Hi all
One of the troubles with travel books is that they are only relevant for a
very short time after publication. They then become irritatingly out-of-date
and rather irrelevant. Then after about 20 years or more they become
interesting historical documents.
Another problem is that they usually tell you more than you want to know
about the author. Of course, the authors flavours the whole thing by what
they choose to include and what they choose to leave out.
I generally feel that travel books fall short as either a guide or history
to the places describbed and only tells you some of the author's story.
If you want to know about the author get the autobiography (there's usually
one) and if you want to know about a place get either a guide or a history
depending upon what you need.
Some of Bryson's books Notes From A Small Island and Notes From A Big
Country for example are rather different in that they set out to tell you
more about the way of life in the country and draw comparisons based on the
author's experience.
Steve
-----Original Message-----
From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Elaine Harris (Rivendell)
Sent: 26 June 2013 00:51
To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: Travel books
Oh, June, I haven't read H. V. Morton in years. Chris and I shared much of
his work over 25 years ago; our favourites being "I Saw Two Englands", set
before and during the second world war, (rural idyll to munitions factory),
and "Ghosts of Old London", pure magic of history!
I might find them too dry now but loved them then. Have only read a couple
of Bill Brysons and not many other travel books.
Thank you for the reminder,
Elaine
-----Original Message-----
From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Tar Barrels
Sent: Tuesday, 25 June 2013 9:08 PM
To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ebooktalk] Travel books
I enjoy some travel books, but they are mostly ancient ones like HV Morton,
where I enjoy the writing as much as any sense of different places -
although I love his book on Italy. If I'm hones, I would rather read books
of exploits. Climbing books are a passion, and I recently read How to Climb
Mont Blanc in a Skirt. This was great fun, and covered all sorts of
exploration and adventure by women. Absolutely hilarious in places, deeply
disturbing and alarming in others. But most of all it left me with a feeling
of awe for all those adventurers, and their fanatastic spirits!
June
-----Original Message-----
From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Ian Macrae
Sent: 25 June 2013 10:59
To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: RECENTLY READ
Having watched the original TV series all those years ago and, as mentioned
earlier, having read some of Palin's diaries, I think I'd rather gnaw off my
own left arm than read one of his travel books. I'd guess the sense of
whimsey would be over powering.
My own recent reading has included my third Charles Cumming novel in about
six weeks. This one, which I'm tantalisingly close to finishing, is called
A Spy by Nature. It concerns a young man's recruitment into the British
Intelligence service. The central character is rather loathsomely self
obsessed, but this is very much part of the weave of the book. I enjoyed
the other two better. I've also just finished Horns by Joe Hill. Just when
you think you've read everything by Stephen King, along comes his son with
more books to stretch the imagination. This one concerns a man who
discovers horns growing out of the sides of his head. and unsurprisingly,
they have disturbing properties. I think he is a more mannered writer than
is dad, but doesn't have quite the facility with story telling.
On 25 Jun 2013, at 09:18, Clare Gailans wrote:
> I like Michael Palin, but I run a mile from most travel books. They so
> often seem to be about the traveller's ego more than anything else.
> Even worse is being trapped listening to people drone on about their
> holidays, but I expect I've grumped about that before. Clare
>
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