The Top 5 Traveller Reads in November
1. The Amber Spyglass by Phillip Pullman
The accumulated anticipation that accompanies you as you enter Lyra's world for the final time is almost palpable. What's harder to get hold of however is a clue about what exactly Mr Pullman was thinking when he wrote the anti-climax to end all anti climaxes. The bad guys do a U-turn and steam head first into a selfless sacrifice, the characters that you get affectionately attached to all survive and Lord above, love saves the day. I realise that the series was didactically written with a teenage audience in mind but if like most young adults your days are spent in a sarcastic, downward spiral of cynicism and realism, then this idealism is more than likely to induce vomit. After the literary ride of your life in The Subtle Knife, this is a disappointing end to an otherwise great run. If however you are hooked after the first two books then integrating your brain with these words is not optional. Read it at your own peril.
The Amber Spyglass by Phillip Pullman is published by Scholastic (paperback; 7.99). It is also available through amazon.co.uk and all good booksellers.
2. Love's Executioner by Irvin D. Yalom
This is something a smidge different from your usual, half price, massively popular, supermarket shelf read. It's a collection of extremely well written case studies, all about patients who have been psychologically treated by Yalom. The title case centres around Thelma and her unhealthy love for a former therapist. Despite a brutal rejection, Thelma still treasures the 27 days of highly unprofessional bliss she shared with him and her obsession with re-attaining this love has shaped her life into a globule of sweat pants and depression. Enter Yalom charged with the task of executing this love and getting seventy-year-old Thelma back on track. It's heavy, engaging and refreshingly, it's not another book by a doctor who presumes his medical excellence automatically makes him a good writer. The style is eloquent and this book is worth a read - even if it's just to find out how Thelma's love is finally executed.
Love's Executioner by Irvin D. Yalom is published by Penguin (paperback; 9.99). It is also available through amazon.co.uk and all good booksellers.
3. Rainbow Diary, A Journey in the New South Africa by John Malathronas
This is the final instalment in another trilogy of titles and rather than going into too much detail, I'm going to let you judge Mr Malathronas' writing style for yourself. The first chapter of this read can be found in the November travel extract, entitled Tina Turner: Pretoria. It's a rather nice literary teleportation to South Africa and if you've never been to the country - or you need to pretend you have for the sake of a pretentious dinner party, then this is the ticket. It's a detailed personal account that doesn't fall into the all too familiar travel blog trap of egocentricity. Think of this as a personalised Rough Guide and while you're at it think about checking out Interview Time in December when I'll be sitting down with John and chatting about the international power of the pen.
Rainbow Diary, A Journey in the New South Africa by John Malathronas is published by Summersdale (paperback; 7.99). It is also available through amazon.co.uk and all good booksellers.
4. Rough Guides DIRECTIONS Dubai by Gavin Thomas
This is a great start for any traveller contemplating a trip to the United Arab Emirates. One of my favourite focuses has to be the abundance of wonderful five star hotels and their respective bars. From selfless and extensive first hand experience I found out you can grab a classy cocktail in these establishments without re-mortgaging your over-draft. Because of the strict controls on alcohol you have to have a license to buy alcohol in Dubai - which isn't perfect for travellers passing through this luxurious bubble in the dessert. On the flip side however you can always guarantee a percentage in your drink by heading to one of these ornate bars, which because of their popularity, don't add on any crazy surcharges during the inebriation process.
Rough Guides DIRECTIONS Dubai by Gavin Thomas is published by Rough Guides (paperback: 6.99). It is also available through roughguides.com and all good booksellers.
5. Translations by Brian Friel
A play might not be the easiest thing to get into on the open road but you can only ignore the scary random travel companions for so long by plugging into your iPod. When your battery finally fails we recommend getting to know them and why not do it by enacting a play about the British occupation of Ireland? It sounds a bit random but like Ma and Pa said, learning can be fun. In an inspirational nutshell this play maps out the military cartography of Ireland, the gradual obliteration of the Gaelic language and a good old fashioned romance which breaks down cultural barriers. It sounds simple but it operates on many levels and teaches you about a shameful period of British history that is too often, glossed over.
Translations by Brian Friel is published by Faber and Faber (paperback; 8.99). It is also available through amazon.co.uk and all good booksellers.
- Rob Savage
