Last minute Christmas gift ideas.

December 23rd, 2008

I have the perfect Christmas gift idea. How about one of my books? Your aunty/dad/uncle/mum/brother/sister/husband/ wife/lover/secretary/gardener will love it – either that or take it back and exchange it for the new John Grisham novel. I do love getting books for Christmas (although I do have a few that have been on my book shelf for years that I haven’t read yet). If all your relatives have my entire collection already maybe try one of these from my top ten favourite travel books of all time…

Neither here nor there – Bill Bryson
The first ‘travel’ book I ever read and inspired me to become a travel writer.

Round Ireland with a fridge – Tony Hawks
Hilarious story of Hawks’ hitch-hiking trip around Ireland with, um… a fridge. 

The Great Railway Bazar – Paul Theroux
Theroux’s first and arguably most rewarding travel book. It opens with the great line: ‘Ever since childhood I have seldom heard a train go by and not wished I was on it.’

Dave Gorman’s Googlewack adventure – Dave Gorman
A very funny book about a ‘wacky’ little idea gone mad.  

In Siberia - Colin Thubron
A journey through the hearts, soul and history of Siberia. Travel literature at its best and most engaging.

The Lost Continent - Bill Bryson
Bryson’s first travel book and one of his best. 

The Wrong Way Home- Peter Moore
Great journey, great read and great guy! 

Join Me – Danny Wallace
Not really a travel book, but his travels around the UK and Europe are laugh-out-loud funny

Holidays in Hell – P.J. O’Rourke
Very very funny tales of travelling to the places most people wouldn’t want to go!

In the Empire of Genghis Khan – Stanley Stewart
Stewart’s portrayal of the people in Mongolia and the landscape in which they live is compelling and engaging.

So, Jolly Christmas everyone and thanks for reading my blog (and, more importantly, buying my books!). And, if you do happen to get a book for Christmas that you don’t like you can always take it back in the new year and exchange it for ‘Sleeping Around – A Couch Surfing tour of the Globe’ (due out January 5th).

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