Recommendations for a Road Trip read

orlok · 09-03-2016, 08:41 AM

I'm looking for a recommendation for my "Something for Everyone" challenge - A book about a road trip. The obvious choice might be "On The Road", but I read that years ago and prefer not to revisit.

Any suggestions? My tastes are fairly eclectic - anything will be considered, and I read my share of literary works, though I do favour harder hitting stuff - thrillers, crime, adventure, horror (of the Stephen King variety).

doubleshuffle · 09-03-2016, 09:06 AM

In a way you could call Gaiman's American Gods a book about a road trip. I remember enjoying that one. I also remember liking Dave Eggers' You Shall Know Our Velocity, but IIRC the protagonists use different kinds of transport, so I'm not sure if it meets your criteria.

Then there's a wonderful, fun German novel by the late, great Wolfgang Herrndorf, Tschick, which has been translated into English under the title Why We Took the Car.

meeera · 09-03-2016, 09:44 AM

Since you said you read eclectically, here are some wildly differing options.

Contemporary YA: Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson or Mosquitoland by David Arnold

Grim: The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Historical: Company of Liars by Karen Maitland

Contemporary non YA: A Hundred Thousand Worlds, Bob Proehl or Are You Seeing Me? by Darren Groth

Fantasy: The Hobbit, obv, or basically any quest narrative

Humorous/memoir-y: In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson

Wild card/crime: The Mereleigh Record Club Tour of New Zealand by Roy Vaughan

Even wilder card: the podcast Alice Isn't Dead

(and I'm sure you'll have read King's The Stand)

orlok · 09-03-2016, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doubleshuffle

In a way you could call Gaiman's American Gods a book about a road trip. I remember enjoying that one. I also remember liking Dave Eggers' You Shall Know Our Velocity, but IIRC the protagonists use different kinds of transport, so I'm not sure if it meets your criteria.

Then there's a wonderful, fun German novel by the late, great Wolfgang Herrndorf, Tschick, which has been translated into English under the title Why We Took the Car.

Thanks. Some research required on my part.

orlok · 09-03-2016, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meeera

Since you said you read eclectically, here are some wildly differing options.

Contemporary YA: Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson or Mosquitoland by David Arnold

Grim: The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Historical: Company of Liars by Karen Maitland

Contemporary non YA: A Hundred Thousand Worlds, Bob Proehl or Are You Seeing Me? by Darren Groth

Fantasy: The Hobbit, obv, or basically any quest narrative

Humorous/memoir-y: In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson

Wild card/crime: The Mereleigh Record Club Tour of New Zealand by Roy Vaughan

Even wilder card: the podcast Alice Isn't Dead

(and I'm sure you'll have read King's The Stand)

You have given that some thought, thanks! I've read The Road, The Hobbit and The Stand, as you guessed, but the rest I'll again need to look into.

doubleshuffle · 09-03-2016, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orlok

Thanks. Some research required on my part.

Sorry 'bout that. I was thinking about trying to come up with what I remember about those books, but then decided that you will quickly and easily find more reliable information online.

orlok · 09-03-2016, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doubleshuffle

Sorry 'bout that. I was thinking about trying to come up with what I remember about those books, but then decided that you will quickly and easily find more reliable information online.

No slight intended! I'm more than happy to dig into the recommendations myself. I like to read a few reviews at the same time, so I'd be doing that anyway.

Dr. Drib · 09-03-2016, 10:36 AM

A great classic, by Pirsig:

"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance."

https://www.amazon.com/Zen-Art-Motor...sr=#nav-subnav

Hamlet53 · 09-03-2016, 12:04 PM

So here is a list compiled from my Goodreads account:

First off non-Ficton

A Time of Gifts by Patrick Leigh Fermor
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/..._Time_of_Gifts

Journey to a Revolution: A Personal Memoir and History of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 by Michael Korda
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...o_a_Revolution

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6563093-endurance

On the Trail of Genghis Khan: An Epic Journey Through the Land of the Nomads by Tim Cope
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...f-genghis-khan

The Consolations of the Forest: Alone in a Cabin on the Siberian Taiga by Sylvain Tesson
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...-of-the-forest

Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana Jr.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...efore-the-mast

Now fiction. It's short because when I think of road trip books [that I've broadened to travel accounts by any means] I do think in terms of someone traveling to real places by real means. Otherwise most science fiction and fantasy books might qualify.

A Passage to India by E.M. Forster
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...ssage_to_India

I have read all of these. Some I selected myself. Some were recommended by others or a choice of a book club, including the two running at this site. Some I liked, Some I didn't, but that should not necessarily deter you as some have high Goodread ratings or were enjoyed by others.

orlok · 09-03-2016, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

A great classic, by Pirsig:

"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance."

https://www.amazon.com/Zen-Art-Motor...sr=#nav-subnav

Ah yes. Recommended to my by my Systems Analysis lecturer many moons ago. A great read.

orlok · 09-03-2016, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamlet53

So here is a list compiled from my Goodreads account:

First off non-Ficton

A Time of Gifts by Patrick Leigh Fermor
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/..._Time_of_Gifts

Journey to a Revolution: A Personal Memoir and History of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 by Michael Korda
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...o_a_Revolution

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6563093-endurance

On the Trail of Genghis Khan: An Epic Journey Through the Land of the Nomads by Tim Cope
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...f-genghis-khan

The Consolations of the Forest: Alone in a Cabin on the Siberian Taiga by Sylvain Tesson
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...-of-the-forest

Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana Jr.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...efore-the-mast

Now fiction. It's short because when I think of road trip books [that I've broadened to travel accounts by any means] I do think in terms of someone traveling to real places by real means. Otherwise most science fiction and fantasy books might qualify.

A Passage to India by E.M. Forster
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...ssage_to_India

I have read all of these. Some I selected myself. Some were recommended by others or a choice of a book club, including the two running at this site. Some I liked, Some I didn't, but that should not necessarily deter you as some have high Goodread ratings or were enjoyed by others.

Thanks Hamlet. I agree that road trip can be broadly interpreted as a long journey of any kind - doesn't have to be a car. I guess it's about a journey with no fixed destination, or at least a route that could deviate on a whim, depending on what and who you encounter on the way.

Fbone · 09-03-2016, 12:41 PM

Three Men in a Boat and its sequel Three Men on the Bummel (also known as Three Men on Wheels) about a bicycle tour through the German Black Forest.

JSWolf · 09-03-2016, 01:01 PM

A Passage to India is both not a road trip book and awful.

BenG · 09-03-2016, 01:38 PM

For non-fiction there is William Least Heat-MoonBlue Highways, an account of his travels along America's backroads (which are shown in blue on old road maps) and mainly about the people he meets along the way.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63832.Blue_Highways

And Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson about a road trip to Las Vegas.

doubleshuffle · 09-03-2016, 02:09 PM

Of course one of the most beautiful books of all time is a road trip novel (though it starts on a train), Fritz Mühlenweg's In geheimer Mission durch die Wüste Gobi, published in English in a slightly shortened version under the title Big Tiger and Christian. Long out of print though, and used copies are effing expensive.

09-03-2016, 08:41 AM	#1
orlok Close to the Edit! Posts: 9,797 Karma: 267994408 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis, Amazon Fire 8", Kindle 6"	Recommendations for a Road Trip read I'm looking for a recommendation for my "Something for Everyone" challenge - A book about a road trip. The obvious choice might be "On The Road", but I read that years ago and prefer not to revisit. Any suggestions? My tastes are fairly eclectic - anything will be considered, and I read my share of literary works, though I do favour harder hitting stuff - thrillers, crime, adventure, horror (of the Stephen King variety). Last edited by orlok; 09-03-2016 at 07:25 PM.

09-03-2016, 01:38 PM	#14
BenG Home Guard Posts: 4,730 Karma: 86721650 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard Device: Kindle Oasis 3G, iPhone 6	For non-fiction there is William Least Heat-MoonBlue Highways, an account of his travels along America's backroads (which are shown in blue on old road maps) and mainly about the people he meets along the way. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63832.Blue_Highways And Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson about a road trip to Las Vegas. Attached Thumbnails

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09-03-2016, 09:06 AM	#2
doubleshuffle Unicycle Daredevil Posts: 13,944 Karma: 185432100 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Planet of the Pudding Brains Device: Aura HD (R.I.P. After six years the USB socket died.) tolino shine 3	In a way you could call Gaiman's American Gods a book about a road trip. I remember enjoying that one. I also remember liking Dave Eggers' You Shall Know Our Velocity, but IIRC the protagonists use different kinds of transport, so I'm not sure if it meets your criteria. Then there's a wonderful, fun German novel by the late, great Wolfgang Herrndorf, Tschick, which has been translated into English under the title Why We Took the Car.

09-03-2016, 09:44 AM	#3
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,862 Karma: 68407974 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	Since you said you read eclectically, here are some wildly differing options. Contemporary YA: Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson or Mosquitoland by David Arnold Grim: The Road by Cormac McCarthy Historical: Company of Liars by Karen Maitland Contemporary non YA: A Hundred Thousand Worlds, Bob Proehl or Are You Seeing Me? by Darren Groth Fantasy: The Hobbit, obv, or basically any quest narrative Humorous/memoir-y: In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson Wild card/crime: The Mereleigh Record Club Tour of New Zealand by Roy Vaughan Even wilder card: the podcast Alice Isn't Dead (and I'm sure you'll have read King's The Stand)

09-03-2016, 10:36 AM	#8
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,606 Karma: 60184181 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	A great classic, by Pirsig: "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance." https://www.amazon.com/Zen-Art-Motor...sr=#nav-subnav

09-03-2016, 12:04 PM	#9
Hamlet53 Nameless Being	So here is a list compiled from my Goodreads account: First off non-Ficton A Time of Gifts by Patrick Leigh Fermor https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/..._Time_of_Gifts Journey to a Revolution: A Personal Memoir and History of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 by Michael Korda https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...o_a_Revolution Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6563093-endurance On the Trail of Genghis Khan: An Epic Journey Through the Land of the Nomads by Tim Cope https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...f-genghis-khan The Consolations of the Forest: Alone in a Cabin on the Siberian Taiga by Sylvain Tesson https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...-of-the-forest Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana Jr. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...efore-the-mast Now fiction. It's short because when I think of road trip books [that I've broadened to travel accounts by any means] I do think in terms of someone traveling to real places by real means. Otherwise most science fiction and fantasy books might qualify. A Passage to India by E.M. Forster https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...ssage_to_India I have read all of these. Some I selected myself. Some were recommended by others or a choice of a book club, including the two running at this site. Some I liked, Some I didn't, but that should not necessarily deter you as some have high Goodread ratings or were enjoyed by others.

09-03-2016, 12:41 PM	#12
Fbone Is that a sandwich? Posts: 8,312 Karma: 102338360 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook Glowlight Plus	Three Men in a Boat and its sequel Three Men on the Bummel (also known as Three Men on Wheels) about a bicycle tour through the German Black Forest.

09-03-2016, 01:01 PM	#13
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,718 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	A Passage to India is both not a road trip book and awful.

09-03-2016, 02:09 PM	#15
doubleshuffle Unicycle Daredevil Posts: 13,944 Karma: 185432100 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Planet of the Pudding Brains Device: Aura HD (R.I.P. After six years the USB socket died.) tolino shine 3	Of course one of the most beautiful books of all time is a road trip novel (though it starts on a train), Fritz Mühlenweg's In geheimer Mission durch die Wüste Gobi, published in English in a slightly shortened version under the title Big Tiger and Christian. Long out of print though, and used copies are effing expensive.

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