Sixty Degrees North: Around the World in Search of Home Paperback – Import, 6 June 2016

I purchased this book after reading (and enjoying) "Valley at the Center of the World" (which was a novel). The latter was set on Shetland, from where Tallack hails. The premise of 60 Degrees North was tied to it running through Shetland. This travelogue takes us through various locations on this line around the globe.I found the content to be disjointed. The different locations were visited on a trip around the globe - with one exception. They were treated from different and shifting perspectives - sometimes historical, sometimes cultural, sometimes ecological, and often sprinkled with personal experiences during his visit. One chapter (on Siberia) wasn't even visited on his round the globe trip; rather, he gave an account of a visit he made several years ago. Every now and again, for some unclear reason, he inserted a few paragraphs about his relationship with Shetland.Personally, I found the lack of a constant thread off-putting and only completed the book through stubbornness. I'd consider reading another novel by this author, but think he should steer clear of travelogues!

I loved this book.It takes you to a new place in every page and Malachy describes his journey so perfectly. I felt like I was going to all these impossible, far flung, distant northerly places from the comfort of my chair and pillow. If you love to travel, you will love this book. If you have ever lived in Canada, Greenland, Scandinavia or Shetland, then you will love this book. Finally, if you have ever wanted to live on the 60th parallel, you must read this book.I went to Sweden for the first time this year, I plan to travel to Shetland Wool Week next autumn and I dream of going to St Petersburg- Malachy has just taken me there. 10/10

Technically (structure, punctuation, use of vocabulary) the book is written well. There were nuggets of interesting information and some descriptions that breathed life into the places written about, Greenland, Canada and Siberia, but, for me, overall, the writing was not engaging enough. I could have looked up Wikipedia and been more entertained. This book is like a collection of school essays on the topic of 'places and people on the sixtieth parallel'. There's no heart in it. I usually read books from cover to cover, but this was a chore and I couldn't bring myself to plough through the later chapters on Finland and Sweden.

Somewhere between travel writing and memoir, this is an interesting insight into life in the northern areas of this planet of ours. North dwellers have a reputation for being prone to melancholy and Malachy Tallach is no exception. He has suffered his share of tragedy which both inspired him to take this journey along the 60th parallel and colours the tone of his musings.Personally I found the Greenland and Alaska chapters less interesting, but once he reached St Petersburg and the home stretch across Europe I thoroughly enjoyed it. One for the armchair traveller.

I loved the description and detail of the book ... And the desire of the author to reject conformity and seek out a deeper reality. It doesn't feel like a travelogue, more like sharing an adventure.