Thursday 10 May 2012

TRAVELLING TALES MONTH...SIGNING OFF... FOR NOW

Well, we're at the departure lounge, we've visited the duty free and the flight's now boarding. Time to put all the holiday pics on Facebook (ditching the more unflattering ones, of course), check out the tan line and hope our lift is their at the other end to pick us up from the airport...

So, lessons I have learned after completing my first theme month -

1) Don't schedule a theme month during school holidays if you have kids. School holidays = no working during the day = all work to be done in evening = less time for blog posts.

2) Umm, well that's about it, really...

Actually, I have really enjoyed this month, but as organisation is not my strong point, there is obviously stuff I was forced to leave out. (That makes it sound like I have draft posts just sitting on Blogger, destined never to see the light of day. What you and I really know is that I never actually got around to writing the bloody things in the first place).

I really loved writing my 'Let's Go...' posts and wished I could have done more. So many of my favourite destinations still left to be explored in the literary sense...Rome, Cambodia (not sure exactly how many Cambodian-set novels there are, but...) and last, but definitely not least, good old London Town.

I know it's a bit of a cop-out wanting to write about my home town, but this city is a dream destination for many a traveller and there is no shortage of London-masterpieces to peruse and weep over.

I now a section I've decided to call...

Books I Wanted to Read for Travelling Tales Month But Didn't Quite Get Around To It. But Will Do In The Future. At Some Point.

WanderloveWanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard

I was desperate to find a South/Central America set YA book, but stumbled across this one a little too late. Which is such a shame, because when I read the synopsis, I fell a little bit in love with it.






On the RoadOn The Road by Jack Kerouac

Quite a topical one, with the film adaption coming out soon. And how could I not have read one of the most essential travel reads, um, ever? I'm sorry, I don't know the answer to that question. *hangs head in shame*







Dark Star Safari: Overland from Cairo to CapetownDark Star Safari:: Overland Form Cairo to Cape Town by Paul Theroux

I've never read any Paul Theroux *ashamed face* *again* and I also had a bit Africa shaped-hole in my theme month. This book should have filled that hole. It looks FASCINATING.






The journey is the destination : the journals of Dan EldonThe Journey is the Destination by Dan Eldon

This is a collection of the journals of murdered photo-journalist, Dan Eldon. One of my friends owns a copy that I first read years ago at university and it has been burnt on my memory ever since. I have always meant to buy a hardback edition but never quite got around to it. This month seemed like the perfect opportunity, but, alas, funds did not permit :(
BUT I will definitely be buying and reviewing it in the near future. A beautiful, inspiring book.





MY PICK OF THE MONTH

Oooo, toughie.
Umm, aahh, weeelllll...RIGHT. DECISION MADE.

My travel pick of the month is.....*drum roll*

Solace of the Road by Siobhan Dowd.

I don't think I can say anymore about how much I loved this, so you'll just have to read my review.

Well, that's Travelling Tales Month over for this year. Let's not mention about how this 'month' has gone over just a little bit. So, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. As much fun as it's been reading about travel, it's so just as much more fun doing the actual travelling. I hope I get the opportunity to do it again soon.




5 comments:

  1. I've absolutely loved your travel month, well done to you :) Wanderlove sounds interesting ..but I've tried several times to get through On the Road and I just couldn't do it!

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    1. Ha ha! I suspect On The Road may try my patience too, but you've got to give these things a go, I suppose!

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  2. I really enjoyed travel month, Anna! I liked your reviews and the Let's Go posts and definitely think it's something you could do once a year :)

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    1. I'm so glad you enjoyed it - hopefully I will be a bit more organised next year!

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  3. The Journey is the Destination looks incredibly good! I'm definitely going to have to check that out.

    This month has been so brilliant, Anna, and as always, so are you!

    ps. SO GLAD YOU LOVED SOLACE OF THE ROAD!

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