Have Book, Will Travel
'A Long Way Home' by Saroo Brierly
A powerful memoir, "A Long Way Home" finds author Saroo Brierly recalling his impoverished childhood in India that abruptly ended when he fell asleep on a train that took him thousands of miles from home. Too young to find his way back, Saroo was later adopted out of the country by an Australian couple. Decades later, still haunted by his past, he returned to India to find his birth family. In 2016, this powerful story inspired the film "Lion," starring Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman.
'Americanah' by Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie
A beautifully woven story that crosses continents, "Americanah" details the life of university student Ifemelu, who immigrates to the United States from her home in Nigeria. Beginning in Lagos, the novel explores the concept of home, culture, identity and what it means to be "black" in America.
'A Voyage Long and Strange' by Tony Horwitz
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Tony Horwitz invites readers on a journey through the New World in "A Voyage Long and Strange: Rediscovering the New World," where he examines the myths, legends and true stories that make up the fabric of American history. From Columbus' "discovery" of America in 1492 to the pilgrims who landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620, Tony investigates the facts behind the legendary stories of our past.
'A Walk in the Woods' by Bill Bryson
Part travel memoir, part Appalachian Trail guide, author Bill Bryson uses his trademark humor and insight to inform readers about the beauty of this famous hiking route between Georgia and Maine. From encounters with bears to inspiring historical trails, "A Walk in the Woods" is an ode to the great outdoors. In 2015, the book was transformed into a film by the same name, starring Robert Redford and Nick Nolte.
'Blue Highways' by William Least Heat-Moon
In American travel writer William Least Heat-Moon's critically acclaimed travel memoir "Blue Highways: A Journey Into America," he takes readers on a road trip unlike any other. Focusing on the smallest of small towns, including Why, Arizona, and Whynot, Mississippi, Heat-Moon uncovers their histories while introducing us to the interesting people who call these places home.
'Canyon Solitude' by Patricia C. McCairen
In Patricia McCairen's travel memoir "Canyon Solitude: A Woman's Solo River Journey Through the Grand Canyon," she shares her experience rafting through the winding and twisting Colorado River as she endures changing land- and waterscapes, overcomes obstacles, takes on new identities (like Babe, the river guide) and comes to discover what it truly means to be a woman on her own in the world.
