I'm currently reading Paul Theroux's "Ghost Train to the Eastern Star." Some people refer to Theroux as "misanthropic" and I guess I don't get it. He doesn't like jerks, and he says so, but he has great sympathy for suffering and investigates the history and politics of the places he visits. Any comments from other Theroux readers?

I read Bryson's In a Sunburned Country and Tony Horwitz's Blue Latitudes Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before at the same time and it was illuminating to see the differences in style and approach between the two. (While Horwitz is covering more than just Australia, there are definite points of intersection.)

In the end, I thought Horwitz's views were more perceptive.

Horwitz's newest, A Voyage Long and Strange Rediscovering the New World, is a great combination of travel and history.

A long while ago before he was so well known I read a Bryson book about Europe. I found him to be off-putting and very snobbish. After he became so popular, I've often wondered if I should give him another go. I am envious that there are so many of his books to choose from! Anyway, I've always really liked Tim Cahill. He has quite a selection of short stories, from ridiculous to chilling.

John wrote: "I am just wondering if I am the only person in the world who does not care for the works of Bill Bryson. I have never been able to get more than 50 pages into a book of his without wanting to put ..."

I don't like everything he's written, but from my experience, most people find him to be easy to read, so I often suggest him to people who want to read travel lit for the first time. I think he has a nice balance between providing background info and his own observations. When an author does almost exclusively one or the other, it seems more likely that the book will be hit or miss. But a good balance of the two seems to appeal to most people.

Sorry to recomment, but as I said above, I think "Walk In the Woods" ranks with my top ten-fifteen funniest books I've ever read.

I've got a copy of Sunburned Country, which I will try to at least dip into soon. I actually responded because I was one of many people who recommended Bryson, and then after reading John's comment reflected that my liking of him is selective. Haven't ever read Ian McEwen.

Andrea/John -have either of You read Sunburned Country about Austrailia by Bryson?

I can't stand Ian McEwen who wrote Atonement which was made into a movie and many people like his work but I woulde rather work than read McEwen

I don't like all of Bryson. I never got into his travels across the Midwest and I found "Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid" shudderingly boring. I think he has a certain sarcastic sense of humor that can wear thin after a while.

I am just wondering if I am the only person in the world who does not care for the works of Bill Bryson. I have never been able to get more than 50 pages into a book of his without wanting to put it down forever. I don't know what it is exactly, but I can't stand his writing. Yet everytime someone asks for a travel narrative recommendation, it never fails that 8 out of 10 people recommend Bill Bryson. Am I the only one who doesn't like his writing?

I don't know that I would start out in travel lit with Theroux. He tends to have a negative perspective and it can get exhausting after awhile. Just my two cents. But if you find that you don't like Theroux's book, don't dismiss the whole genre. Someone else suggested Bryson, and that's where I would start.

I'm new to the group too. I began reading travel lit. because of my studies in 18th century British lit (when travel lit really took off) and also an interest in anything about Africa. But Bill Bryson has become a favorite of mine as well, esp. A Walk in the Woods. I also like Paul Theroux. But I'd have to say Jeff Tayler (yes, that's how it's spelled) and Michael Palin are my favorites. Tayler is sensitive and observant, and Michael Palin is, well, Michael Palin (nudge, nudge, wink, wink say no more). Recently read Fatu-Hiva, Thor Heyerdahl's first book and really liked it. I am looking forward to reading the group discussions.

Like Todd and Jim mentioned the books by Bryson are great. I also like Solomon Time - Adventures in the South Pacific by Will Randall. And I am interested in travels in former times. Marc Walter and Catherine Donzel published some interesting books but I am not sure whether they were translated into english or not.

"The Clumsiest People in Europe" by Mrs. Mortimer. She was a Victorian writer of children's religious books and rarely left her home, yet became popular as a travel writer by reading the travel books of other writers and adding in what she pleased-which was mostly stereotypes and prejudices. Seriously, the woman disliked most of the human race to such an extent that it's hilarious.
The book was recently re-published with an introduction/warning about it's un-P.C. content.

"'Round Ireland with a Fridge" by Tony Hawks introduced me to the world of Travel Narratives, which I read almost exclusively. I used to devour newspapers and magazines and the occasional biography, but never really read books too much. That is until I read "'Round Ireland with a Fridge." Travel Narratives/Essays is the first section I head to in a book store. I still stick mostly to works of non-fiction, but I am ever expanding.

This may seem shameless self promotion but a couple of years ago I published a fun filled volume entitled The Big Book of car Culture. The is heavily illustrated book chronicled the rise of American car culture from the Model T to the Ford Mustang, the formation of Holiday Inn to McDonalds, and from the evolution of highway signs to the development of the crash test dummy.
While condcting research for the book I discovered a cornucopia of interesting facts and the history behind fascinating places such as Rock City, Wall Drug, Graceland.
As winter is fast approaching you might find this book an interesting way to while away those winter nights in front of the fire. It might also encourage you to plan some adventures for next spring.

Hello fellow Travel Literature Armchair Travelers!
Am enjoying Hammond's '100 Great Journeys' and think you may too. I know - it's more coffee table genre.
But many of the 100 Journeys will be familiar to Travel Literature and History readers. Those journeys that aren't familiar are food for new reading!
The format highlights a journey with map and photos - the 'Find out more' highlights books written about the journey. Have your heart beat faster when you find tales read and unread!
And for those travelers amongst us; take care wanderlust may set in!
Cheers

I discovered an interesting book by Emily Post, By Motor to the Golden Gate. The book was written in 1916 and has now been reprinted. The style is somewhat dry but overall it is a fascinating look into the adventure that was automobile travel in the first decades of the past century.

I have read a few Rory Maclean's, and found them slow but rewarding.

Similar to Benjamin's book, which I will add to my reading list, I'd recommend Rory Stewart's "The Places In Between." It's not a travel book as such, but it chronicles Stewart's walk across Afghanistan just after the overthrow of the Taliban. I know many have found it slow going, but I was engrossed by the narrative and found it a unique insight into today's Afghanistan, a place that most of us will never see.

Larkin About Ireland by John Larkin and Sarah MacDonald's Holy Cow were my first forays into the genre. Amusing and honest, I enjoyed them immensely.

On another level, the Jetlag Travel Guides have been known to give me a good giggle too.

I just read Round Ireland with a Fridge by Tony Hawks, and I loved it! :) Very funny and enjoyable read.

Thanks, Hope-

I really appreciate the kind words -

Best,
Ben

Benjamin:

I read your book and LOVED it!!! It was humorous, informative and I could barely put it down. I recommend the book to lots of people.

I wonder if I could add a shameless plug for my own travelogue that came out last year, Live from Jordan: Letters Home from My Journey Through the Middle East (www.benjaminorbach.com)?

Less than a year after the 9/11 attacks and during the war with Iraq, I moved to Jordan and then to Egypt to see if I could answer the questions that many Americans were left with after the attacks. I spent a year living in Amman and then Cairo and also traveling around the Middle East -- to Syria, Turkey, Israel, Palestine, Morocco, and Oman. I spoke with anyone who would speak back and tried to learn as much as I could about everyday people, their lives, their hopes, and their problems. At a period of time when anti-American feeling was peaking, I made a concerted effort to find out what people thought about America. My book traces my experiences through the letters that I sent home to family and friends in the United States who were watching the news with great concern and trying to figure out what it all meant.

Check it out, I'd be happy to hear what you think-

best,

Ben Orbach
author of Live from Jordan
www.benjaminorbach.com

like Todd said , Bryson's books on travel especially
A SUNBURNED COUNTRY (Australia) and ON THE ROAD (US) by Kerouac are great but I'm finding books like CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS (VENICE) and MONSTER OF FLORENCE give You a feel for the cities plus are good stories
even though not strictly travel literature

I would add Bill Bryson's travel books and Kerouac's On The Road to your list. I used to teach an English course on "The Great American Road Trip," and come across so many really great books in that genre. If you like Steinbeck and traveling, also take a look at Lamar Herrin's The Lies Boys Tell.

As for your question, two of my interests are literature and travel. After ten years of teaching and traveling, I am now a travel writer specializing in literary-based travel.

Cheers,

Todd Felton
www.redroom.com/author/robert-todd-felto...

I recently read Michael Crichton's Travels and John Steinbeck's Travels with Charley. I only read Crichton's book because I'm trying to read all his books, but I loved it so much, I'm exploring this new genre. I picked up Travels with Charley because I kinda like Steinbeck (and ended up loving the book), and just today I bought Paul Theroux's To the Ends of the Earth. I don't know if I'm sold yet on the genre, but we'll see where it goes.

How did the rest of you get into travel lit?