good books to read while traveling??

[stanncie]

Since i'm an avid reader i thought i would start a book rec thread. The dan brown books are obvious choices while traveling through europe but what else?

During my recent trip I read "The story of my life" which is an autobiography of giacomo cassanova. I picked it up in venice and it was quite interesting. I really liked the fact that he travels all over europe in the book and it talks about various sights and places during his time that are still present today.

The funny thing was that I met this english girl in berlin that was reading the exact same book. WE bonded over that! ;D

[MuvverRussia]

Anything by Peter Moore is a surefire bet. His book No shitting in the toilet (see http://www.noshit.com.au) is especially good as it's a parody of a guidebook based around his experiences. No sex on the bus (Brian Thacker) is good as well, it's a memoire of his experiences as a tour guide for top deck travel (think Contiki, but with a lower budget).

Edit - Peter Moore has put a sample page up on his website. Check out www.petermoore.net/nsitt/sample.htm.

[skye]

So, the usual suspects, Dan Brown, and then Under the Tuscan Sun, and a Year in Provence. Moving right along...for any of you travelling to France, "A year in the Merde" by Stephen Clarke is pretty good, and very light! About a Brit who moves to Paris, and his experience of the contradictions of the French culture! Gave me a good laugh.
"Seasons in Basilicata, A Year in a Southern Italian Hill Village" by David Yeadon. Inspired by "Christ stopped at Eboli" by Carlo Levi. About the author and his wife, and what started as a research trip to the area, and how they ended up living there for far longer than they planned!

[LHR02]

I always burrow in with my fave novels...Diana Gabaldon 'Outlander' series. 5 books, all about 900 pages (6th due this Sept!!!). I am NOT a 'romance' reader, in fact mostly read non-fiction...but these darn books! Would be ashamed to even say how many times I have read this series....and in fact am well into the third one right now in anticipation of the new release. Every time a new one comes out...I reread them all, just to be ready for it. Wonderful, historical, funny, sexy as all get out....ah that Jaime! I looked everywhere in Scotland for him....never did find the man though. ;D

I am sure I have owned no less than a dozen copies of Outlander over the years. Keeps getting loaned out, dropped off en route along the way somewhere or simply just falling apart. Have them all in hardcover now which never get loaned or taken on trips. Ladies, if you've never read this, get it, and if by page 60 you are not hooked for life....well, you ain't breathing!

[stanncie]

haha!! i'm not much of a romance reader but i will check it out ginger
Right now though i'm totally engrossed in the new harry potter book so it will have to wait

[kena]

"No Fixed Abode" (which I read in French as "L'amant sans domicile fixe", so I can't attest whether the english translation is any good) by Fruttero & Lucentini takes place in Venice in the wintertime. It's the story between a somewhat cynical guide and an elegant art dealer who happen to fall in love. It's romantic in a non kitchy way, and the city plays a large part in the story. Highly recommended.

[Madam Trash Heap]

Here's another one to add to your lists: Paul Theroux - The Pillars of Hercules. It's not a recent release (!) but is great if you're travelling around the Med and want to hear some good travel tales. It also has some great stories about Croatia and Albania, both of which are gaining points in the popular destination stakes.

I was reading the book a few years ago and whilst travelling on the Tube I came face to face with Louis Theroux (son of the author and my dream-date!). He smiled, looked at the tattered paperback I was clutching and began to read his hardback book...I was speechless!

Ah, memories....
;D

[Jules80]

lamb by christopher moore! hilarious!!! basically its a fictional story of christ's life from age 11 to 31 (or whatever age he was) (sorry really not religious). very well done and researched. told from the point of view of his childhood friend, biff. i actually odn't know what i'm going to bring with me... i should probably get on that...

[Keli]

Call me crazy but I love to read the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. Puts me in a good mood! Though you might get funny looks because you are laughing out loud all the time!!