What’s the most important book you’ve ever read? The question strikes at the heart of our sense of self. Not long ago, in the course of a cross-examination by a music publication, musician Florence Welch found herself faced with a question that many a celebrity, and quite a lot of ordinary people, are regularly called upon to answer: what was the most important book she had ever read? Easy, Ms Welch answered: the first one, for it was this unnamed outlier that inspired in her the love of reading. While trying to make sense of the world, books are an integral piece of the puzzle. Reading is the door, the key, and the welcome mat to a whole new universe. You can open a book and transport yourself anywhere in and out of this world, powered only by your imagination and guided by the well-chosen words of an author. You can read whenever, wherever, and in whatever language you like. Whether it’s graphic novels, fantastical tales, or riveting pieces of classic literature, books have affected all of us. This holds especially true in the world of travel. A quick glimpse into an author’s mind can shape our outlook on faraway places and inspire us to purchase that ticket out of town. With this sentiment in mind, here’s a round-up of a few books that have shaped my perspective on journeys.
If I could only recommend one book for the rest of my life, it would be All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. Set primarily in France and Germany during the 1940s, the novel weaves together several narrative threads, resulting in the most beautiful story I’ve ever read. At its most basic level, the book is about the unlikely and fateful meeting between a blind French girl and a science-loving German orphan. But, if you look deeper, it’s about finding beauty in a dark world. It’s about connecting with strangers and having the courage to stand up for your most deeply held beliefs.
In other words, All the Light We Cannot See teaches the same lessons that we often learn while we’re away from home. Like the events in the novel, travel tears down our assumptions and reminds us of what matters most. And again, similar to the book’s plot, travel builds bridges between people who meet by pure chance. For me, these are some of the most important things we can learn in this life, and I’m grateful to have good books and eye-opening journeys as my teachers.
Next up is One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. This is my favourite book — ever. Nothing else even comes close. I first opened it in high school, as part of my World Literature curriculum — little did I know the impact it would have on me. In it, Garcia Marquez perfectly balances the danger of individualism versus oppression, and he does this by explicitly warning the reader against what’s right there in the title: solitude. As several miracles and tragedies befall a rural town, the story affirms that life is worth living in a world that is constantly changing, unpredictable, and full of magic. It showed me that you can only ever begin to understand yourself by trying to understand the world around you.
In each chapter of Neither Here Not There, Bill Bryson’s anecdotal travel tales introduce you to a different country in Europe. Studiously documenting his obstacle-filled journeys across the continent, his enthusiasm and brutal honesty makes it easy to believe that you are searching for the northern lights in Norway or braving the crazy Parisian traffic at his side. Bryson’s observant storytelling combines sarcastically commenting on everything, openly judging other travellers for their moronic moments, and honestly admitting to plenty of his own errors.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts while talking about books that altered modern day travel. A twisted tale about an escaped inmate who finds his way into the slums of Bombay after befriending one of the more bizarre characters ever to be fleshed out on paper.
Travel rarely needs reason or inspiration. What these books have given me, however, are courage and curiosity. The written word has the power to launch a thousand trips.
Written by Rhea Baweja
Week 3, January 2021
