Lands of Lost Borders: a Journey on the Silk Road by Kate Harris

Lands of Lost Borders: A Journey on the Silk Road by Kate Harris is a memoir that combines adventure, history, and personal reflection. The book recounts Harris's journey cycling along the ancient Silk Road, a historic trade route that stretches from China to the Mediterranean, crossing through diverse landscapes and cultures. The trip is more than just a physical adventure; it is a deep exploration of self, history, and the human longing for discovery.

The story follows Harris and her friend, Mel, as they embark on a challenging and transformative journey across the vast and remote regions of Central Asia. As they cycle through deserts, mountains, and remote villages, Harris reflects on the landscapes she encounters, the historical significance of the Silk Road, and the people she meets along the way. She weaves together her personal experiences on the road with the complex history of the region, exploring themes of borders—both literal and metaphorical—and the way human societies create and define boundaries.

A major theme in Land of Lost Borders is the concept of "borders" in both a physical and philosophical sense. Harris delves into the idea of geographical borders and how they shape nations, cultures, and identities. However, she also reflects on internal borders—the boundaries we create within ourselves, the limitations we place on our own potential, and the struggle to break free from these constraints. The journey along the Silk Road becomes a metaphor for pushing past these internal borders, questioning assumptions, and seeking personal freedom and meaning. She draws parallels between the ancient travelers of the Silk Road and her own journey, pondering the universal quest for knowledge, the search for meaning, and the challenges faced by explorers throughout history.

We opened up the discussion with a video made by the author, showcasing parts of the trip. This made for a valuable visual to aid discussion and allow those who weren't able to read/finish the book to have a better sense for what it was about.

Some members in the discussion had embarked on their own bike tours previously and could relate to both the difficulty of bicycle travel and kismet experiences with strangers.

Some complaints came from Harris's more amateur writing style, though most of the critique came from the pretentiousness. The author presented as very privileged, frequently highlighting her academic prowess. A little annoyingly, she also often compared herself to major explorers, like Marco Polo, and frequently tried to clarify how she was "different than other tourists", but in an elitist way. With such a major journey, the author also spent little time writing about both the people she met and about the cultures, and the group wished for more information about this. For some readers, there were too many large sections of background information that were difficult to get through, and for those that listened to the audiobook, the speaker was unbearably breathy.

Our discussion topics bounced around a lot. The book, including its subtitle, focused on borders and what good they are. So, we talked about whether the riders were morally right in illegally crossing them and if this further emphasized their privilege. Should this privilege be something to be ashamed of? We also discussed whether humans can still explore and discover today, or has everywhere on land already been discovered? Without a doubt, the undertaking by these two ladies was impressive and inspirational, and it underscored the kindness and generosity of strangers across many countries.

Group mean rating: 6.2/10