Top 5 Books April 2008
Great Britain by Lonely Planet
I was lucky enough to bump into Lonely Planet's Tom Hall at the recent TNT Travel Show. I was then lucky enough to hear him wax lyrical about some of the wondrous locations, referenced in this 1014 page, beast of a book. The historical hi jinx and wondrous photography made yours truly a little bit proud to be British. It also me thoroughly determined to relay some of that magic to you. The top ten British destinations in said speech included the breath taking beauty of Ilkley and the Yorkshire Moors, Dartmouth and it's proud naval history and of course the notorious Northumberland National Park. My favourite recommendations however, centred on the British capital and the quirky nooks and crannies that you wouldn't normally come across on the tourist track. A superb, second hand tip - from Tom, to me, to you is Dennis Severs' house where the rooms are all artistic, tailor made - time capsules.
Great Britain by Lonely Planet is published by Lonely Planet (paperback; £16.99). It is also available through www.lonelyplanet.com and all good booksellers.
Rough Guides – Europe on a Budget
Apparently I'm an expert on saving money on the road. An over draft that hails back to the days of student hood would disagree with that, but nonetheless I have done extended European trips on less than €100 a week. Amsterdam is one exemplification of this scrimping and saving - so in logical honour of that, let us turn to page 835 and see what Rough Guides Europe on a Budget has to say about the city of sin. The best tourist bases are covered and crucially, the guide espouses the virtues of hiring a bike - in this city where cars well and truly take a back seat. One stumbling block in this fountain of knowledge however, is the failure to note the scrumptious and amazing value for money pancakes on offer at The Pancake Bakery. This delicious eatery is on Prinsengracht. Tongue in cheek, taste bud motivated comments aside, this is essential reading for all budget travellers.
Rough Guides – Europe on a Budget is published by Rough Guides (paperback; £15.99). It is also available through www.roughguides.com and all good booksellers.
Pacific Highway: Travels of a Sub-Standard Pirate by David Baboulene
In terms of travel books they don't come more bizarre and varied than this. Pacific Highway really does do what it says on the tin because this collection of tales truly reflects the travels of a sub-standard pirate. Accounts include steering for your host - along winding cliff top roads as said driver chastises errant cigarette lighters. This Croydon born author also indulges us with a little cross dressing in Durban and the compulsory holiday romances before juxtaposing this with the gangland, gun culture of West Africa. There's a lot of historical fact rammed into the pages of Pacific Highway, so it's not one for the skimmers in the crowd, but it is an excellent read for former students who miss the days of educational, information overload.
Pacific Highway by David Baboulene is published by Summersdale (paperback; £8.99). It is also available through amazon.co.uk and all good booksellers.
The Swimming Pool Library by Alan Hollinghurst
After a bitter sweet experience with Hollinghurst's The Line of Beauty, I was hesitant to pick up the Swimming Pool Library. In the hope that this niche novel didn't end with quite so much heart wrenching death, despair and crushed dreams, I forged ahead into this literary offering. Like The Line of Beauty you have privileged chaps chasing after naughty times with the opposite end of the social spectrum. The reoccurrence of such colonial, race and class oriented themes makes you question just how autobiographical Hollinghurst might be, but the overriding impression left by this book is one of awe. These events did and still do, frequently occur in the specified social circles of aristocratic England and it's a brave and necessary thing, to put them in print. Expect sex, social climbing, discrimination and a fair amount of didactic, literary hand holding.
The Swimming Pool Library by Alan Hollinghurst is published by Random House (paperback; £7.99). It is also available through rbooks.co.uk and all good booksellers.
Then We Came To The End by Joshua Ferris
If like millions of people across the globe, you spend most of your week in an office, then you're bound to find something you can relate to in this book. Office politics are laid bare in all their ugly glory, as the characters tackle a business slump in a typically superficial and self serving way. The prizes competed for are office furniture, secret romance of course leads to a plethora of not so secret gossip and the manipulative, boredom busting pranks have more tiers to them than the cake at an over-eaters' convention. You can't help but admire Ferris for capturing the ins and outs quite so perfectly and even if the thought of spending you spare time in a literary office environment turns your stomach, take note. You might just pick up a few practical survival tips from these pages.
Then We Came To The End by Joshua Ferris is published by Penguin (paperback; 7.99). It is also available through amazon.co.uk and all good booksellers.
- Rob Savage
