Happy summer solstice! Best travel books for laughs
Summer's the time to hit the road, and when I travel, I like to get in the mood with a book. Even better is one that can deliver some laughs. Here are 10 books that will provide great reading -- and smiles -- before your plane leaves the runway. (Even if you're just headed to Ocean City, these books will help pass the time between mini-golf and boardwalk strolls.)
1. "In a Sunburned Country" by Bill Bryson for your trip to Australia
2. "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole for New Orleans
3. "Under the Tuscan Sun" by Frances Mayes for Italy
4. "Life with Jeeves" by P.G. Wodehouse for England
5. "God Knows" by Joseph Heller for Israel
6. "Travels with Alice" by Calvin Trillin
7. "Innocents Abroad" by Mark Twain for Europe and the Holy Land
8. "Absurdistan" by Gary Shteyngart for the former Soviet Union
9. "Westward Ha!" by S.J. Perelman for the world
10. "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams for all the rest
Comments
You should add 'I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell' to this list. While it's very crude, it's also extremely hilarious.
http://www.amazon.com/Hope-They-Serve-Beer-Hell/dp/0806527285
Posted by: Tre | June 21, 2010 2:49 PM
Tre, sounds interesting -- though it might be stretching the "travel" theme a little. I wouldn't want to waste frequent flyer miles on that trip.
Posted by: Dave | June 21, 2010 5:20 PM
How about "A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again" by David Foster Wallace for cruise goers?
Posted by: Jason | June 22, 2010 10:49 AM
The Relic by Eça de Queirós is another "Holy Land" travel book that should not be forgotten...highly recommended.
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Posted by: travel8 | June 27, 2010 6:29 AM
"You should add 'I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell' to this list."
Not only does this book have little if anything to do with travel, it's an incredible bore - unless you're a 17 year old boy who thinks adulthood is going to be an unfettered life of unending alcohol and sex. Total crap.
Posted by: LeadGuy | July 1, 2010 5:04 PM
Thanks for this informative direction. I hope this will help to others. There are lots of books to read for acquire various knowledge. So people should read more books.
Posted by: Books Read | July 11, 2010 2:33 PM