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Inspiring Travel Books You Should Read At Least Once

Inspiring Travel Books You Should Read At Least Once
 

Books, in particular, travel memoirs, always go well with travel. You can read when you’re on a plane, train, or simply sitting on the beach. Ironically, I haven’t used to read travel books, as most travelers do. I was always reading classics, especially loving Russian and French literature.

I went through Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Guy de Maupassant, Flaubert, and others, but never read a typical travel book per se. Or at least I haven’t considered a travel book.

Once I joined blogging groups, I realized that travelers are obsessed with reading books that fuel the wanderlust for another destination. Travel books are dominating bestseller lists and being made into star-studded Hollywood films. Fair enough.

As a traveler who was also buried in work, last year I decided to make time and read some of the best rated female travel memoirs. But the more I read the more confused I become about what exactly is a travel book…

Best Travel Memoirs

As to my understanding, inspiring travel memoirs should be able to bring the reader into the scene and introduce him to some of the country’s culture and learn from it.

Here are my honest reviews of the best female-oriented travel memoirs…


1. Travels with Myself and Another by Martha Gellhorn

Martha Gellhorn doesn’t need an introduction, as she’s one of the most respected war journalists and a second wife of Ernest Hemingway.

In this memoir she describes her globe-spanning adventures on four ‘horror’ trips, both accompanied and alone. The places she went and the people she met are fascinating.


2. The Taliban Shuffle by Kim Barker

I discovered Barker’s book after Tina Fey’s movie based on it, titled Whisky Tango Foxtrot. To my surprise, the book was totally different than the movie. Probably that’s why many readers got disappointed by the book if they saw the movie first. 

While the movie is simply hilarious, it doesn’t tell people’s stories that Barker’s told in the book. Instead, it focuses on Kim’s sexual relationships of the author, which in the book hardly happen at all.

The Taliban Shuffle is a memoir of her time working as a foreign correspondent in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. She’s blunt, she’s funny and it feels like a report of things a journalist should write in order to make sure the world doesn’t ignore what’s important, but can’t in an official newspaper. If you just don’t understand these countries and that whole neighborhood, this is the book for you.


3. Without Reservation by Alice Steinback

A book by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist can’t be bad. I’d say it’s a great read for females who never had the courage to travel alone, but certainly, have the curiosity to do so. Her characters seem to be jumping out of places and you might not want to put it down until you finish.

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I liked she writes about not only personal triumphs, but also her fears and doubts. I’m sure you’ll love it Without Reservations.


4. Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray

When I read Vanity Fair back in high school, I didn’t think of it as a travel book. It’s a classic that wonderfully satirical panorama of upper-middle-class life and manners in London at the beginning of the nineteenth century. And while it might seem old-fashioned to some, the story still resonates today.

The book follows a female character who arrives in London and struggles with love and her status, as she tries to fit into society. It’s already a travel book! The story also moves further to Germany and India.


5. The Cat Who Went to Paris by Peter Gethers

All right, this isn’t a female travel memoir, but I think it deserves an honorable mention. I didn’t mention this book just because I’m a huge cat lover. But I admit that my affection for furry friends might have influenced my choice to read it in the first place. The Cat Who Went to Paris is the first part of a saga written from the perspective of Norton the cat. I guess it makes it sort of a memoir.

He’s roaming through strange cities alone, being left unattended in airports, falling from high places, and the list goes on. Some might say that it makes his owner irresponsible, but I’d say that the story was slightly adjusted for the purpose of this book. Even if you’re more of a dog person this would be a good read for you.


6. Girls Who Travel by Nicole Trilivas

I smiled many times while reading Nicole’s book. Girls Who Travel perfectly points at the absurdity of what some can get hung up on in everyday life, contrasting them with the idea of being often idealistic about traveling to unknown places. Nicole features a girl who just returned home to NYC after backpacking around Asia. Upset, missing her old boyfriend, and with a job she hates, she’s given an opportunity to work as an au pair in London.

I was originally scared that the book was going to be mostly about guys, but the author quickly proved me wrong. The characters are vibrant and I could definitely see it being made into a movie one day. And while this book is less about new places, more about the idea of being a traveler. Plus if you’ve ever visited London you’ll recognize some places mentioned.


7. How Not to Travel the World by Lauren Juliff

If you’ve ever read Lauren’s blog Never Ending Footsteps, you could probably suspect that her book was going to be hilarious. This girl attracts every possible disaster and tells you How Not to Travel the World. Lauren describes her misadventures in a way that any seasoned backpacker can look at and chuckle because they can relate.

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Some might say this book is about finding yourself (similar to Eat Pray Love and many others). But I think it’s more about not giving up and her horrifying travel experiences.


8. The Lonely War by Nazila Fathi

Another book written by a journalist, but this time an Iranian female describing the struggles of living in modern Iran. While the view of Iran has always been biased by the media, Nazila clears it up.

Don’t expect a funny love story, but more of an informative piece on Iran and how oppressive the Islamic regime is. Also, what it has done to bring many people into the middle class. The Lonely War is incredibly well written.

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Another book written by a journalist, but this time an Iranian female describing the struggles of living in modern Iran. While the view of Iran has always been biased by the media, Nazila clears it up.

Don’t expect a funny love story, but more of an informative piece on Iran and how oppressive the Islamic regime is. Also, what it has done to bring many people into the middle class. The Lonely War is incredibly well written.
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9. Graduates in Wonderland by Rachel Kapelke & Jessica Pan

Jessica and Rachel compiled their emails to each other in one book. They swap tales of teaching classes of military men, running a magazine, and flirting in foreign languages and go through breakups and breakdowns. But overall it’s a very humorous tale. Something similar to a TV show Girls on HBO.

Graduates in Wonderland is a good book for recent graduates. Anyone over 30 years old would enjoy it as it would make them nostalgic about their own self-discovery as a recent graduate. It’s an easy read with a tone that’s always fresh and authentic.


10. Tracks by Robyn Davidson

If you liked Wild you’re most likely going to enjoy this book as well. Tracks is a travel memoir of the author’s perilous journey across 1,700 miles of the hostile Australian desert to the sea with only four camels and a dog.

While it’s a journey of self-discovery and human connection with nature, her recollections of her times with Aboriginals and station people were the most interesting to me. And the fact that Robyn is scathingly honest about herself, no matter how off-putting it might be. It’s surely one of the best travel books on self-discovery.

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11. What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding by Kristin Newman

It wasn’t the book I thought it was going to be, after every second girl who travels glorified it. I’m still not sure whether I like it or not as it’s definitely a strange one. What I was Doing While You Were Breeding starts with a prolog by an author explaining that she’s not a slut but enjoys men adventures on her travels – what already left me puzzled.

The entire plot is about Kristin going on escapades to have some fun with foreign guys. Sometimes ‘dating’ two or three at once. When she isn’t sharing details about her travels and international boyfriends, she tells the reader about her career as a comedy writer in Hollywood. And while she might be describing everything in a funny way, I kept thinking that it was often too much information for me.


12. Paris was Ours by Penelope Rowlands

Ever wanted to go to Paris? This book is a compilation of essays from different writers. They describe how they were seduced by Paris, and then began to see things differently. Paris was Ours gives an unusual perspective of the romantic city that everyone dreams about.

The essays are funny, sad, informative, but most importantly honest. If you’ve ever been an expat in any country, you’ll enjoy this book!

Have you read any of these travel books? Which books have I missed? Read my recommendations for Best Travel Movies next.

Micamyx|Senyorita

Friday 14th of April 2017

I've read Lauren's novel and it was a fun one! I also enjoyed 'Love with a Chance of Drowning'. What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding seems interesting lol

Agness of eTramping

Wednesday 15th of February 2017

The title of "What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding" is funny, Anna. Still, "The Taliban Shuffle" seems most interesting in this list.

Marlies

Monday 13th of February 2017

I haven't read any of these books but I have seen the movie Tracks and really liked it. I definitely found a couple I like to read. I know the feeling you have with ' What I was Doing While You Were Breeding' I had the same feeling when I read 'Girl on the train'

Anna

Monday 13th of February 2017

Yeah... while I get that people might love sex (I mean, obviously), it was just too much for me ;-)

TRAVELBLLGR

Saturday 11th of February 2017

I havent read any of these but I would highly recommend love with a chance of drowning and also a book by cheryl strayed about walking the pacific crest trail, but I cant remember the name of the book! Thanks for your recommendations :)

Anna

Sunday 12th of February 2017

I didn't include Wild on purpose actually, as it got so famous after the movie that everyone knows it already ;)

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