'Along the River that Flows Uphill: From the Orinoco to the Amazon is a travelogue of a journey along the Casiquiare river, unique among rivers in that it joins two separate river systems - the Oroinco and the Amazon - seemingly by flowing up and over the watershed that separates them. Former journalist Richard Starks and travel writer and editor Miriam Murcutt relate their adventure along the mysterious Casiquiare in vivid detail, including a brush with a tribe of Yanomami Indians and a potentially dangerous confrontation with FARC guerillas. Their reflections of the sights, wonders, and wistful beauties of a little-traveled path make for an unforgettably vivid travelogue. Along the River that Flows Uphill is a treat highly recommended especially for armchair travelers.' Midwest Book Review "Along the River that Flows Uphill' is not just a story but a real life adventure that takes twists and turns along a remarkable stretch of water that remains nearly untouched. The authors not only give a stunning account of their adventures but provide intriguing background information as they go through the journey. From slight sidebars to detailed accounts of jungle, river and bugs, the reader feels as though she joined the authors on the trip... This is an extremely intelligent book that leaves the reader feeling wiser for having read it and more aware of the fragility of the world, as well as a bit of disgust at the corruption that plagues the political arenas.' 'A very well written book that has a few surpirses along the way.' -- Melissa Koltes Rebeccasreads.com "I've nearly died three times in my life -- which is funny in an ironic way, since I was once accused of never taking any risks." This first line of Along the River that Flows Uphill sets the tone completely. We understand, just from that, that we're about to embark on an adventure. The other thing that we understand is that we're in the hands of a storyteller or, as it turns out, a couple of them. In 2005, the authors were commissioned to write an article for Geographical, the magazine of the London-based Royal Geographical Society. Their assignment was to travel the length of the Casiquiare River in Venezuela, the river that joins the Amazon and the Orinoco by apparently flowing uphill. One can see, however, where the material the pair were assembling might have overflowed from the article they'd been assigned. The book the two produced is both enjoyable and informative: and so much beyond the travelogue one might expect. It is creative non-fiction. It is literature. It is history. It is geography. It is adventure. And it is cracking good fun -- Aaron Blanton January Magazine 20091231
