Letters to Zerky: A Father's Legacy to a Lost Son . . . and a Road Trip Around the World - Softcover

Raney, Bill; Raney, JoAnne Walker

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0982138415 ISBN 13: 9780982138410

Publisher: Nickelodeon Press, 2011

Synopsis

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 family’s 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 family’s 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.

About this title

About the Author

Bill Raney dropped out of college in 1959 to become a beatnik in San Francisco’s 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. She died in 1969.

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

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

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

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

A testament to the power of the human spirit to 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 spirit to wander, endure and remember. A chronicle of travels through a bygone world.”   Kirkus Reviews

About this edition

• Publisher: Nickelodeon Press
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0982138415
• ISBN 13: 9780982138410
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 436