@offtheshelfofficial
It’s true that not all who wander are lost, but most of us could at least use some direction.
Whether you’re planning a solo trip cross-country or an exotic honeymoon, these books will unearth a fount of internal discovery and fuel your wanderlust. So read on and take that trip you’ve been keeping on the backburner!
“A Field Guide to Getting Lost” by Rebecca Solnit
A beautiful hybrid of memoir and cultural musing, Solnit draws on historical connections to fashion a thought-provoking mosaic of what it means to wander and be lost.
“Wild” by Cheryl Strayed
If you didn’t already read the book (and cry), or watch the movie (and cry), or see the Gilmore Girls showdown (and laugh), then now’s your chance. Learn about the need for perseverance from a broken-down, headstrong individual whose struggle is both relatable and moving for anyone who’s ever experienced grief — or a very heavy backpack.
“On The Road” by Jack Kerouac
A borderline obvious choice, but as you walk in the footsteps of past travelers, it’s nice to know what they were thinking…or, in this case, not thinking – we don’t particularly recommend hitchhiking across the country.
“Travels With Myself and Another: A Memoir” by Martha Gelhorn
Traveling with your boo? Draw serious inspiration from an original power couple, Gelhorn and her paramour sidekick Ernest Hemingway. When Gelhorn isn’t busy trekking to Africa, she and Hemingway (referred to as her U.C.: “Unwilling Companion”) literally dodge bullets together.
“Travels With My Aunt” by Graham Greene
This book features a very different duo from the previous pick, but no less dynamic. This classic comedy reads something like a laugh-out-loud, family screwball narrative as a stodgy banking type finds himself thrown on a wild ride with his elderly adventurous aunt. If nothing else, it’ll make you reevaluate your sense and sources of spontaneity.
“What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding: A Memoir” by Kristin Newman
Newman’s hilarious and seductive spin on traveling is a godsend for us single ladies — or anyone who’s ever felt overwhelmed by the nonstop pressure of weddings and baby showers. It’s definitely the best book to read if you’re looking for a fling on your trip, but be warned: her tell-all take on “vacationships” will make you want to chuck your dating apps and book a one-way flight to Argentina.
“Tell My Horse: Voodoo and Life in Haiti and Jamaica” by Zora Neale Hurston
Anyone who’s ever experienced the jarring sensation of culture shock should read this widely overlooked narrative from a posthumous icon. It’s got personal discovery, surreal encounters, anthropology, and yes, firsthand encounters with voodoo.
“The Namesake” by Jhumpa Lahiri
Your heart will warm, melt, and then totally shatter while reading this multigenerational novel about a young couple who uproots a life in Calcutta, then tries to pass along some cultural identity to their children. It’s a beautifully woven lesson in the glories and pitfalls of being “other” in an unknown land.
“Travels with Charley: In Search of America” by John Steinbeck
Before there was Doug the Pug, there was Charley. Steinbeck’s poodle companion accompanies the author on a final trip through small-town America, unveiling a moving –- if somewhat dated –- perspective on rediscovering identity through travel.
“A Manual For Cleaning Women: Selected Stories” by Lucia Berlin
An annoying passenger kicking the seat behind you or a particularly odorous cab driver…our travels often expose us to new unpleasant experiences, and we tend to forget our fellow humans are just that — and Berlin’s freshly humane writing subtly reminds us.
xx, The FabFitFun Team
