Miles fly by with road trip reads
By M. CLARE HAEFNER | Covers courtesy of the audiobook publishers
Whether you hit the road this spring, save your next trip for summer, or want an adventure while sitting in traffic on the way to work, these books about road trips will take you along on rides you won’t soon forget.
Have a passenger read aloud or listen to an unabridged audiobook and the miles will fly by as you drive toward your destination.
Just remember to make time for your own adventures along the way.
On the Road by Jack Kerouac (Penguin Classics)
If you haven’t read (or listened to) this classic, it should definitely be on your list. Inspired by Kerouac’s cross-country road trips with Neal Cassidy, On the Road chronicles the adventures of Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty on their quest for revelation from Manhattan, to Denver, Texas, Mexico, and beyond.
Originally published in 1957, Kerouac’s quintessential American vision of freedom and hope changed American literature and inspired generations of readers, writers, artists and adventure-seekers.
Travels with Charley in Search of America by John Steinbeck (Penguin Classics)
Another classic, Travels with Charley recounts Steinbeck’s journey across America with his poodle. Along the way, Steinbeck shares his sense of how people are connected, to each other and to the landscape. Filled with lush descriptions of America, from small towns to metropolises, Steinbeck paints a portrait of America that still resonates today.
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed (Random House)
At 22, Cheryl Strayed embarked on a 1,100-mile solo hike along the Pacific Coast Trail hoping to find herself.
From the Mojave Desert in California to the forests of Washington State, Strayed’s journey is filled with trials and triumphs as she faces down rattlesnakes, black bears and forges through intense weather to reach the trail’s end. If you’ve ever felt lost, Wild can inspire you to find your way forward, one step at a time.
Clanlands: Whisky, Warfare, and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other by Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish (Hodder & Stoughton)
Fans of Outlander (the books and especially the television series) will enjoy this rollicking adventure as two of the show’s stars explore Scotland. From Glencoe to Inverness and the Culloden battlefield, Heughan and McTavish discover the complexity, rich history and culture of their native country, including its legendary feuds.
If a trip to Scotland is on your bucket list, this is a great preview of the adventures that can be had when you explore the highlands.
More for the road: If these four adventures aren’t long enough for your next road trip, also consider The Wangs vs. The World by Jade Chang and American Gods by Neil Gaiman.
