Here are the list and pictures of books that I read whenever and wherever I travel. I believe that reading and traveling are the two ingredients for us to gain knowledge. It's always nice to read books in long bus trips, while at the van, long stopovers, while waiting for connecting flight at the airport, plane trips, train rides, trams, ect. I was inspired by:
Michael Tieso in his article '
Books to Read While Traveling'. Also, check the
Sole Sisters, Lois and Chichi's compilation of '
10 Books to Fuel Your Wanderlust' for different travel bloggers. Kindly check the links. They listed the books to read while traveling. Here's my own list of choice:
( Some of the books are not related to traveling, I mean, not travel book. But, yeah. I enjoyed reading them, anyways.)
10.
501 Must-Visit Destinations - This is actually a TRAVEL JOURNAL. I just posted it in here because it's a travel essential for me. This is the type of journal where there is allotted space where you can write the highlights of your trip, the place you've visited, and all.
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| 355 PHP when I bought it at National Bookstore. |
9.
Lonely Planet Travel Guide Books - Important when you're going to one place or country. In this book, you will not only see places, how-to-go-to-that-place, activities to do and stuffs. You will learn also the culture, beliefs and living in that certain place. There are also tips in lonely planet books.
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| I bought this lonely planet guide book at National Bookstore for only 100 PHP, originally priced at 1,499 PHP. Sale! |
8.
Pocket Atlas of The World.- The best fact about this book is that it's handy, you can bring it wherever you go. Anyway, I bought this for 99 PHP at
C & E Bookshop.
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| Pocket Atlas of The World. |
7.
Rabbit Stew and a Penny or Two, (Maggie Smith-Bendell) [2009] - is a collection of memories, photographs, songs and customs written by a Romani Traveller author. The book describes the author's childhood, living within a traditional Romani Travelling community before concluding with a number of chapters which describe the ways in which the author attempted to raise the awareness of `Gypsy'/Traveller ethnic groups and also how she fought numerous local councils and authorities for basic human rights. (
J. Cooper Reviews)
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| There was an 'exchange books' corner in a hotel we stayed when we went to Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia last March 2011. I traded my"Dear John By: Nicholas Sparks book I used to own for this. It's actually a good book. |
6.
Language Books - Whenever I'm in a certain place, I always make sure to know some of their native languages, either it's a phrase, a word, or a greeting. I always read language books whenever I have spare free time.
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| Some of my language books. Most are 'Italian'. Ciao, parli italiano? |
5.
Last Night in Twisted River, (John Irving) [2009] - took 20 years to conceive and write, and is a story within a story that shows the development of a novelist and the writing process. It uses many of the themes and plot devices that have already seen treatment in other works by the author. The career of the novelist in the book closely tracks the career of Irving himself, making it Irving's most overtly autobiographical novel. (
Wikipedia)
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| This was actually a gift from my gran, we bought it at Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia airport. We visited Kota Kinabalu last March 2011. |
4.
By the River Piedra I sat Down and Wept, (Paulo Coelho) [1994] - it is essentially a story about love. It also includes elements of paganism; in particular it focuses on the female aspect of divinity.The story focuses on Pilar, an independent young woman, who is frustrated with the grind of university life and looking for greater meaning. Pilar's life takes a turn when she meets up with a childhood sweetheart, who is now a spiritual teacher and a rumoured healer and miracle worker. They set off on a journey through the French Pyrenees as the journey unfolds. (
Wikipedia)
3.
The God of Small Things, (Arundhati Roy) [1997] - is the debut novel of Indian author Arundhati Roy. It is a story about the childhood experiences of fraternal twins whose lives are destroyed by the "Love Laws" that lay down "who must be loved, and how, and how much". The book is a description of how the small things in life affect people's behavior and their lives. The book won the Booker Prize in 1997. (
Wikipedia)
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| This was recommended by my cool cousin, Roch. She joined us in Banaue-Batad trip. |
2.
Tuesdays With Morrie, (Mitch Albom) [1997] - Morrie, a college professor, teaches students “the meaning of life.” Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom is about a student who becomes extremely close with his professor. They have a father and son relationship. As graduation approaches, they promise one another that they will always keep in touch. For several years, no one has kept the promise that was made. But Mitch receives a sign and realizes how much he missed Morrie. Mitch finds out Morrie had a severe medical condition. Morrie didn’t have much time left. Mitch decides to visit Morrie every Tuesday. On each Tuesday, Morrie gives Mitch lessons on life as they were still in a classroom. As his condition worsens, they realize there’s not enough time. Morrie and Mitch will always have those deep heart felt conversations. But on one Tuesday, everything will change forever. (
Luuux)
1.
Shantaram, (Gregory David Roberts) [2003] - is a novel influenced by real events in the life of the author, Australian Gregory David Roberts. In 1978, Roberts was sentenced to 19-year imprisonment in Australia after being convicted of a series of armed robberies of building society branches, credit unions, and shops. In July 1980, he escaped from Victoria’s Pentridge Prison in broad daylight, thereby becoming one of Australia's most wanted men for the next ten years. The protagonist Lindsay arrives in Mumbai carrying a false passport in the name of Lindsay Ford. Mumbai was only a stopover on a journey that was to take him from New Zealand to Germany, but he decides to stay in the city. Lin soon meets a local man named Prabaker whom he hires as a guide, but soon becomes his best friend and renames him Lin (Linbaba). Both men visit Prabaker's native village, Sunder, where Prabaker's mother decided to give Lin a new Maharashtrian name, like her own. Because she judged his nature to be blessed with peaceful happiness, she decided to call him Shantaram, meaning Man of God's Peace. On their way back to Mumbai after a night out, Lin and Prabaker are robbed. With all his possessions gone, Lin is forced to live in the slums, giving him shelter from the authorities and free rent in Mumbai. After a massive fire on the day of his arrival in the slum, he sets up a free health clinic as a way to contribute to the community. He learns about the local culture and customs in this crammed environment, gets to know and love the people he encounters, and even becomes fluent in Marathi, the local language. He also witnesses and battles outbreaks of cholera and firestorms, becomes involved in trading with the lepers, and experiences how ethnic and marital conflicts are resolved in this densely crowded and diverse community. (
Wikipedia)
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| This was also suggested by my cousin, Roch. Good book. Makes me want to go to India. Photo by: Kartik Kothari. |
The kid who never go on a trip without a book,
Aaron.
