In a former life I used to read books. Before computers and Sky TV I could read two or three books a week. I consider myself well read just not relevant because I haven't read anything lately. The last good book I read was "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson about five years ago. Anyway, my reading is now done vicariously through Mrs Finndego who does manage to find the time (how, I don't know) and likes to share.
Also, in a former life I used to travel and I've done a bit of that too. Just like Peanut Butter and Chocolate backpacking and good books are two great tastes that go great together. Having a good book or two is essential while travelling even if you're not travelling alone. The worst thing that can happen is getting stuck with a crap book while on the road or reading through everything while your still out there. I have managed to swap books with other travellers with little success but sometimes, something is better than nothing. Here is a link (http://www.bookride.com/2009/09/backpacker-classics-for-journey.html) to backpacker classics and if your a traveller or a reader I think it's a good list to compare to your own booklist. Some are a bit pretentious (Ulysses, War and Peace(puleeeze) and The Prophet, for example). Some are no-brainers (Catch-22, The Hobbit & Lord of the Rings , Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Repair or even The Beach) and a few local favourites (again, The Beach=Thailand, Snow Leopard=Nepal). It's a good list and I don't disagree but there are a few glaring omissions. First of all, and it's mentioned in the comments, is that there is no Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I would have put a top three at Catch-22, Zen and Hitchhikers. Secondly, there are very little biographies. At the least, I would have thought that Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom or Anne Frank's Diaries, for example, would have gotten a mention. Then again, no list is perfect or complete. I suppose that my top three that I've taken on the road would be 1. Wrestling with the Angel/Michael King (South Island,NZ) 2. The Exodus/Leon Uris (Spain) 3. Hitchhikers/Douglas Adams(London).
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Great list! A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth is my all time favorite. It's on there. How to be Good by Nick Hornby is my second best tip. And what on earth is wrong with Wat and Peace? Oh, yes, you're an army man.. that's what..
ReplyDeleteA Suiteable Boy is a good book although I never finish it (I lost it). Anything by Nick Hornby is good but War and Peace. No way! One, It's too big and heavy to carry around and two, too complicated to read. I had it on my list of must reads but I couldn't follow all the characters and it quickly went onto my must throw away list.
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