We are choosing travel books to read together.
Rachael,
I hope you will join us in reading this book. I am enjoying it. I hope I might finish it this coming weekend. (with any luck) It is a good book, from my point of view, it had a couple of slow spots but overall I am really enjoying it. Can't wait to hear your thoughts.
Reply to this
I'm now 3/4 the way through the book and continue to enjoy it. When I read a blurb about this book on the internet it said Jupiter's Travels is a book by Ted Simon which narrates his four-year journey through 126,000 km across 45 countries on a Triumph Tiger 100 500 cc motorcycle from 1973 to 1977. His book was first published in English in 1979.
Until you get into it you don't really think about the marvel of doing this ride in 1974 and all that he will encounter. An amazing thing he has accomplished. He has explorer in him.
Reply to this we should read, at some point, the second book "Dreaming of Jupiter", which is pretty much the same trip, but in 2001, when he was 69... it could be very interesting to compare both trips.
Reply to this I have finally got this from the library and started reading last night...love it! What a wonderful adventure...I can't wait to get right into it.
Reply to this I was emailing with Shadowman who is a travel blogger and a biker. I wrote him to suggest that he join us in reading Jupiter's travels. As it turns out he has already read both and enjoyed them.
I thought I would finish the book this past week but did not. I'm close. I had hit a slow spot but things have picked up again. What an adventure. I do look forward to reading his second book..... because I am enjoying his adventure.
Happy reading.
Reply to this "Soon after my return from the East Indies in 1793, having learned that the noblemen and gentlemen associated for the purpose of prosecuting discoveries in the interior of Africa were desirous of engaging a person to explore that continent, by way of the Gambia River, I took occasion, through means of the President of the Royal Society, to whom I had the honour to be known, of offerring myself for that service."
So begins the travel book I recommend:
"Travels in the Interior of Africa" by Mungo Park (published by Stanfords Travel Classics).
This chronicles his first trip to West Africa attempting to locate the course of the Niger River. It makes our most adventurous travels rather lame.
It was exciting to have him travel to some areas & peoples I have been to or met in Mali...but without the roads and 4WDs!
The images he portrays are more memorable than many travel books I have read...and after a couple of pages the old English style became very comfortable.
Relax & Enjoy
Reply to this I absolutely love the "old English" style of writing. I wouldn't use it when writing a Travelblog (except for the occasional sentences) but tried my hand a writing short stories and have mirrored the style - it is not so easy.
This does look like a very good book, and might be a perfect introduction to my intended journey to West Africa at the end of next year.
Reply to this "One night, having solicited in vain for water at the camp, and been quite feverish, I resolved to try my fortune at the wells, which were about half a mile distant from the camp.
Accordingly I set out about midnight, and being guided by the lowing of cattle, soon arrived at the place, where I found the Moors very busy drawing water. I requested permission to drink, but was driven away with outrageous abuse.
Passing, however, from one well to another, I came at last to one where there was only an old man and two boys. I made the same request of this man, and he immediately drew me up a bucket of water; but, as I was about to take hold of it, he recollected that I was a Christian, and fearing that his bucket might be polluted by my lips, he dashed the water into the trough, and told me to drink from thence.
Though this trough was none of the largest, and three cows were already drinking from it, I resolved to come in for my share; and kneeling down thrust my head between two of the cows, and drank with great pleasure until the water was nearly exhausted, and the cows began to contend with each other for the last mouthful."
Mungo Park
Reply to this In response to: Msg #143386
Beautiful! The now derided passive voice in English "his bucket might be polluted by my lips" instead of "My lips would pollute the bucket" does give writing more grandeur.
Strident advice to write in the active voice are suggestions that my ears ignore.
Reply to this I'm getting ready to read From the Holy Mountain by William Dalrymple.
Would anyone like to join me?
Reply to this
Ok, while in Morocco I got side tracked and did not get From the Holy Mountain started but I am now half way through Dreamin of Jupiter.
Would anyone like to join me? Deni? Rachael?
Reply to this I'm in!! I'll have a look in the library on Monday to see if I can find it :o)
Reply to this Great!!
I'm enjoying it. Similar to the last one but different enough that it is enjoyable.
Reply to this Glad that you are enjoying it! Some of his descriptions are tremendous, particularly his one of arriving in Lebanon (not sure if you have reached that far yet).
Reply to this Hey!! I Just found this thread! Is it too late to join? What's everybody reading??
Reply to this I finished Jupiter's Travels, absolutely loved it! So then went back to the library and found Riding Home, which I think was written in the early 80s and was kind a follow on from Jupiter's Travels. Again, a brilliant read. It's iimpressive to think that he was 40 years old when he set off, not to mention that it was the 70s, so his journery was truly intrepid. A very inspiring man. It won't be any chore to read another one, so I'll be down to the library to get it!
In response to: Msg #147785 Reply to this 
