City Travel Guides > Books > Travel Writing

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.America Unchained: A Freewheeling Roadtrip In Search of Non-Corporate USA
City Travel Guides > Books > Travel Writing
by: Dave Gorman

April 03, 2008
Dave Gorman for me is one of the founding fathers of the recent quest comedy novels that have filled my non-fiction shelves. With his `Are you Dave Gorman' and his `Googlewack Adventure' I was entertained and educated. `Unchained America' follows a similar path to these two earlier books, but with some major differences. Gorman has made TV shows out of all of his books, but whilst previously he adapted them using the photos and short films he made himself, this time he goes out to make a documentary. Unfortunately, this means that the book suffers.

I have not seen the TV show, but having read the book it seems like it was a difficult undertaking. Dave set out across America to go from the East coast to the West with only using ... Read More:
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.Join Me: The True Story of a Man Who Started a Cult by Accident
City Travel Guides > Books > Travel Writing
by: Danny Wallace

June 03, 2004
Danny Wallace, until recently he was more famous as Dave Gorman's sidekick - but now he is a regular face on TV.

This book is in the same sort of genre as "Are You Dave Gorman" which Danny co-authored and tells the true story of how Danny Wallace starts a cult by asking people to join him....

...And people do! They have no reservations and hand over their faith to join a man in an unknown crusade. After having people join him, Danny decides what to do as the leader of a cult and comes up with the ultimate in humanistic altruism - they will all do a good deed per day for someone.

This is a very entertaining book which shows how a decent man can do good deeds and encourage others to do so to ensure the world is a more pleasant ... Read More:
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.Notes from a Small Island
City Travel Guides > Books > Travel Writing
by: Bill Bryson

August 01, 1996
An aimless and tedious meander through British life as seen from an outsider's point of view. Some of this book is very funny but it is full of pointless anecdotes and inane drivel. This book is too long and much of it is instantly forgettable. Not good!
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.Waterlog: A Swimmer's Journey Through Britain
City Travel Guides > Books > Travel Writing
by: Roger Deakin

May 18, 2000
If you're the kind of person who sees water and immediately wants to go in, this is the book for you. It's practically a bible for the wild swimmer; full of marvellous places and written with such likable enthusiasm and fascinating detail that I really wished it were longer. Such a shame that he won't be writing any more.
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.Long Way Round
City Travel Guides > Books > Travel Writing
by: Ewan McGregor, Charley Boorman

May 16, 2005
I picked up this book to take on holiday. It's gripping reading and I managed to get through the whole thing comfortably in a week. The 350 or so pages have fairly large text.

The book documents their trials and tribulations whilst travelling east around the world from london through europe, asia, and north america to new york and does so in great detail. It made me feel like I was almost there with them experiencing some of the joys and sadness.

A lot of the book focuses on the scenery, people who they meet along the way, and various border, bike and language issues.

For me, the stories are well written within and the two differing and alternating views of the journey make the read much more interesting.

extremely enjoyable ... Read More:
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.As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning
City Travel Guides > Books > Travel Writing
by: Laurie Lee

May 31, 1973
Widely regarded as one of the greatest examples of travel writing ever made, 'As I walked out one midsummer morning' is a massively engaging book.
At once visceral, heartfelt, honest, bursting with humanity and in some part disturbing, this account of a young man's walk through the Spain of the 1930s is a vicarious experience that transports the reader into an unforgettable but lost world.
There are occasions when Lee seems to have arrived at truly momentous turning points. After crossing the Guadarrama peaks he first sees Madrid in the plain of La Mancha and his knowledge of Spain is to become transformed by his experience of the capital. And then later, when he meets a Spanish sailor who portentiously warns "I don't know who you are, but if you want to see blood, stick around ... Read More:
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.Down Under
City Travel Guides > Books > Travel Writing
by: Bill Bryson

August 06, 2001
I must be honest and say that I started this book in tandem with another just because I didn't think I'd be terribly interested in the subject matter, much as I love Bryson. By the end of the second chapter, I wanted to book a ticket on the next flight to Perth. The flora, fauna and folks that inhabit this wondrous country intrigue me strangely.

Bill Bryson is one of the funniest writers I have ever encountered. I find myself reading bits aloud at the slightest hint of encouragement. I challenge anyone to read his discussion of running through a park trying to get away from some scary dogs, and ending up in an unsuspecting housewife's back garden, without laughing out loud. If you can get through that section without giggling, you have nerves of steel.

I learned a ... Read More:
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.Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe
City Travel Guides > Books > Travel Writing
by: Bill Bryson

April 02, 1998
Needing to clear some space on my bookshelves I have decided to reacquaint myself with Bill Bryson's travel books before Bookcrossing them.
This one was written in 1990, first published in 1992 and the edition on my bookshelf in 1998. I enjoyed reading this travelogue of his tour of some of the major cities of Europe, many of those mentioned which I have visited myself during the last forty years. Of those that I have not I think that Sofia in particular may well have changed beyond recognition, Eastern Europe having undergone the most changes in the last eighteen years.
Whilst one might not always agree with Bryson's viewpoint it is none the less an amusing read, though one must also accept that in some aspects it can seem very dated.
Certainly worth reading if you are at ... Read More:
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.Don't Stop Me Now
City Travel Guides > Books > Travel Writing
by: Jeremy Clarkson

May 01, 2008
Now we all know that Clarkson makes loads of money from selling books full of stuff he has already written in the paper but so what....who cares whether he's making extra money or not when you get to read this much funny stuff all in one book!

We all know he says he's writing about cars when in fact he just rants about complete rubbish for 3/4's of the articles....but who cares when he can make rubbish this funny!!!

We all know that Clarkson is a pompous, over opinionated, biggot....who cares....he's funnier than most other people you can read these days!!

I love this book....I think all the clarkson books are great but this one really is one of his best. I like the fact that they have made a bit more effort and actually put pictures of the cars he is talking about ... Read More:
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.I Wouldn't Start from Here: The 21st Century And Where It All Went Wrong
City Travel Guides > Books > Travel Writing
by: Andrew Mueller

August 01, 2008
Now we all know that Clarkson makes loads of money from selling books full of stuff he has already written in the paper but so what....who cares whether he's making extra money or not when you get to read this much funny stuff all in one book!

We all know he says he's writing about cars when in fact he just rants about complete rubbish for 3/4's of the articles....but who cares when he can make rubbish this funny!!!

We all know that Clarkson is a pompous, over opinionated, biggot....who cares....he's funnier than most other people you can read these days!!

I love this book....I think all the clarkson books are great but this one really is one of his best. I like the fact that they have made a bit more effort and actually put pictures of the cars he is talking about ... Read More:
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