Which books would you take?

[fred gordon]

I'm off next week for a weeks canoeing on the west coast of Scotland. My problem, as usual, is what to take and what to leave behind. I have been told by my wife I can only take two books. If this were you which two books would you take?

 

[falcon]

Something by Sigurd Olsen.....

 

[JonnyP]

How to swim, and Robinson Crusoe......
Dunno mate, have a good time though.....

 

[British Red]

Something atmospheric and relevant - nothing like reading "Woodcraft and Camping" in your hammock (or Song of the Paddle etc. for you perhaps?)

If you haven't tried "The Good Life" I recommend it.

I like a good adventure novel with a bit of "daring do" in it too the new Bernard Cornwell series on the Viking / Saxon period is a cracker!

Red

 

[jamesoconnor]

Something by Sigurd Olsen.....

Just finished The Singing Wilderness, what a brilliant book. Definetly one to recommend if your out canoeing.

James

 

[big_daddy_merc]

the first book that i always take camping is my Bible( always one in my pack), the second would be a hard choice, i think at the minute it would have to be " how to fish " by Chris Yates, it's more about the fishing than the fish if that makes any sense, you know setting the picture of an early morning mist rising from the pond , the call of song birds that kind of thing, a bit like a passion for angling in book form

 

[JonnyP]

the first book that i always take camping is my Bible( always one in my pack), the second would be a hard choice, i think at the minute it would have to be " how to fish " by Chris Yates, it's more about the fishing than the fish if that makes any sense, you know setting the picture of an early morning mist rising from the pond , the call of song birds that kind of thing, a bit like a passion for angling in book form

Chris Yates is a superb writer, I loved reading Casting at the sun....

 

[Moff8]

for longer than a week I would have said Lord of the Rings but for a week - Waylander (David Gemmil) and SAS survival guide (the little one)

 

[twisted firestarter]

Dan Price - 'Radical Simplicity'

 

[tomtom]

Cache lake country - John J Rowlands

I enjoyed that one even more than Sigurd Olson!

 

[Ogden]

Books on tour? but two good ones (fiction):

Halldor Laxness: Under the glacier
Ivan Turgenev: A hunters sketches

and non-fiction:
Erich Jantsch: Self Organizing Universe
Hans Lietzmann: History of the Early Church

 

[addyb]

Not that these two books have anything to do with bushcraft but I'd probably take:

- Ian Fleming: Casino Royale

and....

-Lothar Gunther Buchheim: Das Boot

(Those are probably my two favourite books)

Adam

 

[KAE1]

I agree that both 'The Good Life' books are a great read, however I would go back to basics - Henry Williamsons Collected Nature Stories. This book includes 'Stumperleap' about a Red Stag and the amazing 'A Weeds Tale' - who else could write a story about a weed? No namby pampy stuff, a proper gritty collection of nature stories.
If you liked Tarka the Otter you'll love these.

 

[arjuna]

the baghawat gita and larry bond

 

[kato]

the baghawat gita and larry bond

I think you mean Bhagavad Gita (Song of God)

Nothing to do with bushcraft but any book's by Hunter S Thompson are a great read,he is my favorite author

 

[tomtom]

New suggestion.

Three Men In A Boat.

I'm just reading it for the first time and loving it, they have some good advice on the important kit to take on a boat trip too so maybe read the first few chapters before you go

TT

 

[Dr Onion]

If you want something a bit more light-hearted and away from Bushcraft then I can recommend "Round Ireland With a Fridge" by Tony Hawks (not the skateboarder!). A really funny book about just what getting drunk and making a bet can lead to!

Cheers

Dr O

 

[dommyracer]

^^I've read "one hit wonderland" by Hawks, which is a cracker - I keep meaning to have a look at "Round Ireland with a Fridge" and "Playing the Moldovans at Tennis".

Another good book in this vain is "Are you Dave Gorman" by Dave Gorman.

 

[Dr Onion]

LOL - after reading his "Ireland" book I became a bit obsessed with this chaps antics and bought the rest of them - the "Moldovans" is a classic!

I've only read Gorman's "Googlewhack" adventure which is pretty decent too!

Dr O

 

[Gailainne]

Thats a bloody difficult question, I have trouble picking books to take on trips, and I know what I lIke, I have a library with over 1500 books, and I struggle, all have been read at least three times some eight or more over the years.

Giving advice to someone else who I know nothing of their reading habits is...difficult to say the least.

I would suggest you think about some of the great books you have read over the years, perhaps ones whose memory of which is fading, those are the ones for a trip.

Something to relax with, enjoy at the end of a day, especially a good day.

Regards, and I hope you enjoy your trip

Stephen