Books forum

looking for the ideal book to take for 3 months travel...

jack2408

longtail driver
Posts: 10

Any help? I was thinking of a classic such as grapes of wrath, robinson crusoe etc...

#1 Posted: 15/2/2010 - 03:26
somsai

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My experience is that if you want a book to last the trip it had better be one of those scratch the head and read the paragraph again ones. Absalom Absalom by Faulkner or Finegans Wake or something.

Alternatively, trade at guest houses or those book stores that often pop up in tourist towns. I prefer those light classics you mentioned, plenty there to sink the teeth into, timeless, and good quality, but be ready to ditch them for the next one.

Another alternative, a history of the area. I notice the head fishman who is a going on a busman's holiday is taking a history and a book he'd been having trouble starting as he posted here. http://blog.travelfish.org/2010/02/10/what-im-packing/

#2 Posted: 15/2/2010 - 07:18
jack2408

longtail driver
Posts: 10

thanks a lot again, anyone else with any advice?

#3 Posted: 15/2/2010 - 07:52
caseyprich

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i like easy reading science fiction or chomp at the bit to keep reading fiction when i travel - especially for long bus rides.

Murakami's big works. Rushdie. Douglas Adams. Larry Niven (Ring World). Dune. Brother's Karamazov.

stuff you can't put down and has a lot of pages.

sometimes the reason we've never read those classics is because the language makes them just not that fun to read these days.

#4 Posted: 14/4/2010 - 19:57
UCSBrown

motodop
Posts: 24

If you can find something related to the country or region you are traveling in it will make your experience that much better.

#5 Posted: 15/4/2010 - 01:35
wombatfuz

flashpacker
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I generally leave the heavy reading stuff for reading when I have minimal distractions. On trips there are just too many interesting things or other distractions. I won't be able to concentrate on a book that requires re-reading because of the difficult expressions or abstract meaning.

For me, a travel book would be nice. Doesn't necessary have to be about the place that you are travelling at that time (although that would be great). I like to read about someone else's journey while I'm on my own journey.

#6 Posted: 15/4/2010 - 09:07
MADMAC

mahout
Posts: 3999

Lord of the rings... all three books in one. Last forever.

I love The Breaking Point - but I doubt you will.

#7 Posted: 30/7/2010 - 22:57

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Victory in Pattani
cisdeluca

backpacker
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If you are only bringing one book for 3 months, it should be long. My favorite longer books are Shantaram and Pillars of the Earth.

I just read Half the Sky and loved it.

#8 Posted: 17/1/2011 - 13:08
jnelson232

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Another massive book that is perfect to read while traveling is Shogun by James Clavell. An incredible work of fiction about ancient Japan right when a British pilot lands shipwrecked.
A great insight into Japanese history and culture. Also gives good information about how the Catholic Church spread its influence through many asian countries. Plus its 1200 pages.

#9 Posted: 17/4/2011 - 18:53
kateemily

backpacker
Posts: 12

"Shantaram" is an amazing book (it'll definitely open your mind up to travelling in India) and I'm trying to get through "A Suitable Boy" by Vikram Seth. Not much luck yet...

#10 Posted: 18/5/2011 - 13:08

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I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be
chicoelnino

tout
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How about an Ereader? That way you can have as many books as you want in one small device. When I started using an ereader initially, I found it abit cumbersome, with the whole "can't beat a physical book", which is true, but when travelling its such an advantage.

I'm going to asia for 6 months and have a sony ereader that has over 150 books on it that I loaded onto it. Doubt I'd even get through 25% of them, but the point is you have tons of choice

#11 Posted: 18/5/2011 - 21:33
MADMAC

mahout
Posts: 3999

I just read "Guns, Germs and Steel" by Jared Diamond. Good read.

#12 Posted: 18/5/2011 - 23:52

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Victory in Pattani
rledez1990

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Last time I went to Thailand I saw a book called 'Thailand's Third Gender' and I've had an urge to read it ever since...so I'll be picking up a copy of that when I get there in June haha

#13 Posted: 19/5/2011 - 00:50
Thomas922

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No books unless they enhance your traveling in some way. Reading into different things about the places you are in. Then looking out for things that are written about. Getting insights. Usually I don't want to be stuck in a book in SE Asia. I am busy experiencing or taking in subtle things.

#14 Posted: 19/5/2011 - 04:06
jnelson232

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"Sacred Games" by Vikram Chandra.

A 900 page novel that takes place in Bombay and is in the perspective of several Indians (shocking I know) Part crime novel, part window into a fascinating city.
I absolutely loved Shantaram but this gives a completely different perspective into the area.

#15 Posted: 19/5/2011 - 11:48
Basil

backpacker
Posts: 13

Three months is a lot of reading time.
How about Edwards Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
It is a hell of a story, broken up into bite size chapters, and what is all the more remarkable is it happens to be true!
Not sure how well you would do trading it in though...

#16 Posted: 9/9/2011 - 01:34

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Basil
busylizzy

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Get a Kindle then you can take all the books you want

#17 Posted: 9/9/2011 - 06:28

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As you grow older, you'll find the only things you regret are the things you didn't do.
johnbarring-
ton

motodop
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I would definitely take Narcissus and Goldmund. Really inspiring stuff and the perfect travel companion. You really will not regret reading it.

#18 Posted: 19/10/2011 - 19:23
johnbarring-
ton

motodop
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I would definitely take Narcissus and Goldmund. Really inspiring stuff and the perfect travel companion. You really will not regret reading it.

#19 Posted: 19/10/2011 - 19:24