Comments on: The Books, Movies and Documentaries That Inspired Us to Travel in 2008 http://www.travelblogs.com/round-up/the-books-movies-and-documentaries-that-inspired-us-to-travel-in-2008 Stories, Advice and the Internet's Best Travel Blogs Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:40:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Eric http://www.travelblogs.com/round-up/the-books-movies-and-documentaries-that-inspired-us-to-travel-in-2008/comment-page-1#comment-4363 Eric Tue, 30 Dec 2008 06:00:37 +0000 http://www.travelblogs.com/?p=841#comment-4363 Well I'm pleased to say I got a copy of Shantaram for Christmas, so I've taken your advice and started that this week. Loving it so far! Well I’m pleased to say I got a copy of Shantaram for Christmas, so I’ve taken your advice and started that this week. Loving it so far!

]]> By: Audrey http://www.travelblogs.com/round-up/the-books-movies-and-documentaries-that-inspired-us-to-travel-in-2008/comment-page-1#comment-4336 Audrey Sun, 28 Dec 2008 16:05:59 +0000 http://www.travelblogs.com/?p=841#comment-4336 I second (third?) Shantaram as a fantastic read - the descriptives and treatment of India (especially Mumbai) is amazing. For Italy, I'd recommend "Within Tuscany" by Mathew Spender. His stories really give an appreciation and accurate depiction of life in a Tuscan village. Another book that comes up often in discussion during our travels is "Guns, Germs, and Steel" by Jared Diamond. It's not a travel book, but more of a macro history of the world. It explains how certain societies, cultures and regions developed as they did and how the development of (and who had) steel, weapons and infectious diseases changed the course of history in some regions. Although I don't agree with everything in the book, it does provide a framework for attempting to understand the development and culture of some of the places we've visited. I second (third?) Shantaram as a fantastic read – the descriptives and treatment of India (especially Mumbai) is amazing.

For Italy, I’d recommend “Within Tuscany” by Mathew Spender. His stories really give an appreciation and accurate depiction of life in a Tuscan village.

Another book that comes up often in discussion during our travels is “Guns, Germs, and Steel” by Jared Diamond. It’s not a travel book, but more of a macro history of the world. It explains how certain societies, cultures and regions developed as they did and how the development of (and who had) steel, weapons and infectious diseases changed the course of history in some regions. Although I don’t agree with everything in the book, it does provide a framework for attempting to understand the development and culture of some of the places we’ve visited.

]]> By: Ant http://www.travelblogs.com/round-up/the-books-movies-and-documentaries-that-inspired-us-to-travel-in-2008/comment-page-1#comment-4178 Ant Tue, 23 Dec 2008 09:00:02 +0000 http://www.travelblogs.com/?p=841#comment-4178 @ Dave - Johnny Depp was shooting Shantaram in Hampi, India earlier this year (March/April). @ Everyone Else - Read it now, before Jack Sparrow ruins it for you! @ Dave – Johnny Depp was shooting Shantaram in Hampi, India earlier this year (March/April).

@ Everyone Else – Read it now, before Jack Sparrow ruins it for you!

]]> By: Dave http://www.travelblogs.com/round-up/the-books-movies-and-documentaries-that-inspired-us-to-travel-in-2008/comment-page-1#comment-4138 Dave Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:29:48 +0000 http://www.travelblogs.com/?p=841#comment-4138 Yep, you can't go wrong with Shantaram. Sequel or follow up is long over due. Though I hear Jonny Depp has bought the rights to the movie... Yep, you can’t go wrong with Shantaram. Sequel or follow up is long over due. Though I hear Jonny Depp has bought the rights to the movie…

]]> By: angelina hart http://www.travelblogs.com/round-up/the-books-movies-and-documentaries-that-inspired-us-to-travel-in-2008/comment-page-1#comment-4122 angelina hart Sun, 21 Dec 2008 01:33:19 +0000 http://www.travelblogs.com/?p=841#comment-4122 Thanks Debbie for The Little Travelers inclusion! I wanted to comment on Tales of a Female Nomad. This is the book that lit my fire for travel again and had me packing up the girls for Bali. Now we've just returned from Iran- a remarkably good location for family travel. Honeymoon in Purdah is a good funny read from a Canadian gal who pretends to be on a honeymoon with her gay friend as they travel through Iran. What I consider good bathtub reading. Thanks Debbie for The Little Travelers inclusion! I wanted to comment on Tales of a Female Nomad. This is the book that lit my fire for travel again and had me packing up the girls for Bali. Now we’ve just returned from Iran- a remarkably good location for family travel. Honeymoon in Purdah is a good funny read from a Canadian gal who pretends to be on a honeymoon with her gay friend as they travel through Iran. What I consider good bathtub reading.

]]> By: Ant http://www.travelblogs.com/round-up/the-books-movies-and-documentaries-that-inspired-us-to-travel-in-2008/comment-page-1#comment-3886 Ant Fri, 12 Dec 2008 23:51:01 +0000 http://www.travelblogs.com/?p=841#comment-3886 Pickled Eel - I've done the YouTube thing on GDR and thought the complete opposite, I was quite disappointed by the real him. A great story all the same. Pickled Eel – I’ve done the YouTube thing on GDR and thought the complete opposite, I was quite disappointed by the real him. A great story all the same.

]]> By: Ariela http://www.travelblogs.com/round-up/the-books-movies-and-documentaries-that-inspired-us-to-travel-in-2008/comment-page-1#comment-3844 Ariela Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:29:22 +0000 http://www.travelblogs.com/?p=841#comment-3844 Amazing article. Thank you for sharing this list. Cheers! Amazing article. Thank you for sharing this list.

Cheers!

]]> By: PickledEel http://www.travelblogs.com/round-up/the-books-movies-and-documentaries-that-inspired-us-to-travel-in-2008/comment-page-1#comment-3805 PickledEel Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:23:45 +0000 http://www.travelblogs.com/?p=841#comment-3805 Thanks for this collection Eric. You set a high standard with Twain. But you are right - his powerful imagery embedded in my ten year old head still has me hankering for a visit to those parts of the US. Shame about Shantaram. All the publicity about Leopolds in the recent "kerfuffle" in Mumbai threw him back in the spotlight. It is a 900 page book you simply cannot put down - Christmas holiday reading to be sure. But if you want a feel for the sort of character the author is search You Tube for him. There are some public speaking clips of him. He is completely captivating - his verbal story telling is equal to his writing. Thanks for this collection Eric. You set a high standard with Twain. But you are right – his powerful imagery embedded in my ten year old head still has me hankering for a visit to those parts of the US. Shame about Shantaram. All the publicity about Leopolds in the recent “kerfuffle” in Mumbai threw him back in the spotlight. It is a 900 page book you simply cannot put down – Christmas holiday reading to be sure. But if you want a feel for the sort of character the author is search You Tube for him. There are some public speaking clips of him. He is completely captivating – his verbal story telling is equal to his writing.

]]> By: Lifecruiser http://www.travelblogs.com/round-up/the-books-movies-and-documentaries-that-inspired-us-to-travel-in-2008/comment-page-1#comment-3802 Lifecruiser Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:12:48 +0000 http://www.travelblogs.com/?p=841#comment-3802 Thx every one! Such an excellent list! Wow! That list may cause me to start reading books again. (I haven't been reading for ages, because I prefer reading travel blogs instead :-) Thx every one! Such an excellent list! Wow! That list may cause me to start reading books again. (I haven’t been reading for ages, because I prefer reading travel blogs instead :-)

]]> By: Sam Daams http://www.travelblogs.com/round-up/the-books-movies-and-documentaries-that-inspired-us-to-travel-in-2008/comment-page-1#comment-3801 Sam Daams Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:52:48 +0000 http://www.travelblogs.com/?p=841#comment-3801 Wow, what a fantastic list! Will definitely be using this to tinker with my Christmas wish list :) Wow, what a fantastic list! Will definitely be using this to tinker with my Christmas wish list :)

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