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Mountain Bike! Los Angeles County
by Charles PattersonMountain Bike! Los Angeles County is must-have literature for the cyclist who is eager to explore the wonderful terrain that housed the genesis of mountain biking in the late seventies. In this trail guide you'll find detailed maps of carefully planned routes, some popular and some unknown to many, as well as comprehensive descriptions of what hazards and delights you'll encounter along the way. Whether you're a adrenalin seeking downhill bomber, or a gram-counting cross country racer, the Wide Grin guide will be your bible. Los Angeles County has every conceivable type of mountain bike accessible terrain, from remote, loamy oak forest floor singletracks without a person in sight, to roller coaster, rock-garden filled chutes that will give you plenty of thrills. Several easier routes for novice riders are also included.Over the years, mountain biking has become a multi-faceted sport, encompassing several disciplines that all utilize the 26-inch knobby tire. The masochistic single-speeder, the cross country racer, the dirt-jumping purist, the downhill racer, the freerider, the epic rider and the weekend warrior will all find their needs catered to in this guide. Each route is rated on technical and aerobic difficulty, so no rider will get more than they bargained for. Additionally, GPS waypoints for the start of each route are given in both UTM and latitude/longitude coordinates, so you'll never find yourself lost.Los Angeles County has enough riding terrain to keep your riding experiences new, fresh, and challenging for a lifetime. Even veteran Angelinos will find themselves surprised at the number of great loops and shuttle-runs unbeknownst to them until now. After a broad tour of LA's mountain bike playgrounds, you'll surely cancel your plans to relocate to Vancouver's North Shore or to the city of Moab, Utah, because Socal truly is the Mecca of mountain biking, and Los Angeles is right in the center of it.
Mountain Bike! Orange County
by David WomackMountain Bike! Orange County covers the gamut of mountain biking behind the Orange Curtain. From the majestic peaks of the Santa Ana Mountains to the rolling grasslands of Chino Hills State Park, there's something for everyone here. Rip extreme drops in Laguna Canyon, explore the vast reaches of the Cleveland National Forest, and race down suburban singletrack on the Fullerton Loop. Whether you are looking for an after work workout or a day long exhibition, this is the book for you. Orange County is not just concrete roadways and Disneyland. There's more E Ticket off-road adventures here than you can shake a spoke at. Mountain Bike! Orange County provides detailed descriptions for all the classic rides and a few undiscovered gems.
Mountain Bike! San Francisco and the Bay Area
by Skye KraftThe San Francisco Bay Area is known for its natural diversity - its forested areas, mountainous peaks, and coastal environments make for an array of outdoor experiences. Mountain bikers of all skill and intensity levels will find many exciting paths to take in this detailed and exhaustive guide.
Mountain Brook
by Catherine Pittman SmithNestled in the over-the-mountain suburbia of Birmingham, Mountain Brook was originally hunting grounds for Creek, Choctaw, Cherokee, and Chickasaw Indians. First settled in the 1820s in the area called Shades Valley, it was not until 1926 that Robert Jemison Jr. began developing Mountain Brook Estates into its present form. Jemison had enormous vision honoring its natural beauty, and he hired regional planner and landscape architect Warren H. Manning of Boston to design a secluded residential community of handsome homes and amenities. Mountain Brook was incorporated in 1942 and experienced a resurgence of growth and expansion after World War II. The neighborhoods were designed to be anchored by villages as community centers for residents within walking distance. Still in touch with the vision and principles on which Robert Jemison founded Mountain Brook, its citizens enjoy the avant-garde villages full of restaurants, specialty gift shops, groceries, and parks, as well as its scenic natural landscape.
Mountain Guru: The Life of Doug Scott
by Catherine MooreheadDoug Scott was a legend among mountaineers. His expeditions, undertaken over a period of five decades, are unparalleled achievements. This book describes the extraordinary drama of them all, from the Himalaya to New Zealand, Patagonia, Yosemite and Alaska. It includes his famous ‘epic’ on The Ogre, one of the hardest peaks in the world to climb, his ascent of Kangchenjunga without supplementary oxygen and his ascent, with Dougal Haston, of Everest in 1975. Catherine Moorehead also uncovers the elusive man behind the obsessive mountaineer. From his rumbustious youth in Nottingham through two tempestuous marriages to a secure third marriage, she shows how Scott matured in thought and action as his formidable global reputation increased. In doing so she reveals him to be a clash of opposites, an infuriating monomaniac who took extraordinary risks yet who developed a deep interest in Buddhism and inspired widespread affection. Scott spent almost as long as his climbing career in founding and developing Community Action Nepal, providing schools and health posts in remote parts of Nepal, where he is still much revered. Doug Scott died in 2020.
Mountain High: Europe's 50 Greatest Cycle Climbs
by Daniel Friebe Pete GodingSHORTLISTED FOR THE BRITISH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS Mountain High is a book for cyclists of all interests and abilities - from experienced club racers to enthusiastic amateurs looking for the world's greatest cycle challenge. Packed with practical route information and advice on each climb, Daniel Friebe's beautifully written text explains why each mountain pass merits inclusion in the top 50 with superb descriptions of the majestic scenery, the heroic deeds of cycling's legendary riders or the sheer endeavour and exhilaration of reaching the summit. With over 250 specially commissioned photographs taken by specialist cycling photographer Pete Goding, this really is the ultimate guide to Europe's 50 best climbs.Featured rides include: Tour de France icons Alpe d'Huez, Col du Galibier, Mont Ventoux, Col de l'Izoard and Col du Tourmalet; the Passo dello Stelvio, Passo Fedaia, Le Tre Cime di Lavaredo and other sacred summits from the Giro d'Italia; plus Spain's formidable Alto de l'Angliru, Austria's Grossglockner and forty more mountain legends.
Mountain Higher: Europe's Extreme, Undiscovered and Unforgettable Cycle Climbs
by Daniel Friebe Pete GodingThe hidden gems of Europe's best roads and passes, from the authors of the hugely successful Mountain High.Following the success of Mountain High: Europe's Greatest Cycle Climbs comes a volume focusing on the continent's lesser-known, challenging and spectacular mountain roads and passes. From the heights of the Ötztal Glacier Road in Austria to the 'secret' side of the legendary Alpe d'Huez, Mountain Higher: Europe's Extreme, Undiscovered and Unforgettable Cycle Climbs explores 50 soon-to-be cult locations and captures stunning scenery from off the beaten track. Featuring the technical details (maps, profiles, lengths, heights) that made Mountain High an indispensable reference book, as well as dynamic descriptions of the routes themselves and Pete Goding's breathtaking photography, this book is a stylish and practical guide to the hidden gems that every true cycling enthusiast needs to know about.
Mountain Lines: A Journey through the French Alps
by Jonathan ArlanA New York Times best summer travel book recommendationA nonfiction debut about an American’s solo, month-long, 400-mile walk from Lake Geneva to Nice. In the summer of 2015, Jonathan Arlan was nearing thirty. Restless, bored, and daydreaming of adventure, he comes across an image on the Internet one day: a map of the southeast corner of France with a single red line snaking south from Lake Geneva, through the jagged brown and white peaks of the Alps to the Mediterranean sea?a route more than four hundred miles long. He decides then and there to walk the whole trail solo. Lacking any outdoor experience, completely ignorant of mountains, sorely out of shape, and fighting last-minute nerves and bad weather, things get off to a rocky start. But Arlan eventually finds his mountain legs?along with a staggering variety of aches and pains?as he tramps a narrow thread of grass, dirt, and rock between cloud-collared, ice-capped peaks in the High Alps, through ancient hamlets built into hillsides, across sheep-dotted mountain pastures, and over countless cols on his way to the sea. In time, this simple, repetitive act of walking for hours each day in the remote beauty of the mountains becomes as exhilarating as it is exhausting.Mountain Lines is the stirring account of a month-long journey on foot through the French Alps and a passionate and intimate book laced with humor, wonder, and curiosity. In the tradition of trekking classics like A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush, The Snow Leopard, and Tracks, the book is a meditation on movement, solitude, adventure, and the magnetic power of the natural world.
Mountain States Foraging: 115 Wild and Flavorful Edibles from Alpine Sorrel to Wild Hops (Regional Foraging Series)
by Briana Wiles“A stunning look at the natural abundance of the mountain states—with clear guidance on identification, gathering techniques, and uses.” —Jennifer McGruther, author of The Nourished Kitchen The Mountain States offer a veritable feast for foragers, and with Briana Wiles as your trusted guide you will learn how to safely find and identify an abundance of delicious wild plants. The plant profiles in Mountain States Foraging include clear, color photographs, identification tips, guidance on how to ethically harvest, and suggestions for eating and preserving. A handy seasonal planner details which plants are available during every season. Thorough, comprehensive, and safe, this is a must-have for foragers in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and northern Nevada.
Mountain States Medicinal Plants: Identify, Harvest, and Use 100 Wild Herbs for Health and Wellness
by Briana Wiles“A practical guide to using medicinal herbs as well as a powerful reminder of our reciprocal relationship with the natural world.” —Rosalee de la Forêt, author of Alchemy of Herbs In Mountain States Medicinal Plants, Briana Wiles is your trusted guide to finding, identifying, harvesting, and using 120 of the region’s most powerful wild plants. You’ll learn how to safely and ethically forage and how to use wild plants in herbal medicines including teas, tinctures, and salves. Plant profiles include clear, color photographs, identification tips, medicinal uses and herbal preparations, and harvesting suggestions. Lists of what to forage for each season makes the guide useful year-round. Thorough, comprehensive, and safe, this is a must-have for foragers, naturalists, and herbalists in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and northern Nevada.
Mountain Tourism: Experiences, Communities, Environments and Sustainable Futures
by Michael Hall Peter Williams John Hull Kathleen Scherf Dr Michael Lück Lluis Prats Harold Richins Aurelia Kogler Marit Engeset Joel Schmidt Senija Causevic Farhad Moghimehfar Umberto Martini Baikuntha Acharya Simon Milne Anne Terwiel Tracey J Dickson Emmanuelle George-Marcelpoil Sydney Johnsen Michael Volgger Billy Colins Elizabeth Halpenny Peet van der Merwe Axel Dreyer Anita Zehrer Robin Reid Sanjay Nepal Robert Hood Thorvardur AransonMountains have long held an appeal for people around the world. This book focusses on the diversity of perspectives, interaction and role of tourism within these areas. Providing a vital update to the current literature, it considers the interdisciplinary context of communities, the creation of mountain tourism experiences and the impacts tourism has on these environments. Including authors from Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America, the development, planning and governance issues are also covered.
Mountain Tourism: Experiences, Communities, Environments and Sustainable Futures
by Michael Hall Peter Williams Kathleen Scherf Dr Michael Lück Lluis Prats Aurelia Kogler Marit Engeset Joel Schmidt Senija Causevic Farhad Moghimehfar Umberto Martini Baikuntha Acharya Simon Milne Anne Terwiel Tracey J Dickson Sydney Johnsen Michael Volgger Billy Colins Elizabeth Halpenny Peet van der Merwe Axel Dreyer Anita Zehrer Robin Reid Sanjay Nepal Robert Hood Thorvardur Aranson Emmanuelle GeorgeMountains have long held an appeal for people around the world. This book focusses on the diversity of perspectives, interaction and role of tourism within these areas. Providing a vital update to the current literature, it considers the interdisciplinary context of communities, the creation of mountain tourism experiences and the impacts tourism has on these environments. Including authors from Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America, the development, planning and governance issues are also covered.
Mountain of the Dead: The Dyatlov Pass Incident
by Keith McCloskeyIn January 1959, ten experienced young skiers set out for Mount Otorten in the far north of Russia. While one of the skiers fell ill and returned., the remaining nine lost their way and ended up on another mountain slope known as Kholat Syakhl (or ‘Mountain of the Dead’). On the night of 1 February 1959 something or someone caused the skiers to flee their tent in such terror that they used knives to slash their way out. Search parties were sent out and their bodies were found, some with massive internal injuries but with no external marks on them. The autopsy stated the violent injuries were caused by ‘an unknown compelling force’. The area was sealed off for years by the authorities and the full events of that night remained unexplained. Using original research carried out in Russia and photographs from the skier's cameras, Keith McCloskey attempts to explain what happened to the nine young people who lost their lives in the mysterious ‘Dyatlov Pass Incident’.
Mountain: A Life on the Rocks
by Steve BackshallSteve Backshall's love affair with the mountains has taken him to some of the world's wildest places, environments that have the power to make a human being feel very small, very vulnerable and very alive. MOUNTAIN: A LIFE OF THE ROCKS is an account of his most breathtaking expeditions: heading into the 'Death Zone' on the roof of the world in the Himalayas, and picking a precarious route up hundreds of metres of rock in the Arctic and Alps. There are expeditions of exploration, as Steve makes the first ascent of jungle peaks and scales the tabletop mountains of the 'Lost World', Venezuela's Gran Sabana, in search of undiscovered animal species on their summits. Steve recalls his apprenticeship in the art of mountaineering with the Indian army, and the terror and near-disaster of some of his more ill-fated adventures, including the aftermath of the fall that should have ended his life.This is a tale of terror and ecstasy, a book that tries to get to the heart of why we risk our lives to climb and conquer. But most of all, MOUNTAIN is a love letter to the wilderness, from one of the world's most adventurous spirits.
Mountain: Exploring Britain's High Places
by Griff Rhys JonesGriff Rhys Jones was a mountain virgin. So when it was suggested that he might like to go up a few of Britain’s peaks, he rightly asked: isn’t there someone better qualified? Apparently not. So Griff was duly dispatched across the rooftops of England, Scotland and Wales to explore some of the roughest, most arduous – not to mention most beautiful – terrain, and to meet those who live daily in such thin-aired wilds. Climbing the big mountains like Snowdon, Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike and many others besides gave Griff an insight into the passion and devotion our high places inspire – and turned a mountain virgin into a mountaineer. Well almost …
Mountaineering Tourism (Contemporary Geographies of Leisure, Tourism and Mobility)
by James Higham Anna Thompson-Carr Ghazali MusaIn May 1993 the British Mountaineering Council met to discuss the future of high altitude tourism. Of concern to attendees were reports of queues on Everest and reference was made to mountaineer Peter Boardman calling Everest an ‘amphitheater of the ego’. Issues raised included environmental and social responsibility and regulations to minimize impacts. In the years that have followed there has been a surge of interest in climbing Everest, with one day in 2012 seeing 234 climbers reach the summit. Participation in mountaineering tourism has surely escalated beyond the imagination of those who attended the meeting 20 years ago. This book provides a critical and comprehensive analysis of all pertinent aspects and issues related to the development and the management of the growth area of mountaineering tourism. By doing so it explores the meaning of adventure and special reference to mountain-based adventure, the delivering of adventure experience and adventure learning and education. It further introduces examples of settings (alpine environments) where a general management framework could be applied as a baseline approach in mountaineering tourism development. Along with this general management framework, the book draws evidence from case studies derived from various mountaineering tourism development contexts worldwide, to highlight the diversity and uniqueness of management approaches, policies and practices. Written by leading academics from a range of disciplinary backgrounds, this insightful book will provide students, researchers and academics with a better understanding of the unique aspects of tourism management and development of this growing form of adventure tourism across the world.
Mountains for Mortals: New England
by Ron Chase Nancy ChaseAlthough New England contains three of the four most densely populated states in the country, there are still numerous natural sites to be explored in this beautiful area, and this detailed guide catalogs the most unique and scenic mountains. From Mount Katahdin in Maine to the peaks above the coastline, the finest hikes are included here, along with beautiful photographs of the land and precise directions and descriptions.
Mountains of Fire: The Secret Lives of Volcanoes
by Clive OppenheimerA thrilling journey to the planet's most extreme places with volcanologist and filmmaker Professor Clive Oppenheimer, revealing how volcanoes have shaped us and our planet.Volcanoes mean more than threat and calamity. Like our parents, they've led whole lives before we get to know them. They have inspired our imaginations, provoked pioneering explorations and shaped the path of humanity.World-renowned volcanologist Clive Oppenheimer has worked at the crater's edge in the wildest places on Earth, from remote peaks in the Sahara to mystical mountains in North Korea. He's faced down AK47s, learned from tribal elders, and watched red hot rocks shoot into the sky. More people have been into space than have set eyes on the fiery depths of Mount Erebus in Antarctica, where he has measured the Earth's powerful forces. In Mountains of Fire, he paints volcanoes as otherworldly, magical places where our history is laid bare, and shows us just how entangled volcanic activity is with our climate, economy, politics, culture and beliefs.In a stunning blend of science, cultural history, myth and adventure, Mountains of Fire pulls out new lines of causation and correlation stretching around the globe, and reveals how deeply our stories are intertwined.(P) 2023 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Mountains of Fire: The Secret Lives of Volcanoes
by Clive OppenheimerSHORTLISTED FOR THE BOARDMAN TASKER AWARD FOR MOUNTAIN LITERATURE'If Michael Palin had been a volcanologist, this is the book he would have written' LITERARY REVIEW'Gripping' THE ECONOMIST'Wonderful' PETER FRANKOPAN'Like a thriller ... This is terrific' SPECTATOR'Beautiful ... bursting with poetry, with storytelling' WERNER HERZOGWe are made of the same stuff as the breath and cinders of volcanoes. No matter where we live on the planet, they have shaped our history and might one day decide our destiny.World-famous volcanologist Clive Oppenheimer has worked at the crater's edge in the wildest places on Earth, close enough to feel the heat of the lava. In Mountains of Fire we join him on hair-singeing adventures from Italy to Antarctica to learn how deeply our stories are intertwined with volcanoes.
Mouse Ears For Everyone!: A Guide To Walt Disney World For Guests With Special Needs [2018 Edition]
by Amy Schinner Bob McLain"From dealing with the airlines and solving issues with wheelchairs and strollers, to managing expectations for character meet and greets, Amy brings to bear not only the hands-on experience with her own special needs child, but her organizational acumen as a regional chairperson for Autism Speaks. The book includes "sensory impact" evaluations for most rides, shows, and restaurants, and is sprinkled throughout with advice, tips, and lists to ensure a stress-free vacation"
Mouse Tales: A Behind-the-Ears Look at Disneyland
by Art Linkletter David KoenigThe first unauthorized behind-the-scenes look at the Happiest Place on Earth.
Mousejunkies!
by Bill BurkeA guidebook with a decidedly different approach, the second edition of Mousejunkies is a collection of humorous travelogues and insider how-to secrets compiled after scores of trips to Walt Disney World. The book draws on the insights of a panel of Disney fanatics - The Mousejunkies - following dozens of personal vacations, trade shows and press trips in recent years. This second edition brings everything up to date with countless new tips, tricks, and tales.Mousejunkies provides tips and travel plans told through personal accounts - something that sets it apart from all the other guides.All of the most important topics are covered: When to go, where to stay, what to do and where to eat. But readers will also learn how to indulge in an all-day chicken wing and beer football orgy at Walt Disney World, how to extract your family from Fantasmic with your sanity intact, where to catch a mid-afternoon catnap in the theme park, and even how wrong a Disney cruise can go.Mousejunkies is more than one travel writer's experiences at one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world. The Mousejunkies are a group of seemingly well-adjusted adults who have found themselves inexplicably drawn to Walt Disney World, again and again. Each has taken his or her own path, finding their way separately. When the smoke cleared, the group found itself back in reality, staring at one another over a pile of discarded annual passes and a useless collection of novelty hats.The stories - wry, humorous and told with an affection gained through years of Disney addiction - paint vivid portraits of a creatively engineered world, where unexpected surprises create lasting memories.The tips - valuable information designed to help readers get more out of their vacations - are told with a sly wink and the desire to share the secrets that make trips to central Florida more memorable.From touring plans to tongue-in-cheek reviews of the theme parks' restrooms, Mousejunkies provides readers with useful information couched in obsessively-detailed narrative with a humorous touch.
Mousejunkies!
by Bill BurkeA guidebook with a decidedly different approach, "Mousejunkies! 3rd Edition” is a collection of humorous travelogues and insider how-to secrets compiled after scores of trips to Walt Disney World. The book draws on the insights of a panel of Disney fanatics -- The Mousejunkies -- following dozens of personal vacations, trade shows and press trips in recent years. This third edition brings everything up to date with countless new tips, tricks, and tales. "Mousejunkies!” provides tips and travel plans told through personal accounts - something that sets it apart from all the other guides. All of the most important topics are covered: When to go, where to stay, what to do and where to eat. But readers will also learn Zen and the art of not melting down under the Florida sun, how to extract your family from Fantasmic with your sanity intact, where to catch a mid-afternoon catnap in the theme parks, and even how wrong things go when Epcrotch strikes. "Mousejunkies!” is more than one travel writer’s experiences at one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world. The Mousejunkies are a group of seemingly well-adjusted adults who have found themselves inexplicably drawn to Walt Disney World, again and again. Each has taken his or her own path, finding their way separately. When the smoke cleared, the group found itself back in reality, staring at one another over a pile of discarded annual passes and a useless collection of novelty hats. The stories - wry, humorous and told with an affection gained through years of Disney addiction - paint vivid portraits of a creatively engineered world, where unexpected surprises create lasting memories. The tips - valuable information designed to help readers get more out of their vacations - are told with a sly wink and the desire to share the secrets that make trips to central Florida more memorable. From touring plans to tongue-in-cheek reviews of the theme parks’ restrooms, "Mousejunkies!” provides readers with useful information couched in obsessively-detailed narrative with a humorous touch.
Moving Abroad For Dummies
by Kristin M. WilsonExpert guidance for anyone who wants to settle down in another country Moving Abroad For Dummies is for anyone contemplating pulling the trigger on moving out of their homeland for a short time or for good. Be it to enhance a career, retire more comfortably on savings, or find a culture that's a better fit for you, relocating abroad takes some planning to be done right. This book walks you through all the considerations and the steps you'll need to take to make it happen. Author Kristin Wilson is a relocation expert with over 20 years of experience both living abroad and helping hundreds of others do the same. In this confusion-clearing guide, she offers must-know information on planning a move, getting affairs in order before hitting the road, and settling into your new home. Find out whether becoming an expat is the right move for you Learn how to budget for your new life, find a home abroad, and handle culture shock Become a permanent resident of your new country of choice Decide whether and when to return home At every stage of the moving abroad process—decision making, preparation, and adjustment to a new culture—this clear and easy-to-read Dummies guide has your back.
Moving Forward Sideways Like a Crab
by Shani MootooLong-listed for Canada's Scotiabank Giller Prize.Short-listed for the Lambda Literary Award."Readers who enjoy rich details of place will find Mootoo's writing about her settings to be luxuriant; we are especially treated to abundant descriptions of Trinidad...[A] thoughtful exploration of place and identity."--Kirkus Reviews"Mootoo's character-driven novel is rich in setting and slow in pace, inviting the reader to linger over its closely observed details. "--Booklist"Mootoo has produced a stunning meditation on story...[This novel] portrays the beautiful (yet often tense) bond between a parent and child, the complexities of immigration, the fluidity of gender, and provides a juxtaposition between two extreme climates, Toronto and Trinidad. It is a gorgeously written novel."--National Post (Canada)"Jonathan Lewis-Adey's mother left when he was nine, but when he finds his estranged parent again, he is surprised to find that the person he knew as his mother has become a man named Sydney. Set in the Trinidad of her upbringing, Shani Mootoo's vivid writing explores the pain and confusion Jonathan experiences as a result of Sydney's choices."--World Literature Today, included in the Nota Bene section"A fascinating premise that gives voice to the queer-identified...Mootoo's brilliant evocations of [Trinidad's] paradisiacal glow...are a real gift to the reader."--Globe and Mail (Canada)"In rich and vivid descriptive prose, Mootoo portrays her characters' journeys between countries and toward greater selfhood."--Quill & Quire, starred review"The novel's greatest triumph is its painfully poignant characterization of a privileged son, who cannot always embrace the transition that his mother--now father--has made."--Asian American Literature Fans"Queer Canadian visual artist and writer Shani Mootoo's latest novel Moving Forward Sideways Like a Crab follows the journey of writer Jonathan as he searches for the mother who left when his parents divorced."--Baltimore Out Loud"A powerfully moving tribute to the lasting power of storytelling and the surprising and unpredictable nature of human emotion. It's truly an excellent literary feat and a great story to get lost in!"--Bookworm Shawn (blog)Jonathan Lewis-Adey was nine when his parents separated, and his mother, Sid, vanished entirely from his life. It is not until he is a grown man that Jonathan finally reconnects with his beloved lost parent, only to find, to his shock and dismay, that the woman he knew as "Sid" in Toronto has become an elegant man named Sydney living in his native Trinidad. For nine years, Jonathan has paid regular visits to Sydney on his island retreat, trying with quiet desperation to rediscover the parent he adored inside this familiar stranger, and to overcome his lingering confusion and anger at the choices Sydney has made.At the novel's opening, Jonathan is summoned urgently to Trinidad where Sydney, now aged and dying, seems at last to offer him the gift he longs for: a winding story that moves forward sideways as it reveals the truths of Sydney's life. But when and where the story will end is up to Jonathan, and it is he who must decide what to do with Sydney's haunting legacy of love, loss, and acceptance.