THE LIBRARY SHELF: Armchair traveling by book | Local Columnists | stwnewspress.com

On Wednesday, retirees are invited to tour the Amalfi Coast and cities on the Danube with speaker Daryl Nord who is presenting an Armchair Traveler program at “Making the Most of Retirement.” The program, provided by OSU Emeriti, is open to retirees and those approaching retirement. It begins at 1:30 p.m.

These wonderful Armchair Traveler programs give those of us who have not had a chance to tour the globe an opportunity to visit the world through the eyes of our fellow community members.

In a recent book discussion, the group I was in talked about traveling and how much everyone enjoyed it. I mentioned that I am not a traveler and that it is not something I regret. I believe I feel that way only because I have in fact traveled the world, and sometimes the universe, through books.

For those of you who prefer a mental travel to a physical visit, I encourage you to come to Mr. Nord’s program and then check out some of the following material to make your “trip” more complete.

First up, the Amalfi Coast. This popular tourist destination on the west side of Italy is filled with colorful villages that hang precipitously from the craggy Italian cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The area is famous for its production of limoncello, a liqueur made from the peels of lemons that grow abundantly throughout the hillsides.

For a taste, check out “At my Table” by Nigella Lawson and dive into her recipe for Brussel sprouts with preserved lemons or her lemon cake with blueberry compote. Follow up with Luanne Rice’s novel, “The Deep Blue Sea for Beginners.” For a grittier tour of a nearby area, visit Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan series beginning with “My Brilliant Friend,” which tells the story of two women growing up in the streets of a poor neighborhood in mid-century Naples.

For the next stop, head down the Danube, which begins in Germany and flows through ten countries until its terminus in the Black Sea. The famous river travels through many of Europe’s most beautiful cities including Vienna, Budapest and Belgrade.

For a literary tour of that region, visit “The Importance of Being Alice” by Katie MacAlister, a light hearted romance about a woman who takes her honeymoon cruise down the Danube despite being left before getting to the alter. Or take a more serious tour by reading “Between the Woods and the Water” by Patrick Leigh Fermor, which follows the author as he crosses Central Europe on foot in 1933.

These are just a few suggestions for taking a fabulous journey! To travel anywhere else in the world, just visit one of our librarians for help choosing the stops on your literary trip. For more on “Making the Most of Retirement,” visit https://retiredinstillwater.wordpress.com or come to one of the upcoming sessions, including:

May 15: “Assistive Technology for Seniors: Tools to Maintain Independence” with Shelley Gladden from OSU’s Wellness Center

June 19: “Tips for Aging Well” with Alex Bishop, Gerontology Program Coordinator at OSU’s Human Development and Family Science Department

July 17: “Armchair Traveler Series: Amazon Rainforest, Hiking Machu Picchu, and Cruising in the Galapagos Islands” with Arleta and Jim Webster.

Happy travels!

Stacy DeLano is an Adult Services Librarian for the Stillwater Public Library. For information, contact sdelano@stillwater. org at 405-372-3633, extension 8124, or visit library.stillwater.org.