Far Country offers something found in many memoirs โ entertaining recollections and anecdotes โ and something less common -- good journalism. His tales from the Balkans, the Mideast and elsewhere are fun reading, but Tim also does a great job of reporting along the way. His interviews are particularly insightful, showing a careful preparation for a book that some authors prefer to write from memory alone. I can vouch for Timโs reporting from Kosovo and Afghanistan because our professional paths intersected in both places. He gives an honest portrayal of those bewildering lands without ever sacrificing good story-telling. His reflections on and assessment of Detroit, his hometown, also match what I recall from my time there. If youโre looking for an interesting and highly readable memoir from a first-rate journalist and teacher, this is a book for you.
D**K
Four Stars
An interesting personal insight of the people in very different cultures
T**Y
Should be required reading
This book grabbed me and wouldn't let go. Mr. Kenny is one of those gifted writers that finds beautiful people and places where you would least expect it. His stories from war-torn areas of eastern Europe and the middle east are amazing. Reading about human beings enduring and living life under these ungodly conditions has been a real learning experience. It should be required reading for those of us that have come to take these "far country" wars for granted. NOTE: although the book is anecdotal and the reader may be tempted to jump around, do yourself a favor and read this book start to finish. The author's return to his childhood home near Detroit provides valuable lessons in how similar we all are - far and near.
G**D
Beautifully written. Engaging
Beautifully written. Engaging. Inspiring to all storytellers and aspiring storytellers. This book is easy to read and difficult to put down. Mr. Kenny has a journalist's eye for detail, but a novelist's ability to develop character and voice. All readers also will appreciate that Mr. Kenny observes and conveys, but leaves the reader to make his or her own conclusions.
W**R
Read and Know the Adventure of Travel and Writting Well.
Well written and a treat for those who have visited some of the places the author has written about. Mr. Kenny "paints" a vivid mental picture of events and locations. Reading this was a real pleasure. Very well done.
J**K
Five Stars
Very interesting stories about places that are still in the news today.
A**R
A great read
This book takes you on a journey to far away cities and shows you the parts you haven't seen on TV and haven't read about in the newspaper articles the author, and countless other journalists, have written in the Western media. It tells you about the ordinary people in countries torn by war and revolution, their fears and hopes, their mannerisms, superstitions and contradictions. It also shows you the foreign correspondent as he would rather not be seen โ a little afraid, a little insecure and sometimes lonely. It's not just developing countries that Tim Kenny visits and re-visits in this book, but also his hometown of Detroit, where he has to deal with his own shock and hurt at the sight of what it has become. Time and how it changes us and the people around us is the main theme of this series of well-written, absorbing short stories. The author does not judge, does not preach and does not offer advice. It's part of what makes this book such a good read.
A**R
I thoroughly enjoyed this book
This book takes you on a journey to far away cities and shows you the parts you haven't seen on TV and haven't read about in the newspaper articles the author, and countless other journalists, have written in the Western media. It tells you about the ordinary people in countries torn by war and revolution, their fears and hopes, their mannerisms, superstitions and contradictions. It also shows you the foreign correspondent as he would rather not be seen โ a little afraid, a little insecure and sometimes lonely. It's not just developing countries that Tim Kenny visits and re-visits in this book, but also his hometown of Detroit, where he has to deal with his own shock and hurt at the sight of what it has become. Time and how it changes us and the people around us is the main theme of this series of well-written, absorbing short stories. The author does not judge, does not preach and does not offer advice. It's part of what makes this book such a good read.
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