| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Spike
Joined: 17 Jan 2008
Posts: 24
Location: Wellington
|
 Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 11:26 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
I haven't read many travel books, actually. But I have read a Bill Bryson book too, Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe. It's pretty good; quite funny and a nice easy read that you can just pick up and put down easily. It has a good opening with a bit of a flashback about his first trip to Europe as a student, backpacking with a friend. It finishes a bit flat, though. He just basically stops writing when his journey finishes, whereas I was expecting more of an overview or summary, balancing out the introductory aspect.
Also, IIRC he gives modern Germans a needless hassle about WW2 and the Nazis etc. Not that there's anything wrong with criticising Nazism of course, but the way he does it comes across as sanctimonious (as if Americans have never done anything bad in their past).
Anyway, apart from those gripes, I recommend it.
Steve |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
theloweroad
Joined: 05 Feb 2008
Posts: 11
|
| Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 10:23 am Post subject: |
|
|
Pico Iyer's Video Night in Kathmandu is excellent, though dated. I also like Lonely Places by Iyer, and his novel, The Lady and the Monk.
The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen is also excellent.
Travel books where the author is complaining, or its all me-me-me, go right in the recycle bin. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
admin
Site Admin
Joined: 11 Nov 2004
Posts: 817
Location: London, UK
|
| Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 11:28 am Post subject: |
|
|
| I love historical adventure travel books - my fave is Tschiffley's Ride. It's a true story written by a Swiss guy who lived in Argentina in the 1920s and tells the tale of his epic trip on horseback from Buenos Aires to Washington D.C. Pretty amazing story. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Spike
Joined: 17 Jan 2008
Posts: 24
Location: Wellington
|
| Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 4:02 am Post subject: |
|
|
| theloweroad wrote: |
| Travel books where the author is complaining, or its all me-me-me, go right in the recycle bin. |
Hmm. I agree with the "me-me-me" point, but I think complaining has its place in travel writing, if done right. Some of Bryson's stuff amounts to complaining, and can be pretty funny. Let's face it, travel can be hassle at times. Some catharsis and even reassurance can be derived from reading of others difficulties.
There was a travel story competition in my local paper a few months back for which I was going to write about the time I was stuck for most of a day in the Greek border station of Pythion, awaiting a train to Turkey. I now look back on that part of my trip fondly, as part of the overall experience. "Character building", if you will. But at the time it was a big hassle; it was like going to catch the bus to town, and finding you had to wait at the bus stop for eight hours!
Anyway, even though I enjoyed the vast majority of my trip, when it came to thinking of something to write about I immediately thought of this part, even though it was a relatively "negative" experience. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
hayley n josh
Joined: 09 Jun 2008
Posts: 3
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 12:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I just finished reading Brian Thackers The * Man Festival. It was hilarious!  I loved it.
I think I enjoyed it so much because I found it very easy to relate to due to the author being such a typical Aussie.
I am about to start reading another Brian Thacker book- Planes, Trains & Elephants, so hopefully it lives up to the high expectation I now have. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
