Comments on: Books That Inspire Travel

By: The Ultimate Travel Song Playlist Contest | The Planet D: Around the World Adventure Couple

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 09:02:02 +0000

[...] at ThePlanetD.We talked about our favorite travel movies, celebrities that inspire ethical travel, travel books, music that makes you want to travel and international sporting events that do a great job [...]

By: Trisha

Trisha — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 23:26:43 +0000

Oh lordy my stack of books that I want to read is already sizable but I can see I’m going to add a few more to it….you have some great recommendations here.
.-= Trisha´s last blog ..PR-Blogger Relations Manifesto =-.

By: davendeb

davendeb — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:34:41 +0000

Haha, sorry about that. If you didn’t reply back, I would have never known and we would have had an odd message on our books post about celebrities.

By: Laura

Laura — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:01:04 +0000

I must say it did confuse me!

By: davendeb

davendeb — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:57:01 +0000

Thanks. I am glad that someone else has read travels. When we tell people that Michael Chricton had a travel book they think we are mistaken. But it is very good.

By: davendeb

davendeb — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:53:40 +0000

Oops, I replied to Trisha on the wrong post, that is supposed to be on Celebrities that inspire travel post. Taking it off now, but didn’t want you to think that I was a crazy person and going off on a tangent regarding celebrities:) Sorry Laura.

By: davendeb

davendeb — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:46:46 +0000

Thanks for the comment and don’t be sorry at all. That is what we love about blogging, it encourages discussion. I think that your point is bang on. Books of extremes can make me want to go the a country even more. The Bang Bang Club is very unforgiving and yet, I think that it inspires people to go to South Africa. I read it while I was there and loved it even though it didn’t portray the country is a perfect light.
I guess, a lot of the books we mentioned don’t paint a pretty picture of any country, but they all have inspired us to explore them more.
And you are right, this is a book of fiction and it is impressive that a book can open your mind to a country and evoke such strong feelings on either side of the coin. That makes for great writing I think, when people feel passionate about it either way…absolutely loving it, or genuinely hating it.

By: Laura

Laura — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:23:50 +0000

I’m glad you replied to this Dave, the post made me feel stupid and ignorant when I first read it, but then I thought about it more and my point still stands – I read the book and it made me want to go to India. I will stand with the agreement to disagree – Shantaram is a work of fiction, which is a story with hints of lives and attitudes in India, but through extreme views. It’s like saying you’d never go to Virginia because of Patricia Cornwell’s books. If I wanted earnest travel writing with a true anthropological view, I’d have gone to the travel writing or the history section. Perhaps it’s even more impressive that a work of fiction can open your mind to a country. I get a better view of what it’s really like from Indian friends, but I’m also a literature fan and have many influences in my travel life.

I’m currently struggling through Open Veins of Latin America, which is a socio-historic view of the region, before travelling out to Costa Rica later this year. It’s very worthy and I would really like to understand more of the politics, history and culture before I go but I’m highly unlikely to finish it as history presented in fact is rarely inspirational and certainly more difficult to absorb. My partner bought me Costa Rica: A Traveller’s Literary Companion, which is a series of local, translated short stories and folklore. I’ve whizzed through it because it was enjoyable and accessible – far more inspiring than the worthier tome that will give me a ‘better’ view.

Sorry to rant – apparently I feel quite strongly about this!

By: davendeb

davendeb — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:50:15 +0000

I have to read Shantaram. I can’t believe I hadn’t heard of it before writing this post. That is what I love about posts like this, you can learn so much from other people.

By: Shannon OD

Shannon OD — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:40:50 +0000

I agree – I loved White Tiger and couldn’t put it down. I read about five or six of the “must reads” that were popular for India travelers at the time and White Tiger and Shantaram were tops!

By: davendeb

davendeb — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:20:42 +0000

Well, we will agree to disagree on this subject. We enjoyed many parts of India and made friends with many wonderful people, but a book that talks about the negatives of any country is important. That is how change is made. The poor need a voice and White Tiger gives them one in a very entertaining way to let people know their side of the story. I would love to know the books that are more balanced and insightful, it would be great if you could list a couple of recommendations and I will check them out.
And your Star Wars quote (while very profound) has nothing to do with the book and the point we are making. White Tiger is about the people that are living in India, not about what a tourist is supposed to get out of their spiritual journey to India.
Thanks for your comment Mariellen, I know that you love India and this recommendation isn’t meant to offend people that do, it is just a book that we felt hit the nail on the head of a lot of what we saw and read in the papers while we were there.

By: Twitted by TravelsWithTwo

Twitted by TravelsWithTwo — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:50:10 +0000

[...] This post was Twitted by TravelsWithTwo [...]

By: agentcikay

agentcikay — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 23:16:58 +0000

White Tiger by Aravind Adiga is really cool and also Travels by Michael Crichton...great list D&D! .-= agentcikay´s last blog ..Hokkien Mee and its Cult status =-.

By: davendeb

davendeb — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:17:44 +0000

Laura, I will definitely have to check out Shantaram thanks for the recommendation.

By: Mariellen Ward

Mariellen Ward — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:32:29 +0000

Hahaha, I am laughing because the two books I can’t stand about India are The White Tiger and Shantaram — and both are mentioned here, in your post and in the comments. I have read a lot of books about India and I think there are far better books, more balanced, more insightful, more honest. I find these two blow a lot of hot air.

I think there is a kind of reactionary response to the “shining” India of economists or the “magical” India of travel writers and spiritual seekers. In fact, India — like life — is all of these things. Magical, poor, spiritual, dirty, friendly, nerve-wracking. A lot depends on your perspective, attitude and perception.

I have said before that India is like the cave that Yoda sends Luke into. When Luke asks, “What will I find there?” Yoda answers, “Only what you bring in with you.”

Mariellen
.-= Mariellen Ward´s last blog ..Photo of the Week- Naga Sadhu =-.

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Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:59:21 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Dave&Deb Travel Duo, Jack, Aye and Emma and Todd Wassel, Kevin Chan. Kevin Chan said: rt @theplanetd Books That Inspire Travel http://bit.ly/c4IbHz #travel [...]

By: Laura

Laura — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:54:13 +0000

Shantaram is also a very inspiring picture of India. Bittersweet, laugh out loud, exciting book. I’d never wanted to visit before reading this, now it’s definitely on my list.