What Books Make Good Travelling Companions?

It’s that time of year - You’re taking a break over Summer to travel near or far and you’re thinking of a book, or two, or more, for those quiet moments you hope to have …

When my friends and I were discussing this topic last week I realised just how important it seems to women to have those special books to take away. Half the fun is choosing them and savouring the feeling of anticipation.

So here’s my selection of books I’ll be taking as travelling companions over the next few weeks …

First of all there’s my impulse buy. Who can resist something that randomly catches the eye at the bookshop? In my case it’s The Secret Language by John S. Croucher and full of funny lines like this one from the writer Steve Martin, ‘First the doctor told me the good new: I was going to have a disease named after me …’ Perfect I thought! Something to laugh about when the travel arrangements go awry - as they inevitably do.

My next Book Club book is Small Wars by Sadie Jones - I can’t possibly go without this because I need to be up to speed for the meeting due just as I arrive home.

Anyone who can write a book called Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart must be onto something. I’m always keen to pick up the lessons of life from someone else so that I can avoid having to learn them personally. In this case the author, Gordon Livingston, M.D. has also written a book called How To Love and I like the idea that it’s never too late to try and finesse this emotion.

I realize I’m already having to leave behind half my wardrobe in order to carry all of the above but there are two more I just have to take. The first is The Art of Travel by Alain De Botton. This one is highly recommended by someone I know so I’m really keen to read it. The blurb on the back says ‘ … although we are inundated with advice on where to travel to, we seldom ask why we go and how we might become more fulfilled by doing so’. Hmmm …

And finally, in order to not be the only person left in Australia, the World or the Universe to have not read a Stieg Larson mystery I’m taking The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

Now all I have to do is hide them all until we arrive at the airport in order to avoid ‘that look’  which says so clearly, without words … ‘Your’e not seriously taking all of those are you?’

Yes I am.

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