If I need to relax after work, on a rainy Sunday afternoon, or can’t afford a travel excursion, I take to a book about traveling to escape to daydreaming about travel.
Please add your suggestions, I really need to get to the classics!
Africa
The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho. Set in Egypt, a young boy named Santiago sets out in search of a ‘treasure’.
The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency – Alexander McCall Smith. Set in Botswana, a woman detective goes about solving mysteries in her town. (Series).
Eclipse – Richard North Patterson – Set in a mythical country in North Africa, a lawyer attempts to free a friend from being executed by a corrupt government.
River God – Wilbur Smith. A slave recounts his journeys throughout ancient Egypt as he looks after the loved ones in the royal house.
Europe
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – Steig Larrson. These books take place in Sweden and follow an unusual and talented girl and a popular reporter as they attempt to solve several mysteries (series).
Jo Nesbo – Claimed to be the next Steig Larrson. Inspector Harry Hole, an alcoholic and unconventional detective races around Norway to capture murderers (series).
Italy
Italian Days – Barbara Grizzuti Harrison. Traveling around Italy, in the view of the author.
The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown. Need explanation?
Angels and Demons – Dan Brown. Again?
Under the Tuscan Sun – Frances Mayes. An author picks up her life in San Francisco and moves with her husband to a small villa in Italy (not really anything like the movie).
Italy – Lonely Planet Guide. Got me through Italy amazingly.
South America
The Cloud Forest – Peter Matthiessen. A nautical journey to South America and to the wilderness beyond.
USA
A Walk in the Woods – Bill Bryson. Amazing facts as the author attempts a hiking trip through the Appalachian Mountains
Hawaii – James Michener. A multi-generational journey through the creation and development of the islands in Hawaii.
Merle’s Door– Ted Kerasote. Hiking, and growing to love a dog taken in from the mid-US wilderness.
Misc
Around the World in 80 Dates – Jennifer Cox. A young author travels around the world attempting to find the best date.
The Lost Girls – Jennifer Baggett, Holly C. Corbett and Amanda Pressner. Three girls pick up their lives, leave their loved ones behind and spend a year traveling the world.
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If you enjoyed “walk in the Woods” try reading also “Notes from a small island”. Laugh-out funny too!!
Perharps you might also enjoy: “Discovery Road” (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Discovery-Road-T-Garratt/dp/0953057534) or even the “Art of Travel” by Alain de Botton. The latter is more like small essays on various travel issues but it is easy and pleasant to read…
Thank you so much for the recommendations, I will pick them up from the library and try them out!
On the Road by Jack Kerouac. You said classics, right?
Nice – thanks!!! I’ll check it out!
Thanks for liking my post on Yellowstone. I too love “A Walk in the Woods “. For Africa, may I also recommend “Dark Star Safari” by Paul Theroux?
I just read the review for Dark Star Safari and it sounds intriguing!! I love novels on Africa, especially Egypt. Looks amazing, can’t wait to read it!
I loved The Cloud Forest by Matthieson. In fact, I love nearly all his books. For South America, also read At Play In The Fields Of The Lord. For Nepal/Tibet, The Snow Leopard is a must-read. I haven’t been to Antarctica (yet!) but End Of The Earth: Voyage To Antarctica is a great read.
Bill Bryson is amazing. Love most of his books. For a humorous look at Australia, check out In A Sunburned Country.
Africa…
And I’ll 2nd Arundhati’s vote for Dark Star Safari – I just read it this summer and it’s wonderful.
Down The Nile: Alone In A Fisherman’s Skiff by Rosemary Mahoney. Not great writing, but what a wonderful story of a great trip.
Thank you for not suggesting Heart of Darkness. Oh my that is a dense and terrible book. I don’t understand why it’s a “classic.”
US…
William Least-Heat Moon. Blue Highways. A mind-blowingly good account of a trip throughout the US. Too bad his follow-up writings couldn’t compare, but this is a masterpiece.
Forrest Carter. The Education Of Little Tree. So beautiful, you’ll cry. I promise.
South America….
Gabriel Garcia Marquez. A must-read author. His classics are Love In The Time Of Cholera and 100 Years Of Solitude.
Joe Simpson. Touching The Void. A harrowing and true tale of mountaineering insanity on Peru’s Siula Grande. Also an excellent movie. Joe Simpson’s writing is excellent and accessible even for non-climbers.
Asia….
Christopher Robbins. Apples Are From Kazakhstan. A wonderful history of a fascinating country. This book made me want to go there.
So many more books that I just can’t think of right now… the list is limitless.
Wow – what an amazing list you have shared!!! I can’t wait to read Down the Nile, I am fascinated by Egypt! I also have been meaning to try out a book by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
Thank you so much for sharing all of these titles…I better start reading!
Thank you, and you’re welcome. I love reading, and it’s fun to share titles.
I Wonder as I Wander by Langston Hughes — my favorite travelogue, and a moving snapshot of the changing life in the 1930s USA, Russia and Soviet Central Asia, China, Japan, Haiti, Cuba, and Spain (during its Civil War), recounted by a thoughtful, curious, and intelligent traveler. Well worth a read.