I had no idea that off the top of my head I could think of 15 books that I have absolutely loved that fit in the travel and memoir genre – and while some are not so travel focused they open our eyes to watts of living around the world. Some I read more than 10 years ago, and they touched my heart or made me laugh or cry and they’ve remained in my heart and mind ever since.
All of them opened my eyes to the world and different ways of living, of experiences and in many cases how people in other countries felt so fortunate to have what we would consider small joys. These books made me appreciate the many different ways of living, the challenges people face, the love they have and that ability, that drive inside for more, to explore and learn. They all fuelled my desire to travel and learn more about the world.
Here they are in no order of preference, and of course with Emmie and my book up first in case you’re keen to read about our adventures. Please let me know if you read them and love them, and do share your suggestions in the comments.
Backyard to Backpack: A solo mum, a six year old and a life-changing adventure – Evie Farrell
This is our book about my travels with my daughter Emmie who was six years old when I sold almost everything we owned, rented out our house and set off with a one way ticket and just a desire to spend time with her. It all didn’t go to plan and there were challenges and stuff ups, but also lots of mind-opening experiences and a realisation that this life really was the best life. It’s time to start planning your trip with your family!
Buy Backyard to Backpack from Book Depository – with 53% off at the moment plus free shipping worldwide.
Buy Backyard to Backpack from Booktopia (Australia and New Zealand) and Amazon worldwide – including Amazon Australia and Amazon US.
Sean and David’s Long Drive – Sean Condon
I read this book in the late 90s! Sean sets off to drive around Australia with his best mate and honestly it is one of the funniest books I’ve ever read and you’ll be laughing out loud while you get an insight into Australia. My best friend andI read it while we backpacked in 1997 and it had us in hysterics – and we still have in-jokes that relate to the book – like the price of pony poo. I do not know where my copy went but I’m ordering another one so I can read it again. It’s a little hard to track it down but you can find it open Amazing and used copies on eBay. Buy Sean and David’s Long Drive on Amazon
Sky Burial – Xinran
Xinran is an incredible Chinese journalist who was so before her time in exploring and documenting the lives of women in China. Sky Burial is an amazing story of strength and courage and a woman’s 30 year search across Tibet for her husband. Based on a true story as told to Xinran, this book will teach you about the nomadic people of Tibet, the rigidity of China and love. You will adore this book. I can’t wait to read it again.
Buy Sky Burial here at Book Depository worldwide with free delivery and on Amazon and
The Good Women of China – Xinran
This a must-read if you are interested in the lives of courageous women. In the 1980’s Xinran’s radio show in China began to share women’s stories as they revealed their struggles and heartache in often brutal existence. The endurance and courage of the women of China is heartbreaking and inspiring.
Buy the Good Women of China here at Book Depository worldwide with free delivery and on Amazon.
Hideous Kinky – Esther Freud
Esther’s mum is a free sprite and sets off with her two children the 1960s in search of a new fulfilling life. Her kids run wild in Morocco and the story is magical – and sometimes sad and worrying – and I just loved it…until times get a little tough and the children just want to return to home and routine. Order Hideous Kinky from Book Depository here worldwide with free delivery or on Amazon.
Down Under: Travels in a Sunburned Country – Bill Bryson
Bryson explores our country and falls in love with its beauty, weirdness and characters, exposing Australia’s rawness and highlighting the ways of thinking that, while making us laugh at the absurdity also make my heart beat faster with fear of narrow-mindedness. But for every expose there are many more examples of the down to earth cheerful of Aussies, our love for our country and desire for our visitors to love it too.
Order from Book Depository with free delivery worldwide or buy it from Amazon.
Wild: A journey from lost to found – Cheryl Strayed
If you haven’t read Wild yet then this is another book you should definitely get your hands on. Cheryl Strayed is struggling, and is searching for peace, happiness and herself and decides that the way to do it is to hike the Pacific Crest Trail across Americ. She had no idea what she was doing and hadn’t hiked before. It’ sa journey of self discovery and determination I just LOVE IT! I loved the movie with Reese Witherspoon too. A must read.
Buy it on Book Depository worldwide with free delivery or on Amazon.
Colours of the Mountain – Da Chen
I can still remember being so hopeful for Da Chen as he and his family struggled through the Cultural Revolution. His family were landlords and his father and grandfather were targeted with beatings and sent to work in labour camps, leaving the family without food or money. This is Da Chens story of making it through these years and finishes with him leaving his home town to start college in Beijing.
Buy it on Book Depository worldwide with free delivery and on Amazon.
Leaving Mother Lake: A girlhood at the edge of the world – Namu Yang Erche
Namu shares her story growing up in the Moso tribe from the Himalayas, known as “the country of daughters”. The Moso are a matriarchal tribe – women choose who they have children with, manage the customs, finances and decision-making. But that doesn’t mean that life is simple and Namu still has to navigate relationships and expectations as she finds her way – even leaving her home to explore the world outside her tribe. Oh I love this book – can’t wait to read it again.
Buy it on Book Depository worldwide with free delivery or on Amazon.
Bar Flower: My Decadently Destructive Days and Nights as a Tokyo Nightclub Hostess – Lea Jacobson
This book as it opened my eyes to the underbelly of Japanese culture. It’s the true story of Lea’s time working in a Japanese bar as a waitress and then progresses into much more as she gets more deeply involved in entertaining the male clients and loses her focus. I really loved this book – probably the voyeur in me interested something I would never, ever do! It’s really hard to find and is expensive when you do find it online as I guess it’s out of print. So bummed I gave my copy to a friend to borrow and never got it back! Buy it on Amazon.
Eat Pray Love – Elizabeth Gilbert
Its one of the most famous travel books ever, and like everyone else I loved reading Eat Pray Love and Elizabeth Gilbert’s journey to self awareness and spiritual enlightenment as she travels the world on a quest for pleasure, devotion and balance. It’s a beautiful memoir written from the heart, sharing the struggles and the highs of her adventures. If you’ve seen the movie then please read the book as it’s much better! Buy it on Book Depository worldwide with free delivery or on Amazon.
A fortune teller told me: Earthbound Travels in the Far East – Tiziano Terzani
In 1976 a fortune teller told Tiziano Terzani not to fly until 1993 – and so he didn’t. He loses jobs because he won’t fly, but he also discovers so much more about the earth and how overland travel is so mindful and gets you into the heart of a country and you cross borders and explore places that many tourists don’t go to. You see the realness of a place. And it changes everything.
Buy it on Book Depository worldwide with free delivery and on Amazon.
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier – Ishmael Beah
This story will break your heart. Ishmael honestly shares his story about his torturous time as a child soldier, a life he was forced into after escaping from rebels in Sierra Leone. It’s hard to comprehend that things like this happen in the world, especially to gentle, innocent children but it’s so important that we learn.
Buy it on Book Depository worldwide with free delivery or on Amazon.
Round Ireland with a fridge – Tony Hawke
I read this book years ago because it was just such a ridiculous idea! Tony makes a bet with a mate that he can travel around Ireland with a fridge in a month. He sets off hitch-hiking with it and this is the story of his journey that literally sees him traveling all over Ireland with a fridge. The book became an international best seller. So silly but so fun.
Buy it on Book Depository worldwide with free delivery or on Amazon.
Ruby Red Shoes goes to Paris – Kate Knapp
One book for the kiddos – well I’ll make another list shortly for kids books but Emmie just adored the whole Ruby Red Shoes series and the Paris book is just lovely. The story, illustrations and everything about this book is just beautiful and it’s lovely for kids aged up to eight I suppose although will still quite happily read it. It really is the adventure of a lifetime as Ruby travels to Paris with her mum, zips around the city on the back of a red scooter with her new friend Felix and gets to know her Babushka.
Buy Ruby Red Shoes Goes to Paris here from Book Depository worldwide with free shipping and check out the whole series here.
You can also buy it and the series on Amazon.