I can’t believe how many books I read while traveling and Kristin of Camels and Chocolate’s post “Out At Sea: What I Read” inspired me to talk about all the books I could recommend from this year, all 35 of them (and counting).
Anyone who traveled with me for more than a day can attest to how quickly I go through books. Between my e-reader dying and the dozens of hostel book exchanges, I definitely got through them.
This post contains affiliate links that can earn this website a small income. They will not cost you anything to use.
Travel Books
Do Travel Writers Go to Hell?, Thomas Kohnstamm: I had heard about this book before and in all honesty, it didn’t ruin guidebooks for me. It’s all a part of what I already knew about writers. We don’t get paid hardly anything but we’re supposed to produce exceptional work? It was especially funny to read before the Lonely Planet biography Unlikely Destinations (see below). Sadly, my copy of this book was lost in the mail when I sent it back home.
Me, Myself and Prague, Rachel Weiss: Tommy bought me this book about a 40-something woman from Sydney who picks up her life and moves to her father’s apartment in Prague. It takes a decidedly different path than Eat, Pray, Love, for those who wanted a more independent heroine.
Unlikely Destinations, Tony and Maureen Wheeler: Sammi’s friend Evan QG gave me this book, which turned out to be a signed copy, that he bought for $2 at a used bookstore. I LOVED this book and honestly believe every travelholic should read it, regardless of what you think about Lonely Planet. It talks about their travels and their struggle to go from having 23 cents in their pockets to owning one of the most successful companies in the world.
Vagabonding, Rolf Potts: I bought Sammi this book for Christmas, but knew I needed my own copy. It’s like the travel guru’s guide to this lifestyle I have just become a part of. It has resources on every question you could possibly have about long-term travel and pushes you over the edge to go after what you’ve always wanted to do.
Down Under (published as In A Sunburned Country in the US), Bill Bryson: I read this book last summer in Thailand and decided to read it again now that I’ve seen the places described firsthand. Bryson is always entertaining, especially in describing desolate Outback towns and funny facts about the country. For instance, did you know that in the 1960s, the prime minister Harold Holt, who could not swim, went swimming in Victoria and was never seen again? He also has a swimming pool named in his memory…
A Walk in the Woods, Bill Bryson: I borrowed this from Sammi while in Hawaii. While I’m not the outdoorsy one of the family, Bryson’s account almost made me want to hike the Appalachian Trail. Almost.
The Best of UnBrave Girl, Sally L. Thelen: I downloaded Sally’s e-book for my Kobo and read it often on the way to work. People on my train may have thought I had Tourette’s for all the random giggles while reading it. It covers her life teaching in Asia, with some of the best posts from her blog, Unbrave Girl.
Best American Travel Writing of 2007, Ed. Susan Orlean: My mom mailed me this book, of which I have read other editions, but this anthology, in particular, had me captivated. Between the foretelling story of Libyan dictator Muammar al-Qaddafi to Uruguayan rugby player Nando Parrado’s tale of survival in the Andes, this is one I couldn’t put down.
Going Postal, Nathan Millward: I had my eye on this book for quite some time but eventually picked it up at a thrift store for $2.50 before my flight home. I had a lot in common with its author, since we both spent time in Australia and tried to figure out a way to stay. But Millward’s path home was an unusual one: on postal bike overland through Southeast Asia, Russia, and Europe before finally getting home to England.
Marco Polo Didn’t Go There, Rolf Potts: I am now reading my second of Potts’ books, this being an anthology of articles he has written with notes at the end, describing why he left parts of the story in, why he took parts out and what really happened behind the scenes. I found it interesting to read his thought processes, a must for budding travel writers.
Chick Lit
The Carrie Diaries, Candice Bushnell: I may or may not have stolen this book from my Adelaide hostel’s book exchange when I ran out of things to read. It was a quick read, but I definitely enjoyed it. It shows more maturity than you would expect for a tween book, but after all, this is a prequel to Sex and the City.
The Other Side of the Story, Marian Keyes: It’s a 600+ page chick lit book, but an easy read for the train. I always like the interwoven stories and this was no exception. Not too deep, but I don’t need much depth from my chick lit.
The Devil Wears Prada, Lauren Weisberger: I picked this one up for $1.50 at Vinnie’s. I may just like it better than the movie. It has a lot more to do with the climb from nobody to writer, which I sympathize with more than the Anne Hathaway movie character. But I still picture Adrian Grenier as her boyfriend.
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, Helen Fielding: Decidedly unlike the movie version, I purchased this book for $1.50 at my local Vinnies. Much more plot than the movie, but that’s a good thing.
Summer and the City, Candace Bushnell: The next book following The Carrie Diaries, this book describes the summer Carrie spends in a writing program, becoming friends with Samantha and Miranda. An excellent follow-up.
This Charming Man, Marian Keyes: I almost read this book on the Melbourne road trip, until the flood molded it. I bought another copy for $7.00 in Hawaii and read it in a few days. It seems like a typical chick lit book, but has a domestic violence story line that makes it even more interesting. Probably my favorite so far of Keyes’ books.
Sisterhood Everlasting, Ann Brashares: Sammi told me about this book and I can honestly say it’s not what I expected. The earlier books in the series have serious moments, but are light-hearted at their core. This book is significantly more intense and grown-up, to suit the characters, ten years after the last book. I’m still deciding how I feel about it, but I recommend reading to find out for yourself, especially if you grew up reading the series.
The Castaways, Elin Hilderbrand: It’s a beach read mom bought to read in Hawaii that I took back to Australia so I wouldn’t spend so much money on books (even though I still have). It’s about 4 couples living in Nantucket, whose lives are all intertwined in a friendcestuous way, until one couple dies in a tragic accident and they all have to figure out what happened to them and where to go next. It’s not really my style.
Rachel’s Holiday, Marian Keyes: Not my favorite of Keyes’ books because I found Rachel to be very annoying. It’s about a girl who accidentally almost kills herself and ends up in rehab after estranging her family, roommate and boyfriend. She learns to love her fellow “inmates” and gets her life back on track. Predictable, to say the least.
Everyone Worth Knowing, Lauren Weisberger: Super annoying ending, but otherwise a good read. Girl quits job to work for PR firm which runs all the hottest nightclubs in New York. Predictably, she becomes a little too involved in the nightlife scene and ends up losing herself.
No, I Don’t Want to Join a Book Club, Virginia Ironside: I liked the cover illustration so I bought this book, but it’s not your typical chick lit, as the main character is an elderly woman dealing with her best friends’ death and the birth of her first grandchild, all while trying to decide if she’s too old for the hanky panky. It’s like an older Bridget Jones, with many funny moments.
The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, Rebecca Miller: Another hostel find, this book was significantly better than I expected. It has plot twists and goes from happy to sad to pensive, just like the title character.
Last Night at Chateau Marmont, Lauren Weisberger: My least favorite of Weisberger’s novels. Girl’s husband becomes famous, so she now has to deal with groupies, paparazzi and rumors of a sordid affair. Predictable from start to finish. Skip this one and read Chasing Harry Winston instead.
Novels
Never Let Me Go, Kazuo Ishiguro: I wanted to read this book before I found out it was becoming a movie. It’s the only one I’ve paid full price for on this trip (at $22 it may be the last). It’s a haunting story about organ donations and what makes us human. I didn’t find the movie quite as good, but if you saw it, you should definitely read the book to fully understand the story.
A Long Way Down, Nick Hornby: I borrowed this one from my roomies. It’s about a bunch of people who go to the top of a London building on New Years Eve to jump off, but decide not to and form an unlikely friendship. I like Hornby, but this was hit or miss for me.
The Beach, Alex Garland: I can’t believe I hadn’t read this book sooner. I read it while I was on Fraser Island, which had ironic timing. Richard is a traveler searching for the authentic, so he leaves Bangkok for a secret beach, where his fellow islanders take on a Lord of the Flies style power struggle. Graphic in many parts, but it was worth reading.
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald: This is my favorite classic and I’ve read it dozens of times, so when I saw it at a book exchange, I picked it up and finished it within a day. If you haven’t read it, I can’t talk to you. But really, read it before the new Baz Luhrmann film ruins it.
The Help, Kathryn Stockett: I was so behind on reading this book, but I got to it before the movie came out. I love Stockett’s representation of 1960s Mississippi and heroine Skeeter Phelan’s decision to write a book about black maids in a segregated South. A must read.
One Day, David Nicholls: This is a contender for my FAVORITE book I read this year. I was unsure about the concept of a guy and girl meeting at their college graduation and following them through life on the same day every year, but it works. I haven’t seen the movie yet, but from what I’ve heard I shouldn’t. I highly recommend, but keep the tissues handy.
The Slap, Christos Tsiolkas: This novel was recently turned into an Australian miniseries and I couldn’t put it down. Each chapter is about each character’s perspective surrounding a family barbecue where someone slaps someone else’s child. Lots of cheating, lying, racial tensions and intrigue happening in the Melbourne ‘burbs, but an interesting read to be sure.
Non-Fiction Books
Dead Man Running, Ross Coulthart and Duncan McNab: An interesting read borrowed from Tommy. It’s the true story of a guy who went from being a Bandido bikie ally to a police informant. Not the smartest move, wouldn’t you say? I know there are motorcycle gangs in the States, but nothing like here.
Brothers in Arms, Lindsay Simpson and Sandra Harvey: Another bikie book (I know, I know), this one is about a Father’s Day massacre between the rivaling Bandido and Comanchero motorcycle clubs in the Sydney suburb of Bankstown.
Lies Chelsea Handler Told Me, Chelsea Handler and Friends: I have an affinity for all things Chelsea and this was no different, even though she did not write it herself. This is the memoirs of her friends, family and co-workers who have had to suffer her pranks and lies. It made for a funny read. I feel sorry for them!
Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer: I can’t believe it took me so long to read this book, since it was released over ten years ago and a movie was made since. It tells the story of Chris McCandless’ sojourn into the Alaskan wilderness and his ultimate demise. I can’t help but feel a kinship with someone who leaves his comfortable lifestyle in search of adventure. If you haven’t read it yet, go out and immediately buy it.
LOVE! So many good reads, and thanks for the new suggestions!
A
Thank you for this. I’ve found so many booklists and said, “they like THAT….I’m going to hate all of these books” because I’m a glass half empty. But these sound REALLY good mostly.
Thanks! I must say, most of these books were not ones I would necessarily buy, but I definitely read a few good ones!
I loved Do Travel Writers Go to Hell?! I thought it was very accurate of my early years writing guidebooks, even though people not in the industry often don’t believe what he wrote was true! I’ll have to borrow some of these other suggestions. I think I read around 30-35 books this year, as well, but I think I might aim for one a week for all of 2012.
Yeah I definitely enjoyed it! Although there were some cringing moments where I thought, “Really?” I’ve never kept count of how many I read until this year, so I think I will try to beat my record for next year as well!
How bad is it that I have read pretty much all the chick-lit titles you have listed here? Oy!
Liked your one sentence wrap ups, have added some to my never ending list!