I came across this list rather accidently, via Writtenroad.com - a website devoted to travel and writing, which I happen to consider two of my most significant passions. The article is from Conde Naste Traveler magazine, and discusses 86 Great Travel books. (I recommend clicking "print" button to get a single-page view.) I'm rather embarrassed to admit that I've only read 3 books on the list, though due in part to a big Paul Theroux push at the moment, I have another 4 books with me, as of yet unread. The only problem is that the queue on that particular list is frighteningly long.
I was particularly happy to see Bill Bryson's book on Australia (In a Sunburned Country), which I read within my first 2 months in Melbourne, on the list. It's a quality book, as is Theroux's Dark Star Safari, which is one of my most recent reads (and a wonderful gift to receive before I left on my present Australian adventure). It has had a lot to do with some of the "big picture thoughts" I've had recently about the direction that I see myself going after this...that particular question is a hopelessly unanswerable one at present, stuck as I am in the interim between the heady enthusiasm and uncertainty of early PhD candidature and the unimaginable stress and soul-searching panic of pre-submission. While I suppose I should be enjoying this uniquely liberating time - as busy and imminently combustible as it feels - the big questions never seem far away. Such is the life of the student, I suppose, particularly one that is one a path designed for professional advancement within a particular field. On the positive side, it allows a calendar and lifestyle oriented along the University calendar, which can be quite a positive thing. This was undeniably a key component of my own decision-making process in wondering whether I wanted to be part of the University community again.
I'm not sure that posting twice within 12 hours makes up for a month's silence, but I hope that it helps...present reading includes a Paul Theroux novel about the British handover of Hong Kong to the Chinese(Kowloong Tong), and listening to a fair amount of The National and Aussie favorite Missy Higgins - you have to be in the right mood to listen to either, but if you are, the results can be quite incredible...
So can we expect posts every 12 hours from here on out:) Hope you had a great weekend!
Posted by: Carrie | September 17, 2007 at 10:51 PM
I'm particularly intrigued by 'An Area of Darkness', 'Black Lamb and Grey Falcon', and 'The Nomad: Diaries of Isabelle Eberhardt'. Thanks for the link =).
And Bill Bryson is an astutely hilarious writer. His "A Short History of Nearly Everything' was a terribly good read.
Posted by: ST | October 11, 2007 at 01:18 PM
This is great info to know.
Posted by: Laurie | October 30, 2008 at 12:37 AM