BEYOND THE SUNSET

An American author and healthcare executive recalls more of her global travels in this sequel memoir.

Knowlton’s first volume covered her upbringing in Pennsylvania, how she was bitten by the travel bug, and her and her husband Mike’s cross-country adventures in a van after college.In this book, she presents a new series of essays that take readers through seven safaris in six African countries, tours of Nepali temples, the Taj Mahal, and accounts of Maori haka performances. These essays manage to capture what Knowlton describes as “the splendor of these many works,” which include “the haunting beauty that the inexorable toll of time can evoke.” Rather than organizing her memoir chronologically or by region, Knowlton does so by theme, as in “To Market, To Market,” about the various food and wares sold in markets in Asian and African countries; “The Night Sky,” about observing the heavens from different points of the planet; and “Travel Wonders,” about some of the author’s favorite destinations. Other chapters are dedicated to travel tips on such familiar topics as battling sickness and finding accommodations. Knowlton’s prose effectively relates her awe at seeing new places, but her accounts don’t often delve deep into local history, nor do they examine the lasting impact of the experiences on Knowlton and her spouse, although a single chapter does ponder how the author’s travels influenced her thriller writing.The book breaks up the text with some picturesque landscape shots by both the author and her husband. One of the most compelling chapters is about the conversations she’s had with non-Americans about religious and political issues, such as the Syrian refugee crisis. The work occasionally analyzes how geopolitics have influenced personal interactions abroad, although some may find that a section on Vietnam lacks sufficient historical context.

A wide-ranging book that may help the travel-hesitant feel confident in taking the plunge.