As I write this post, I am sitting in my favorite Parisian-inspired coffee shop in New York (also known as my “office”) and sipping on a cappuccino while travel books sit piled by my laptop. Throughout my travels, my books have often become more than bound pages but rather companions during my travels. From my Spanish version of Jack Kerouac’s Lonesome Traveler that was picked up in a charming bookshop in Buenos Aires to Cheryl Stayed’s Wild that I clung to while traveling alone in Iguazu, my books have lent wisdom, comfort and inspiration while I was abroad.
In between trips, I indulge in the stories of other travel writers to transport me to exotic locales when I can’t hop on a plane. Favorite reads like Anthony Bourdain’s A Cook’s Tour sit tattered on my book shelf-having been read and re-read countless times for how the words paint a picture of markets in Vietnam or meals in Oaxaca. At this point, each book seems to have a memory tied to it; whether that be a wanderlust inducing read wistfully enjoyed on Monday morning subway commutes in NYC, to books read while flying abroad to Europe, to those enjoyed alone over steaming bowls of ramen. While there are many travel books out there, the following travel reads are my absolute favorite and have inspired me in their own way. Each talented author has a way with words that will have you running for your passport and day dreaming about your next trip overseas.
What I was Doing While you were Breeding
I am currently in the midst of this quick read and am having a blast reading Kristin Newman’s fresh, funny and brutally honest memoir of traveling in her thirties. As she navigates both her relationship with herself and various foreign suitors, Kristin comes into her own and reminds every woman that happily ever after starts with you. The book can be at once funny uet frustrating as Kristin seems to stand in her own way of happiness and love, but at a time when many woman are opting to not have children in lieu of simply enjoying life and love on their own terms; it is refreshing to read a novel where a woman is unashamed in her pursuit of pleasure, travel and her career.
The Lost Girls
It’s the type of book you wish would never end. From the moment you begin reading The Lost Girls, it feels like you’ve hoisted your backpack up on your shoulders and fallen into step with Jen, Amanda and Holly as they simultaneously navigate their late twenties and the world around them. Making their way from New York to Australia, The Lost Girls gives each girl’s perspective as they meet backpackers, volunteer in Kenya, find peace in India and battle irate taxi drivers in South East Asia. As I read The Lost Girls I walked away with life lessons, great trip ideas and destination ideas to inspire future travel plans.
Eat Pray Love
Scoff if you must, roll your eyes if you will but Eat Pray Love is a fantastic read that looks at travel as a means of self-discovery. Based on the life story of Elizabeth Gilbert and her year-long adventure across Italy, India and Indonesia, Eat Pray Love focuses on solo travel and the lessons picked up along the way. Rising from the ashes of a devastating divorce and failed relationship, Elizabeth decides that rather than seek refuge in yet another man that she will instead give herself a chance to heal and rediscover happiness on her own. As Liz makes her way from Italy to Indonesia, she confronts difficult truths about herself, learns lessons in love and loss and ultimately finds the strength to move forward and begin again. Determined to rediscover passion in Italy, find spirituality in India and balance the two in Indonesia, Gilbert’s memoir is set against the backdrop of beautiful countries that she brings to live with vivid detail. Eat Pray Love is both a film and novel but I recommend the book since the movie fails to capture the emotional depth and thought process that Gilbert shows in her words.
A Cook’s Tour
I’ll admit it–I have a bit of a crush on the silver fox that is Anthony Bourdain. What with his cheeky wit and pointed attitude, Bourdain goes where many travelers won’t to show his viewers and readers that the world is indeed an amazing place. Before his debut on The Taste, Parts Unknown and even No Reservations, Bourdain was just a chef and writer who decided to combine his two talents and hit the road. With nothing more than a desire to eat and travel, Bourdain pitched the idea-turned-novel of searching the world for the allusive “perfect meal.” While not every dish he ate was envy-worth (the iguana he had in Mexico sounded particularly revolting) his book is hilarious, witty and honest to the point you feel as though Anthony is sitting across a table from you recounting his travels in far flung countries (also known as part of my dream dinner of dining with my three silver foxes: Anthony Bourdain, Anderson Cooper and Jon Stewart). In the end, Bourdain does find his “perfect meal,” which proves to be surprising and thought provoking..but no spoilers here!
Wild
I have fond memories attached to the book Wild, which I carried with me on my first solo travel adventure in Argentina and Uruguay. I remember mornings spent in Buenos Aires, sipping on orange juice, eating breakfast and reading Wild at an outdoor cafe as I watched Palermo come to life. I remember sitting in the airport and reading Wild while waiting for my flight to Iguazu-having nothing but a daypack thrown together last minute as I flew to the border of Brazil and Argentina for an impromptu trip to the waterfalls. Wild chronicles the adventure of Cheryl Strayed who, after a series of poor choices and the death of her mother, found herself desperate for a way to find herself again. Cheryl decides to hike the Pacific Crest Trail solo and along the way confronts her demons-ultimately allowing her to heal and move on with her life. To read Wild while solo traveling and confronting my own demons was beautiful and in times I felt alone or lost, I turned to Cheryl and her stories to see me through.
It’s your turn! What are some travel books that have inspired you? Share your favorite travel reads below!
