The Top 5 Traveller Reads in October
1. The Africa Book from Lonely Planet
It's good to keep abreast of new developments on our Lonely Planet and when the new Africa title came out I got a little bit excited. I've never had the chance to venture out of London to this magnificent continent but if what's contained within the pages of this astoundingly comprehensive book is even close to reality, then I'm a click away from booking a ticket. The book takes you through every country in the continent and is rightly marketed as coffee table book because it's a bit of a beast. There are a fare few pages and it won't fit easily into a backpack - however if you're planning a trip on a scale similar to that of Fabio and Massimo from Moving Slowly then this is an essential travel companion.
The Africa Book from Lonely Planet is published by Lonely Planet (paperback; £25.99). It is also available through amazon.co.uk and all good booksellers.
2. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
This book might be part of every school curriculum you've ever come across but there's a good reason for that. It's didactic in a way that doesn't recreate the effect of half a sleeping pill and a glass of wine. Unlike a few choice offerings from Mr Dickens this novel deals with some rather major issues with a variety of subtle educational undertones. The Great Depression, rape, violence and racism are among these and the final result is a page turner and a publication that came in second after the Bible, in a survey of books that make a difference. It's an amazing read and an education that you really shouldn't pass on.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is published by Random House (paperback; £7.99). It is also available through rbooks.co.uk and all good booksellers.
3. The Subtle Knife by Phillip Pullman
Last month we weaned you off Harry Potter and introduced you to the adventurous lifestyle of Lyra Silvertongue. In the second instalment from Mr Pullman's Dark Materials we meet the equivalent of Ron and Hermione rolled into one – he's called Will. Will leaves a distressed upbringing behind when he stumbles across a window that spans dimensions. After a rather unusual introduction Lyra and Will become the best of friends and embark on a mission that crosses through multiple realities and ends with their painful separation - when the duplicitous Mrs Coulter is dealt back into the story. It's as good as Northern Lights (if not better) and the final page will induce a frenzied search in all nearby bookshops for the third and final book in the series – The Amber Spyglass. Check out that review in the November Top 5 Reads.
The Subtle Knife by Phillip Pullman is published by Scholastic (paperback; £6.99). It is also available through amazon.co.uk and all good booksellers.
4. Signspotting II from Lonely Planet
At the tenderly embarrassing age of sixteen I stayed in Pennsylvania or more specifically, in a town called Intercourse. Intercourse was only a matter of miles from a town named Blue Balls and there were some very distinctive skid marks on the road next to the sign marking the position of both settlements. With that in mind think of this publication as a catalogue filled with equally entertaining and embarrassing signs, all communicating double entendres and confusingly humorous meanings. Readers should most certainly Be Aware Of Invisibility and definitely make a detour to the Curry Prevention Services.
Signspotting 2 from Lonely Planet is published by Lonely Planet (paperback; £6.99). It is also available through amazon.co.uk and all good booksellers.
5. Brazil, Life, Blood, Soul by John Malanthronas
When the search results came back on John Malanthronas it turns out that he has dedicated his life to travelling, writing and photography. This pure dedication has earned him a coveted place in the Guild of Travel Writers, articles in travel magazines and to date, three book deals. When reading through Brazil – Life, Blood, Soul I began to understand just what it takes to get to that rung of the travel writing career ladder. The writing style is sleek, the experiences he recounts are personalised but in no way fluffy or vomit inducing and there's a cynical edge to this writer's tongue that makes you want to turn the page. Cultures collide in Brazil and Mr Malanthronas was there to take some very detailed notes.
Brazil, Life, Blood, Soul by John Malanthronas is published by Summersdale (paperback; £8.99). It is also available through amazon.co.uk and all good booksellers.
- Rob Savage
