Books for South America
No traveller’s pack is complete without a book or two crammed in amongst the array of seemingly essential items. Unlike your seemingly essential items, the books you’ll most likely get good use out of. It’s always good to carry books relevant to your travels, and you’ll also find it rewarding if you know more than the basics about the site your looking round. Here I’ve put together a range of books from the trusty guidebook to the loosely relevant fictional work, all with a strong South American connection.
All the books mentioned, together with a few more great reads that aren’t, are available to purchase through a specially setup portal to Amazon, just follow the link below:
All the books mentioned, together with a few more great reads that aren’t, are available to purchase through a specially setup portal to Amazon, just follow the link below:
Guidebooks
Lets get the travel guide area covered off first. Now a lot here boils down to personally taste, but for those visiting a number of different countries in South America the Lonely Planet: South America on a Shoestring is tough to beat. Sure it’s a broad brush, and impossible to cover some much in any portable sized book, but then travel guides by there very nature are this way. Lonely Planet produce their usual array of useful information, maps, brief statistics, travel tips and a small language section. When I was in Peru this book paid for itself when I used the ‘traveller’s health’ section to successfully diagnose and prescribe drugs for a stomach parasite. Whilst the internet contains all this information and more, at times you’ll be some distance from the nearest broadband connection. Certainly useful for all travellers, but by no means enough for the more demanding.
Non Fiction
Those of you heading to countries that would have once had areas in the old Inca Empire, most notably Peru, might be interested in reading a bit more detail about that fascinating part of South America history. ‘The Conquest of the Incas’ by John Hemming is a brilliantly written piece of narrative that covers historical fact as well as any history book, and keeps the reader turning the page like no history book can. This book, as the title suggests, covers the period where the widely feared Spanish Conquistadors set foot on the continent that is now South America, and encounter the vast, wealthy Inca Empire.
Lets get the travel guide area covered off first. Now a lot here boils down to personally taste, but for those visiting a number of different countries in South America the Lonely Planet: South America on a Shoestring is tough to beat. Sure it’s a broad brush, and impossible to cover some much in any portable sized book, but then travel guides by there very nature are this way. Lonely Planet produce their usual array of useful information, maps, brief statistics, travel tips and a small language section. When I was in Peru this book paid for itself when I used the ‘traveller’s health’ section to successfully diagnose and prescribe drugs for a stomach parasite. Whilst the internet contains all this information and more, at times you’ll be some distance from the nearest broadband connection. Certainly useful for all travellers, but by no means enough for the more demanding.
Non Fiction
Those of you heading to countries that would have once had areas in the old Inca Empire, most notably Peru, might be interested in reading a bit more detail about that fascinating part of South America history. ‘The Conquest of the Incas’ by John Hemming is a brilliantly written piece of narrative that covers historical fact as well as any history book, and keeps the reader turning the page like no history book can. This book, as the title suggests, covers the period where the widely feared Spanish Conquistadors set foot on the continent that is now South America, and encounter the vast, wealthy Inca Empire.
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‘Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life’ by Jon Lee Anderson gives a much more interesting a complete account of the life a Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara that the better known ‘Motorcycle Diaries’. So for those looking for a complete picture of the man who must have his face on more t-shirts than any other, this is the best port of call.
‘The Total Library: Non-fiction, 1922-1986’ by Jorge Luis Borges is a collective of thoughts and essays covering a huge range of topics. Borges, one of Argentina’s most widely known writers shows his range of intellect, and it’s a great book for you travels as you can jump around to the sections that interest you most and pick it up and put it down as you please.
Fiction
South America has produced some world-class works of literature and also been the theme of many international writers.
‘Senor Vivo and the Coca Lord’ by Louis de Bernieres is one of favourite works of fiction. Whilst Bernieres was in fact born in London, this book is heavily influenced by the great Gabriel Garcia Marquez and beautifully collects the idiosyncrasies that make Latin America such an interesting and vibrant continent. This is actually part of a trilogy he wrote, so it’s better read after ‘The War of Don Emmanuel’s Nether Parts’ and before ‘The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman'. The first line of Senor Vivo is ‘Ever since his young wife had given birth to a cat as an unexpected consequence of his experiments in sexual alchemy,…..’ which is surely enough to keep the pages turning.
‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’ by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. This book may take a little more effort than your average paperback, but definitely worth it. The kind of book you’ll reread and appreciate more each time you do.
‘Death in the Andes’ by Mario Vargas Llosa is a work of fiction that deals with very real subjects. Set during the worst of the Shinning Path terrorist activity, and beginning with two tourist getting murder in the mountains, it may not be the best companion for the long night bus rides in the Andes. What follows is a very well written book that undresses the culture and superstitions of Peru, and will help you understand some of the people ways better than any travel guide.
I’m sure these books will be excellent travel companions for those heading to South America. To purchase these books and view a few more similar works, follow the link below to the specially setup Amazon portal.
Miles Flynn - 12th August 2007
‘The Total Library: Non-fiction, 1922-1986’ by Jorge Luis Borges is a collective of thoughts and essays covering a huge range of topics. Borges, one of Argentina’s most widely known writers shows his range of intellect, and it’s a great book for you travels as you can jump around to the sections that interest you most and pick it up and put it down as you please.
Fiction
South America has produced some world-class works of literature and also been the theme of many international writers.
‘Senor Vivo and the Coca Lord’ by Louis de Bernieres is one of favourite works of fiction. Whilst Bernieres was in fact born in London, this book is heavily influenced by the great Gabriel Garcia Marquez and beautifully collects the idiosyncrasies that make Latin America such an interesting and vibrant continent. This is actually part of a trilogy he wrote, so it’s better read after ‘The War of Don Emmanuel’s Nether Parts’ and before ‘The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman'. The first line of Senor Vivo is ‘Ever since his young wife had given birth to a cat as an unexpected consequence of his experiments in sexual alchemy,…..’ which is surely enough to keep the pages turning.
‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’ by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. This book may take a little more effort than your average paperback, but definitely worth it. The kind of book you’ll reread and appreciate more each time you do.
‘Death in the Andes’ by Mario Vargas Llosa is a work of fiction that deals with very real subjects. Set during the worst of the Shinning Path terrorist activity, and beginning with two tourist getting murder in the mountains, it may not be the best companion for the long night bus rides in the Andes. What follows is a very well written book that undresses the culture and superstitions of Peru, and will help you understand some of the people ways better than any travel guide.
I’m sure these books will be excellent travel companions for those heading to South America. To purchase these books and view a few more similar works, follow the link below to the specially setup Amazon portal.
Miles Flynn - 12th August 2007
‘Simon Bolivar: A Life’ by John Lynch. Bolivar was a cult hero much of South America before Che Guevara was even conceived. Those traveling in Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, or Peru who haven’t heard of him you’ll no doubt come across a host of things named after him including streets, towns, museums and of course the country Bolivia. This book certainly captures the fascinating life of ‘El Liberador’, but is a bit heavy going for those who just want a lighter read to kill some time on the long journeys.
‘In the Heart of the Amazon Rainforest’ by Nick Gordon will either give you a deep desire to make you want to go to the Amazon immediately or put you off the idea for life. Either way this book certainly gives you a feel for the place and a good perspective on the sheer scale and uniqueness of the Amazon.
‘In the Heart of the Amazon Rainforest’ by Nick Gordon will either give you a deep desire to make you want to go to the Amazon immediately or put you off the idea for life. Either way this book certainly gives you a feel for the place and a good perspective on the sheer scale and uniqueness of the Amazon.