Travel theme: Books

Posted on April 15, 2016 by ailsapm

It will probably come as no surprise to you that I am a proud, (library) card-carrying bookworm;  I adore the written word. Admittedly, e-books are convenient when you have limited space in your carry on, and audio books have been my companions on many a road trip, but for me, nothing quite beats the visceral experience of cracking open a good old-fashioned printed book. This week is National Library Week so here’s my homage to the written and printed word, starting with some magnificent books from the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Audubon’s illustrated The Birds of America…

audubon, beinecke, rare manuscript, yale, travel, travelogue, ailsa prideaux-mooney

…and the Bard’s First Folio.

First Folio

My worn, dog-eared, much loved and well-travelled copy of ‘Travels with Charley’ that was a gift from a friend to accompany me on a mammoth road trip around the US.

road trip, roadtrip, us, america, usa, ailsa prideaux-mooney

Occupy Wall Street’s collection of books in Zuccotti Park…

people's library

… and a collection of books from the founding fathers of the US at Independence Hall in Philly.

independence hall, philadelphia, travelogue, ailsa prideaux-mooney

I hope you’re ready to pen your own version of this week’s  theme. If you would like to join in (everyone’s welcome!) here’s what to do:

  • Create your own post and title it Travel theme: Books
  • Include a link to this page in your post so others can find it too
  • Get your post in by next Thursday, as the new travel theme comes out on Friday
  • Don’t forget to subscribe to keep up to date on the latest weekly travel themes. Sign up via the email subscription link in the sidebar or RSS!

xxx Ailsa

There are perhaps no days of our childhood we lived so fully as those we spent with a favorite book. – Marcel Proust

Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. -Mark Twain

Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it. – P. J. O’Rourke

About ailsapm

Hi there! I’m Ailsa Prideaux-Mooney. I’ve lived in many places, and travelled to many more. I had a lot of fun getting there and being there, wherever there happened to be at the time. I climbed a castle wall in Czesky Krumlov, abseiled down cliffs to go caving in the west of Ireland, slept on the beach in Paros, got chased by a swarm of bees in Vourvourou (ok that wasn’t fun, but it was exciting), learned flower arranging in Tokyo, found myself in the middle of a riot in Seoul, learned to snowboard in Salzburg, got lost in a labyrinth in Budapest and had my ice cream stolen by a gull in Cornwall. And I’m just getting started. If you’ve enjoyed what you’ve read so far, I’d love you to follow my travelogue - wheresmybackpack.com - and remember, anyone who tries to tell you it’s a small world hasn’t tried to see it all.
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38 Responses to Travel theme: Books

  2. Sue says:
    April 16, 2016 at 12:10 am

    I’m with you on loving printed books….a friend said to me when I was downsizing that I wouldn’t need all those books……I responded that many of them were old friends, part of my history, and I wasn’t getting rid of them!

  4. aj vosse says:
    April 16, 2016 at 2:41 am

    Imagine… holding your own first edition!! 😉

  5. 76sanfermo says:
    April 16, 2016 at 4:31 am

    Adore this theme and your post…
    Lovely photos!

  6. Jaspa says:
    April 16, 2016 at 5:16 am

    You’re a genius, Ailsa! I wrote this on Thursday, so I hope you don’t mind me including it in your challenge!…

    https://jaspasjourney.wordpress.com/2016/04/14/the-great-migration-republished/

  8. carol1945 says:
    April 16, 2016 at 6:30 am

    I am an inveterate book lover too. I especially like to browse used book stores (not many of those left) and buy copies of classics that were printed in the 30’s. I don’t know why I like to do this.

  9. Albatz Travel Adventures says:
    April 16, 2016 at 8:07 am

    I am in the process of down-sizing and wondering what to do with my seven bookshelves full of books. As a start I have started to scan or photograph them, and re-read them, hoping this will allow me to at least remove enough books to at least get down one bookshelf but so far it hasn’t happened. Anyway here’s part I of this challenge, where I’m scanning and re-reading books that I bought 40 or 50 years ago: https://elizabatz.wordpress.com/2016/04/14/one-word-challenge-old-books-from-second-hand-stores/

    • dormousetidings says:
      April 16, 2016 at 11:24 pm

      There are no book police! Who says you have downsize them? I have kept all of mine; I have every single book ever given to me right back to my childhood books. I can’t bear to be parted with them 🙂

  11. Anabel Marsh says:
    April 16, 2016 at 5:25 pm

    As a librarian I wholeheartedly give your post the thumbs up!

  16. Bulldog Travels says:
    April 18, 2016 at 2:12 pm

    I love the idea of travel books. I have a collection at home that I adore looking at, reading, and occasional photograph. Here are links to a few posts I have done on travel books in the past.

    https://bulldogtravels.com/2015/03/28/sacramento-antiquarian-book-fair/

    https://bulldogtravels.com/2015/09/08/trinity-college-and-the-book-of-kellslibrary-great-hall/

    Thanks for the great theme!

    ~Jenny

  18. solitaryspinster says:
    April 19, 2016 at 10:02 am

    Here are some books featuring Queen Elizabeth II who turns 90 on thursday.

    https://solitaryspinster.wordpress.com/2016/04/17/happy-birthday-your-majesty/

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  24. arwen1968 says:
    April 20, 2016 at 11:53 am

    May I submit my favourite book – all right, one of my favourite books!
    An Evening With Herodotus

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  29. Leya says:
    April 22, 2016 at 11:57 am

    Hi Ailsa…late, just home from Morocco – but books are irresistable! Love the Shakespeare especially – tomorrow is the big celebration!
    http://wp.me/p1hCI2-64q

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  31. wildsherkin says:
    April 26, 2016 at 1:23 pm

    Thank you for the excuse to share my pictures – not quite as lovely and literary as your post! 🙂
    https://wildsherkin.wordpress.com/2016/04/26/travel-theme-books/

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  33. theeagertraveler says:
    May 4, 2016 at 6:53 pm

    i love reading printed books any day over reading on a tablet…!

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