City Travel Guides > Books > Travel Writing

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.The Travels of Sir John Mandeville (Penguin Classics)
City Travel Guides > Books > Travel Writing
by: Sir John Mandeville

March 31, 2005
I cannot hide my bias about this book; it is my absolute favourite. One of the major differences between ourselves and the Medieval World was the notion of the East and the concept of otherness. The World Sir John Mandeville chronicled was the World we see on antique maps, there is scant regard for topographical accuracy but a wonderful mixture of beasts and monsters. There is controversy as to whether this 'Knight' ever ventured anywhere, some even believe that the name itself is made up. All these issues add to the mystery and sense of adventure in what must be one of the World's first travel books.
In our 'Age of Reason' we try to explain everything using rational methods and scientific experiment, this book succeeds ... Read More:
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.A Year in Provence
City Travel Guides > Books > Travel Writing
by: Peter Mayle

June 01, 2000
I've avoided this book until now because I remember the fuss about it at the time and experience has taught me that bestsellers are to be approached with caution, if not actually burnt. But my prejudice was entirely wrong - it's wonderful. Truly funny (I laughed aloud more than once) and written beautifully. The style Mayle uses - you'll recognise that amiable observer thing at once - is an oldy but a goody and he's much more elegant than Bill Bryson.

What's also interesting is the fact it's twenty years old now, which makes me wonder how much Provence has changed and whether the book is as much a slice of late eighties life, a historical piece, as the people in the book themselves.

The only thing I would have liked was ... Read More:
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.Don't Tell Mum I Work on the Rigs: (She Thinks I'm a Piano Player in a Whorehouse)
City Travel Guides > Books > Travel Writing
by: Paul Carter

November 08, 2007
Autobiographies about out of control rockstars are ten a penny, similar books about "normal" people far less common. The reason for that is pretty simple I guess, we aspire to our dreams and wishes...and with the best will in the world I don't wanna work on a rig. Never the less Paul Carters book is a pretty good read, he wizzes around the world and keeps things snappy, even if the claims on the cover are a little exagerated - taken hostage...er where?. He's no crazy Keith Moon character either, its the situation rather than the personality thats amusing here.
A good, but slight, read.
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.This is Not a Drill: Just Another Glorious Day in the Oilfield
City Travel Guides > Books > Travel Writing
by: Paul Carter

November 08, 2007
Casing hands have a reputation for embellishing the truth.

They also enjoy macho posturing - hence the side trip to Afghanistan, a country that has nothing to do with the oil industry.

Don't believe every word of it. I work in the oil industry and was able to second guess the outcome of many escapades.

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.Sweet Honey, Bitter Lemons: Travels in Sicily on a Vespa
City Travel Guides > Books > Travel Writing
by: Matthew Fort

April 03, 2008
Many people will have seen Matthew Fort on Great British Menu or read his Guardian columns over the years. His passion for food is totally infectious. And behind his affable demeanour is a sharp mind, wonderful eye for detail and delightfully involving use of language. On this journey around Sicily he also shows an awful lot of himself. It is a very personal journey. It shows not only a sense of the history of the places he visits, it also tells a lot about his own self; his family relationships, his strength of character, his willingness to engage anyone and everyone in his quest. You sense how hard such a journey is; the loneliness of several weeks on a scooter, the uncertainty of what you will find. This is a rare book as it is readable for so many reasons: as a ... Read More:
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.How to Live Off-grid
City Travel Guides > Books > Travel Writing
by: Nick Rosen

March 25, 2008
great book, i have just started reading it, a great way to learn about some of the issues and see how people are going off grid in different ways


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.Thunder and Sunshine
City Travel Guides > Books > Travel Writing
by: Alastair Humphreys

June 01, 2008
Enjoyed the first book. Good that this follows on (although it stands alone as a book - you don't have to have read the first volume). It is easy to care for the writer, so its nice to find out what happened to him next.

Once again there is expression of emotion, confidence, doubt etc which is so much better than the boring travelogs of some, who mistakenly think just listing places visited is a story. I hope to read more from this author in the future.
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.Lost in the Jungle: A Harrowing True Story of Adventure and Survival
City Travel Guides > Books > Travel Writing
by: Yossi Ghinsberg

July 07, 2008
I loved this book - yes in parts it maybe the writing style isn't as polished as some books you see on the shelf, but I feel this only highlights how young Yossi was when he took this trip and reflects a young man's voice. The story feels real and raw, rather than it has been tampered with and over edited. Absolutely amazing story which shows unbelievable strength of character, in short a real page turner which I would thoroughly recommend.
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.From the Holy Mountain: A Journey in the Shadow of Byzantium
City Travel Guides > Books > Travel Writing
by: William Dalrymple

May 05, 1998
This quite enthralling tale takes the reader on a journey through a slowly but inexorably declining culture, that of the Eastern Christian communities of the former Byzantine empire and neighbouring regions - contemporary Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Egypt. Inspired by, and reflecting throughout on, John Moschos' 6th-century work `The Spiritual Meadow', which was written at a similar `end of empire' time, Dalrymple embarks on a slow, bureaucracy-beset trip through remote parts of the region, including several of its most famous - as well as some forgotten -monasteries. Pretty well everywhere he goes, he finds the same tale: a Christian community in decline due to persecution under Islam, nationalism, emigration and war - a war which is sometimes (as in Lebanon) of its own making. ... Read More:
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.Bollocks to Alton Towers: Uncommonly British Days Out
City Travel Guides > Books > Travel Writing
by: Jason Hazeley, Robin Halstead, Joel Morris, Alex Morris

March 02, 2006
I searched for this book under 'comedy' and have to say it hardly raises the mouth corners at any point or at least the third I read didn't. I'm sure it's well written and it's factual and informative but if you are looking for Jeremy Clarkson style quick wit then it's not for you.
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