May 20, 2013
Shangri-la conjures up images of a utopian kingdom where no one suffers or ages—a la the classic movie. But the book Lost in Shangri-la is grounded in reality, relaying the harrowing rescue of a band of soldiers during World War II. A flight of men and women stationed in New Guinea was lost, not in battle, but during a joy-ride on a lovely Sunday afternoon. They were going to fly over a newly discovered lush valley that time had forgotten, and were excited for this diversion in what was becoming a dull stint in this no-action jungle island. But they were thwarted by the sad mistakes of the