Every Day The River Changes
Four Weeks Down the Magdalena
Jordan Salama
On Sale: 11/15/2022 | $16.95
9781646221615 | Paperback 5-1/2 x 8-1/4 | 224 pages Buy it Now
On Sale: 11/16/2021 | $26
9781646220441 | Hardcover 5-1/2 x 8-1/4 | 224 pages Buy it Now
Book Description
An exhilarating travelogue for a new generation about a journey along Colombia’s Magdalena River, exploring life by the banks of a majestic river now at risk, and how a country recovers from conflict.
“Richly observed.” —Liesl Schillinger, The New York Times Book Review
An American writer of Argentine, Syrian, and Iraqi Jewish descent, Jordan Salama tells the story of the Río Magdalena, nearly one thousand miles long, the heart of Colombia. This is Gabriel García Márquez’s territory—rumor has it Macondo was partly inspired by the port town of Mompox—as much as that of the Middle Eastern immigrants who run fabric stores by its banks.
Following the river from its source high in the Andes to its mouth on the Caribbean coast, journeying by boat, bus, and improvised motobalinera, Salama writes against stereotype and toward the rich lives of those he meets. Among them are a canoe builder, biologists who study invasive hippopotamuses, a Queens transplant managing a failing hotel, a jeweler practicing the art of silver filigree, and a traveling librarian whose donkeys, Alfa and Beto, haul books to rural children. Joy, mourning, and humor come together in this astonishing debut, about a country too often seen as only a site of war, and a tale of lively adventure following a legendary river.
JORDAN SALAMA is a writer covering culture and the environment in the Americas. He is the author of Every Day the River Changes, a journey down Colombia's Río Magdalena, which was named a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2021. His essays and stories have appeared in National Geographic, The New York Times, Smithsonian, Scientific American, NPR's All Things Considered and other publications. Most recently, his story “The Candy Sellers,” an investigation into the lives of migrant families selling candy on the NYC subway, was on the cover of New York magazine. He lives in New York.
Praise For This Book
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year"Richly observed." —Liesl Schillinger, The New York Times Book Review
"Jordan Salama writes with an attentiveness, and a sense of adventure, that many of us might envy; this engaging, intrepid debut promises many more wonders to come. Already he’s shown himself to be a writer with a rare (and inspiring) commitment to giving us the world.” —Pico Iyer, author of Autumn Light
“This is a born journalist."—John McPhee, Princeton University News
"From a canoe builder to a gaggle of biologists who study invasive hippopotamuses, as well as a traveling librarian and more, Salama transports you to this part of the world through new, fresh and beautiful narratives far from the negative connotations often associated with it." —Breanna Wilson, Forbes
"An unusually graceful and mature writer for one so young, Salama’s chronicle reflects excellent reportage, unfolding not unlike the film 'The Motorcycle Diaries' . . . Superb in its evocation of place and time, Every Day the River Changes deserves the widest possible audience. Salama’s is a triumph of travel literature . . . Clear-eyed yet open-hearted, journalistic but deeply humane, it is a clarifying window into a misunderstood culture . . . A privilege to read." —Bill Thompson, The Post and Courier
“A thoughtful book that impresses with its sweeping history, evocative descriptions, and fascinating stories of people living along the river . . . An engaging travelogue for the 21st century and a reminder that the best travel isn’t necessarily an epic adventure but a chance to hang out, getting to know new people—and yourself in the process.” —Erin Berger, Outside
"An impressive debut." —Emily Burack, Alma
"A moving book about social and cultural survival in the shadow of environmental and political chaos but also a deeply lyrical and astonishingly mature piece of writing . . . This stunning volume heralds an exciting new voice in narrative nonfiction." —Hannah Joyner, On The Seawall
"Rollicking . . . Salama’s account is at times mournful, inspirational, joyous, and somber. He offers a sprawling and gripping account of the people, a river, and a nation." —Jack Hartman, Princeton Alumni Weekly
"The book is more than a notable achievement in travel literature and more than a clarifying window into a misunderstood culture; it is a book of conscience and open-heartedness . . . It is a privilege to savor, if vicariously, this harvest of a promising writer’s vivid journeys." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"A mesmerizing travelogue . . . Both complex and achingly beautiful, this outstanding account brims with humanity." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"By the time Salama ends his riveting journey, scrambling across the treacherous rocks where the Magdalena River meets the Caribbean Sea, he has already enticed readers to follow him on his next one." —Priscilla Kipp, BookPage
"Salama’s insightful observations leave readers with a deep and nuanced look at Colombia." —Booklist
"Tagging along with Jordan Salama as he makes his way along Colombia’s storied Magdalena River is a reminder that the best travel writing not only makes you want to visit a place, but feel as if you’ve been there already. Salama is a vivid writer and an intrepid explorer. Guided by the keepers of the Magdalena's history and lore, the Colombia he reveals is an epiphany." —Sue Halpern, author of Summer Hours at the Robbers Library
"If you're into armchair travel, Every Day the River Changes will have you gripping your chair arms with excitement and suspense. In his brave journeys through central Colombia, following the fabled Magdalena River from its source to its mouth, Jordan Salama discovered Marquezian wonders, and scary but awesome portents of the planet's future.” —Ian Frazier, author of Cranial Fracking
“I read this brisk and beautifully wrought travelogue, a deeply personal meditation on the Magdalena River and its cultural, political, and geographical sphere, with a tingle of excitement, a sense of waking to a new world. Jordan Salama is a profoundly gifted writer, and this book is a real achievement. I will read everything of his in the coming years.” —Jay Parini, author of Borges and Me
