All I read is travel books.

July 24th, 2008

I’ve just finished reading Dave Gorman’s America Unchained and I’ve realised that the last 8 books I’ve read have been travel narrative books. I do read other genres, but I’d built up such a stockpile of travel books (I have this problem that when I go into a bookshop I seem to always come out with a travel book) that I’m slowly working my way through them. I’ve had a bit of time to read lately because my latest book has just been sent off to get typeset and I don’t go away for my next trip until mid September. The 8 books I’ve read recently are:

1. America Unchained (Dave Gorman) – A good read but not as good as Googlewack adventures, which is one of my favourite travel/humour books.

2. Finding Nino (Marc Llewellyn) – It was lovely to read an Italy book that didn’t have quirky plumbers renovating a quirky farmhouse in Tuscany.

3. Chasing Bohemia (Carmen Michael) – It’s hard to read this book and not want to live in Rio for a year or two

4. Shadow of the Silk Road (Colin Thubron) – Mr Thubron is up there with my favourite authors and this one didn’t disappoint.

5. Badlands: A Tourist on the Axis of Evil (Tony Wheeler) – A great read as Tony (from Lonely Planet fame) goes to all the places you wouldn’t.

6. In search of Elvis (Charlie Connelly) – Okay, I’m an Elvis nut, so I loved this book: especially when he meets the Jewish Elvis impersonator called Schmelvis in Canada!

7. Route 66 AD: On the trail of ancient tourists (Tony Perrottet) – Tony follows the itinerary of the Romans, the world’s first tourists. Why don’t hotels today supply rooms full of nubile wenches feeding you grapes?

8. Another long day on the Piste (Will Randall) – I was looking forward to this (being ski mad), but Will’s tales of a season on the slopes in France was a little flat (boom boom!).

Sadly, probably the next 8 books I read will be travel as well!

Has anyone read any good ones lately that I might like?

6 Responses to “All I read is travel books.”

  • On July 31st, 2008 Debs said:

    No but I am really looking forward to this funny and clever travel writers new book coming out about couch surfing… I believe his name is Brain something or other…

  • On August 16th, 2008 Peter said:

    Just finished the Dave Gorman book myself. Great idea but v. disappointed that it was more about the ‘filming’ of the trip rather than the trip itself.

    Make sure you check out Blood River by Tim Butcher. Great read about travelling through the Congo.

  • On October 22nd, 2008 Danielle said:

    You should read “Only fools and hearses By Dav Ardlie” Its really good, and interesting, that I think you would enjoy.

  • On December 8th, 2008 Clare said:

    I also only read travel books (and I work as a travel agent!). I just finished ABSOLUTELY FAKING IT by Tiana Templeman, which was a very entertaining read. She is an Aussie back-packer who wins accomodation in The Leading Hotels of the World. Worth a read!

  • On May 7th, 2010 RG said:

    i know you wrtoe this almost 2 years ago but i came back to see if there were any of the books you read which i might be interested in.

    Like yourself i have recently discovered all i’ve been reading are travel books. Not to try and make your head big (haha) but i have found it hard to find books which compare to yours. I don’t know what it is, i like your humour i guess and your style of writing.

    I just bought Ben Groundwater’s new book ‘5 Wyas To Carry a Goat’. It is similar to Sleeping Around.
    You should check it out :)

  • On May 8th, 2010 Brian Thacker said:

    Hi RG

    Thanks for the nice words about my books!

    Yes, I was thinking of picking up Ben’s book this week to take on holiday with me. He did tell me that it was ‘close’ to the couch surfing idea, but I think it will be different enough – he drinks a lot more beer than I do for a start :)

    cheers

    Brian

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