If you know me, at some point in our lives I have probably urged you to read John Steinbeck's "Travels with Charley." It should be on everyone's list, particularly if you love books or travel and especially if you love both. Years ago, my friend Mark recommended I read it and I have been in his debt ever since.
"Travels with Charley" is the story of Steinbeck's 1960 road trip across the U.S. in a custom-made camper truck with his French standard poodle, Charley. Steinbeck embarked on this trip because he realized he was at the end of his life (even though he was only 58--writers lived hard in those days) and wanted to see the America he had made his living writing about one last time.
Needless to say, this book embodies everything I love about books and travel in general, and writing in particular. His prose is filled with the compassion of someone who cares deeply about his subject, even if he is saddened or disappointed by what he sometimes sees.
The fact that I have placed by myself in the role of Steinbeck's poodle is not lost on me. But I like the idea of using this blog to take you with me to some of the places I've been over the past two years--places that I think you might want to know about--and where I'm going in the months ahead.
The good news is that you don't have to endure a bumpy ride in a converted camper to follow this journey...or, in the case of my travels, cramped and crowded airplanes, dusty buses and even a smelly mule!
Instead, just sit back and enjoy the ride...
"Travels with Charley" is the story of Steinbeck's 1960 road trip across the U.S. in a custom-made camper truck with his French standard poodle, Charley. Steinbeck embarked on this trip because he realized he was at the end of his life (even though he was only 58--writers lived hard in those days) and wanted to see the America he had made his living writing about one last time.
Needless to say, this book embodies everything I love about books and travel in general, and writing in particular. His prose is filled with the compassion of someone who cares deeply about his subject, even if he is saddened or disappointed by what he sometimes sees.
The fact that I have placed by myself in the role of Steinbeck's poodle is not lost on me. But I like the idea of using this blog to take you with me to some of the places I've been over the past two years--places that I think you might want to know about--and where I'm going in the months ahead.
The good news is that you don't have to endure a bumpy ride in a converted camper to follow this journey...or, in the case of my travels, cramped and crowded airplanes, dusty buses and even a smelly mule!
Instead, just sit back and enjoy the ride...
1 comment:
Can't wait to see where you go! Hope we can have some shared adventures and travels to write about.
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