Carol

10 Books About the Journey #RoadTrip #TopTenTuesday #WhatsOnYourBookshelfChallenge #WOYBS #BookTwitter #BookBlogger #BookList

Do you love books about the journey? All of these books feature a journey of sorts….some by road and others are more unconventional.

It’s summer here in the U.S, and many people are taking road trips which caused me to think about my collection of stories that feature a journey of some sort.

A journey (often a road trip) is one of my favorite story tropes and there are many on my (virtual) bookshelf!
I suppose it’s because I also enjoy road trips in real life.
How about you? Do you enjoy road trip stories or real life road trips?

10 Books About the Journey

10 Books About the Journey (a couple of people walk on a path next to the water
Image Source: Canva

I’m linking up today with Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl for Top Ten Tuesday: Genre Freebie. I’m sure books about road trips and journeys are not a genre, but a subgenre perhaps?!

***This post contains Amazon affiliate links and titles are links to my reviews which contain Amazon affiliate links.

(In no particular order)

West With Giraffes

West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge (cover) Image: black text over a grayed out map

I’ve been talking a lot about this book in 2023 because it definitely will be on my best of year list. Two giraffes + one orphan + one old man + an intriguing redhead = one amazing cross-country road trip!

News of the World by Paulette Giles

News of the World by Paulette Jiles (cover) Image: a prairie landscape under a big blue cloud filled sky

A retired army captain (from the Civil War) and a white girl stolen and raised by Indians make for unlikely companions on this harrowing journey by horse and wagon through the desert southwest. (Also watch the movie with Tom Hanks)

Liz’s Road Trip by Bernadette Marie

Liz's Road Trip by Bernadette Marie (cover) a graphic image of a woman driving a yellow convertable on a road lined with a few palm trees

Traditional road trips are popular in the romance genre, and this one turns unpredictable when Liz adds a mysterious (and handsome) travel companion on her way from Colorado to Florida.

Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon

Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon (cover) Image: two covered wagons crossing the wilderness

This risky journey along trails rather than paved roads is filled with danger as they travel west by covered wagon along the Oregon Trail.

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins (author)

This is a harrowing journey and road trip from the perspective of a woman and her child running from a life threatening situation in Mexico toward safety in the U.S (see my review for links to the controversy surrounding this book).

Mrs. Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce

Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce (cover) Image: black and gold text over a gold beetle and bright pink background

This quirky story involves a journey and a quest for the elusive and rare golden beetle.

This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger

This Tender Land by william Kent Kruegar (cover) Image: a fiver at sunset and a lone boy sits on a pier

This poignant and heartbreaking journey is a combination of road trip and river trip as four children run for safety in search of “home.“

Refugee by Alan Gratz

Refugee by Alan Gratz (cover) a boy with his back to the camera in the hull of a small red boat on a stormy ocean)

This is one of my favorite MG/YA reads! It’s the story of three desperate families embarking on dangerous and uncertain journeys as they seek to escape their respective countries for various reasons. Both adults and young readers alike will enjoy this heartfelt and unputdownable refugee story.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo is another favorite and compelling story of a refugee’s journey to safety.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce

The Unlikely Pilgrimmage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce (cover)

If you love quirky characters and an epic 600 mile walk to visit a dying friend, you might enjoy Harold’s journey.

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles (cover) Image: red and blue text above a black and white image of a train chugging along next to a 2 lane road

I’m including this literary fiction title even though I didn’t finish the book (DNF at 50%). I wasn’t loving it or maybe it wasn’t the right book at the right time. However, others have loved it and for that reason I’m including it here. (not reviewed)

Bonus Pick! Journey into space!

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (cover) Image: an astronaut floats in space tethered to a gold and black object

What a thrilling and epic journey to the Sun! This is a MUST READ on AUDIO!

Books About the Journey QOTD:

What did you think of my eclectic list of books featuring journeys?
Have you read one of these?
Do you have a recommendation for a book in this category?

 I’m linking up with Deb @ Deb’s World, Sue @ Women Living Well After 50, Donna @ Retirement Reflections, and Jo @ And Anyways… for the August installment of #WhatsOnYourBookShelfChallenge.

Whats On Your Bookshelf Challenge

Happy Reading Book Buddies!

“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.” ~Rainer Maria Rilke

“I love the world of words, where life and literature connect.” ~Denise J Hughes

“Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.” ~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

“I read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection! Books take us to places we’ve never been, they teach us about our world, and they help us to understand human experience.” ~Madeleine Riley, Top Shelf Text

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All books I review are bought or borrowed from the library unless explicitly stated that they are free (arcs).

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43 comments

  1. I love the way you do these groupings of books Carol, it’s a great way of sharing titles in a particular genre and you do it so well! Thanks for joining us, some of these I’ve read but others sound interesting and I do love a journey!

    Reply

  4. I’ve read an astonishing 7 of the 11 books you listed, that never happens! My favorite was Project Hail Mary, but American Dirt is a close second. Wow, those books were great! But so were News of the World, Where the Lost Wander, and Miss Benson’s Beetle. I finished Lincoln Highway, but I didn’t love it. This Tender Land wasn’t as good as his Ordinary Grace, I didn’t think. I thought I would be able to add many books to this list, but couldn’t come up with one, except maybe Leif Enger’s Peace Like a River, where the family packs up and goes on the road, trying to find her brother who’s on the run after breaking out of jail.

    Reply

  6. I absolutely loved both Refugee and American Dirt and while I didn’t think of West With Giraffes as a fabulous story at the time it is definitely one that has stuck with me in it’s details and unusual storyline.

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  7. Hi, Carol – I love books about travel and road trips. Sadly, I have not (yet) read any of the books on your above list. I definitely seek to change that!
    Thank you for joining us for ‘What’s On Your Bookshelf!’

    Reply

  8. What a good post! A good road trip–in the car or just in a book, so fun! I’ve enjoyed several of these books. I think I have West With the Giraffes on my Kindle–maybe I’ll “rescue” it from “Kindle Oblivion” now!

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  9. What a great theme Carol and the only book I’ve read from your list is Miss Benson’s Beetles which I enjoyed immensely. So many good books to choose from. West with Giraffes of course has peaked my interest because of the title. Thanks so much for joining us for this month’s #WOYBS and I look forward to you joining us next month. Happy Reading! xx

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  10. I do enjoy how you group your books and wonder each month what category you’ll be coming up with. Thanks for linking up with us.

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    • Thanks Jo! I love to make book lists! I’m always wondering if I can come up with another! 😂 It’s always fun to link up with your challenge!

      Reply

  11. I’ve read so many travel books, but most of them have been non-fiction. Could you create a list of non-fiction travel books for us?

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  16. I first read and then listened to the audiobook for Project Hail Mary (not immediately, about a year apart). Good both ways, but there’s definitely a special reason to recommend the audiobook! A unique topic and take on the freebie! The first book that I read that comes to mind is The End of the Magi, which follows a young magi apprentice who joins a caravan to hide and ends up part of the group that travels to Bethlehem following the (“Christmas”) star.

    My TTT

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  19. Ooh this was a fun topic! I’ve read two of your titles – Project Hail Mary which actually you recommended to me and the Rachel Joyce.
    I can come up with a few that involved walking – The Salt Path and The Wild Silence both non fiction books by Raynor Winn — but I can’t think of any train journeys or road trips off the top of my head.

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  21. West With Giraffes is still on my TBR. I loved This Tender Land, and definitely recommend it. There are a couple others that I want to read, but there just isn’t enough time. Great list, Carol.

    Reply

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