If I like Bill Bryson's travel books, who else would I like?

[Ft564]

It's my birthday on Sunday and Amazon vouchers are coming my way from my Mum. I'd love some travel books, especially ones about the USA. Does anyone have any similar style to Bryson recommendations? Bonus if I can get a Kindle version!

'Nothing to Envy' - a book about the reality of ordinary people's lives in North Korea - in 80s/90s during the famine and into the noughties

Oh I love travel writing. Patrick Leigh Fermor, Dervla Murphy, Ryszard Kapuscinski (particularly the Shadow of the Sun), Laurie Lee, A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush by Eric Newby.

For the USA have you read Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck and Blue Highways by Bill Least Heat-Moon? I've heard that Old Glory by Jonathan Raban is good, though I haven't read it yet, and Stranger on a Train by Jenny Diski. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas/on the Campaign Trail by Hunter S Thompson are great too (I like the latter more than the former but perhaps more politics than you would prefer!!)

Jeffrey Archer

Peter Mayles books A Year in Provence and Toujours Provence are fantastic for the wit and storytelling.

How about Boogie Up the River and 500 Mile Walkies by Mark Wallington? Very funny (well, I think so and I love Bill Bryson) travels around Britain with a dreadful dog.

A Year of Living Danishly - Helen Russell.
As amusing and appreciative as Bryson of being a stranger in a strange land.

Charlie Connelley, especially 'Attention All Shipping' which I found the funniest, though much more British than American.

McCarthys Bar is very good.

I enjoy Tim Moore's travel books.

Agree with Mark Wallington too. I've read the Boogie books many times over the years.

"Spanish Steps - Travels with my Donkey" by Tim Moore. It is hilarious, and moving.

Or his latest, about the USA :)

I also love McCarthys Bar. There's also The Road To McCarthy.

Tony Hawks has written some good travel books too, my favourite is Round Ireland with a Fridge. Sorry, none are about the US but definitely worth a read.

For America travel writing try I and Claudius by Clare de Vries, Route 66 by Billy Connolly, I Left My Tent In San Francisco by Emma Kennedy, and Another Fine Mess by Tim Moore. Josie Dew has done one about cycling round America but I can’t remember what it’s called.

YY to McCarthy's Bar (by Pete McCarthy) - so funny

Diplomatic Baggage is also hilarious - memoir of a diplomat's wife and her adventures in different countries - by Brigid Keenan

Driving Over Lemons & sequel, by Chris Stewart, also v enjoyable

For more serious travel writing Dervla Murphy is brilliant

I've read most of these and agree with the recommendations. There's also the Peter Kerr books, about a Scottish farmer who relocated his family to Mallorca.

www.amazon.co.uk/s?ref=nb_sb_noss_1&i=digital-text&k=peter+kerr&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

A recommendation about a book in the USA would be Dave Gorman's America Unchained, where he attempts to travel across the US, without using chain restaurants, hotels, etc

www.amazon.co.uk/America-Unchained-Dave-Gorman-ebook/dp/B007IV88IA/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&s=digital-text&keywords=danny+wallace+unchained&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1590660611&sr=1-8

Fantastic, thank you! I'll have fun having a look at these!

Another vote for Dervla Murphy.

www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/apr/27/10-best-road-trip-audiobooks-kerouac-dervla-murphy

This one is great josiedew.com/my-books/travels-in-a-strange-state-cycling-across-the-usa

Paddle to the Amazon

Years ago I read this book (and still have my copy). Really enjoyed this book focusing upon a canoe journey across America.

Horse boy

This book is about an dad taking his autistic son across Russia and meeting all the nomadic horse tribes. It’s a fascinating read.

Both true stories.

Ive read Strangers on a train as mentioned by a PP, it is good and about the US

Not really funny though.
I find Emma Kennedy funny so I might try her one mentioned up thread myself

Another recommendation for America Unchained by Dave Gorman, fab insight into the USA away from the tourist traps.

I think of them as funny books rather than travel books (obviously they're both!). You might enjoy Jon Ronson's earlier books and Tony Hawks too?

Another vote for Dervla Murphy - her books are absolutely fascinating