While Jack Kerouac’s On The Road is often seen as the quintessential traveler’s handbook, there exist other literary works that vividly portray the essence of life on the road. If you crave adventure for the soul and seek solace in the company of a good book, let us present to you a compilation of exceptional reads that delve into the intricacies of backpacking life.
America Day by Day by Simone De Beauvoir
This classic from 1947 documents the four-month road trip of the renowned French novelist, Simone De Beauvoir, from New York to Los Angeles and back. Through her uniquely French lens, she navigates American customs and culture, ranging from the gritty underground life in Chicago to encounters with gambling addicts in Reno.
Flaming Iguanas by Erika Lopez
Regarded as a unique response to the conventional “white male road trip” narrative, this book provides a bizarre and vivid account of Tomato Rodriguez’s cross-country motorcycle expedition. Brace yourself for an unconventional adventure; it has been likened to a fusion of Easy Rider and Alice in Wonderland.
Around the World in 72 Days by Nellie Bly
Published nearly twenty years after “Around the World in 80 Days,” this masterpiece by journalist Elizabeth Jane Cochrane, under the pseudonym Nellie Bly, chronicles her global circumnavigation for a New York tabloid. Armed with minimal belongings, she journeys through Amiens, Brindisi, Penang, Japan, and beyond.
The Routes of Man by Ted Conover
Delving into the deeper significance of roads as not just paths from point A to B, but also as connectors of humanity, this book follows the journey of six truck drivers in various global locations. It unveils how roads and landscapes play a vital role in shaping our identities and interactions.
Revolutionary Ride: On The Road in Search of the Real Iran by Lois Pryce
This memoir recounts the enthralling travels of writer Lois Pryce during her 3,000-mile expedition across Iran. The journey commences when she discovers a note on her motorcycle that reads, “WE ARE NOT TERRORISTS! Please come to my city, Shiraz.” Filled with peculiar encounters, the book serves as a beacon of hope amidst challenging times.
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