With the stress of midterms and projects looming over the student body this past week, I felt it was best to take a break from studying and go looking for something fun in preparation for a much needed week without classes. I found just what I was looking for on the Strange Maps blog. If it’s a map and it’s eclectic, strange, or just plain weird you might just find it here. From current political topics to the fantastical world of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth, this site has it all. Author Frank Jacobs provides a lighthearted and thoughtful analysis of maps collected from books, everyday objects, and, of course, the internet. In addition, after a perilous trip through the maze-like lower levels of the lib (the Boatwright Memorial Library for all you non-Spiders), risking both caffeine headache and sleep deprivation, I dug up The Unfathomable City: A New Orleans Atlas. Covering New Orleans’ rich history and recent difficulties, this beautifully illustrated atlas provides deep insights into the country’s most unique city. With a map of Carnival parade routes you can even begin to plan an epic visit for Mardi Gras next year! So take a break from conjugating verbs and pulling all nighters and unwind with some strange maps and dreams of jazz and gumbo. Enjoy!
-Cathryn F.
Solnit, Rebecca, and Rebecca Snedeker. Unfathomable City a New Orleans Atlas. Berkeley (Calif.), University of California Press, 2013.
http://bigthink.com/articles?blog=strange-maps