Most of my time over the next few months will be devoted to pedaling, but I will also have a considerable amount of non-cycling time. Since I am doing this ride solo, I'm going to need a few good books to pass my waking hours. Over the last few years, I have accumulated a considerable stack of unread books -- the result of an overly optimistic view of my free time. Unfortunately, I can't pack these books for my trip because they exceed reasonable weight and size limits. Obviously, I can't take any hardcovers but even modern paperbacks are often too large. I need old-school paperbacks. Though I'm not a big fan of their yellowing pages and crowded text, their compactness is a definite plus.My plan is to carry two books with me at all times in the hopes that I'll always be in the mood to read at least one of them. When I finish a book on the road I'll leave it somewhere or donate it and then try to pick up another book in the small towns I'm passing through. I'd like to read some books apropos for my ride -- interesting travel memoirs or american history -- but after a long day of cycling I'm sure I'll be more interested in reading something a little lighter. For starters, I've always wanted to read Undaunted Courage about Lewis and Clark's expedition and I recently picked up Saul Bellow's Herzog at a used book sale. If you have any recommendations of good paperbacks, post a comment or send me an email.
3 comments:
Hmm...Bellow tends not to be very light. It took me 8 months to read Augie March. Just make sure you've read all your Krakauer (Into the Wild, Into thin Air, even the Mormon one). The Vollman book about train hopping, Riding Toward Everywhere, is pretty good, but it's only hardcover right now. You can have mine if you want.
If you realize along the way that you can predict what town you'll be at 4-5 days ahead, we could take turns mailing you some of our light-paperback favorites...
- Alice
You should also try to match up the books with the region of the country you are going to be in and its history.
- Jen
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