The Book Review It's Still Summer. Let's Talk Road Trip Books.
Join critics Dwight Garner, Alexandra Jacobs, and Jennifer Szalai from The New York Times as they celebrate the spirit of summer road trips through literature. They explore classic and contemporary road trip books, highlighting unique tales like 'Driving Mr. Albert' and the emotional resonance of 'Hearts.' The trio shares personal anecdotes about traveling, favorite snacks, and how literature enhances the journey, making it a delightful ride packed with nostalgia and adventure.
31:21
Dwight's On the Road Influence
- Dwight Garner was inspired by On the Road to hitchhike and explore the world beyond his suburb.
- The book opened his eyes to beat writers and 60s culture, deeply influencing his reading journey.
Road Trip Novels' Flexibility
- Road trip novels are flexible and can depict various narratives of escape and discovery.
- Many great American road trip novels reflect the historic east-to-west expansion idea.
Car as a Dialogue Stage
- Use the car as a stage for dialogue since occupants are trapped and forced to converse.
- This setup is excellent for unexpected encounters and keeps the plot moving.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
Journeys Through Literature and Life
01:37 • 12min
Exploring Road Trip Literature Through Unique Journeys
14:02 • 2min
A Quirky Journey: Preserving Einstein's Legacy
16:13 • 2min
Road Trip Tales and Tasty Trails
17:55 • 7min
Exploring 'Hearts': A Heartfelt Journey of Love and Loss
25:09 • 2min
Books on the Open Road
26:40 • 6min
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Tramps Like Us
Joe Westmoreland
Eileen Myles
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Driving Mr. Albert
Michael Paterniti
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• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Machine dreams
Jayne Anne Phillips
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Hearts
Hilma Wolitzer
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I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home
Lorrie Moore
'I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home' blends dark humor with poignant reflections on love, loss, and the search for belonging.
The story centers on Finn, who takes a road trip with his deceased girlfriend, Lily, who is now undead.
Moore's writing is characterized by its sharp wit and emotional depth, making this a uniquely funny and heartfelt exploration of grief and connection.
As Finn and Lily journey across the American landscape, they encounter unexpected characters and confront the complexities of their relationship in the afterlife.
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The Lost Children Archive
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Valeria Luiselli
'Lost Children Archive' is a thought-provoking novel that intertwines a personal narrative with pressing social issues.
The story follows a couple embarking on a road trip from New York to Arizona as their marriage unravels.
They are working on separate audio projects, one documenting the sounds of New York City and the other exploring the stories of migrant children at the border.
As they travel, they grapple with questions of representation, storytelling, and the ethical responsibilities of bearing witness to human suffering.
Luiselli's innovative narrative structure and lyrical prose create a powerful and timely exploration of displacement and family.
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The Price of Salt
Patricia Highsmith
Patricia Highsmith's "The Price of Salt", published under the pseudonym Claire Morgan, is a groundbreaking lesbian romance novel.
It tells the story of Carol Aird and Therese Belivet, two women who fall in love in 1950s New York.
The novel explores themes of love, identity, and societal constraints.
Highsmith's sensitive portrayal of a same-sex relationship was revolutionary for its time.
The novel's exploration of love and its challenges resonates with readers even today.
The Price of Salt is considered a landmark work in lesbian literature.
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• Mentioned in 3 episodes
The Dog of the South
Charles Portis
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• Mentioned in 21 episodes
All Fours
Miranda July
Miranda July's "All Fours" is a poignant and unconventional novel that explores themes of aging, mortality, and the complexities of human connection.
The narrative unfolds through the experiences of an unnamed narrator grappling with her changing body and relationships.
July's writing style is characterized by its intimate and often humorous approach to profound subjects.
The book delves into the challenges of intergenerational friendships and the societal obsession with youth.
Ultimately, "All Fours" offers a reflective and empathetic portrayal of the human experience.
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• Mentioned in 32 episodes
The grapes of wrath
John Steinbeck
Published in 1939, 'The Grapes of Wrath' is a powerful and poignant novel by John Steinbeck.
It tells the story of the Joad family, Oklahoma tenant farmers who are forced to leave their home after the devastating effects of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression.
The novel follows their arduous journey along Route 66 to California, where they face numerous hardships, including poverty, exploitation, and the loss of family members.
The book explores themes of family, survival, and the struggle for human dignity in the face of overwhelming adversity.
It also delves into the broader social and economic issues of the time, highlighting the conflict between the powerful and the powerless.
Steinbeck's work is known for its vivid portrayal of the human condition and its impact on American literature and society.
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• Mentioned in 30 episodes
Lonesome Dove
Gene Walden
Lonesome Dove is a classic Western novel that follows the journey of two former Texas Rangers, Augustus McCrae and Woodrow F. Call, as they embark on a cattle drive from Texas to Montana.
The novel is renowned for its vivid descriptions of the American West, its exploration of themes such as friendship, loyalty, and the decline of the Old West, and its well-developed characters.
It is the third book in the Lonesome Dove series and is widely regarded as McMurtry's magnum opus.
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The pigeon tunnel
John Le Carré
In *The Pigeon Tunnel: Stories from My Life*, John le Carré shares anecdotes and reflections on his life, including his time in British Intelligence and his complex relationship with his father.
The book provides a glimpse into the real-life inspirations behind his fictional characters and stories, offering a blend of humor, drama, and insight into his writing process.
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• Mentioned in 29 episodes
Lolita
Vladimir Nabokov
The novel, presented as the posthumously published memoirs of Humbert Humbert, explores themes of obsession, pedophilia, and the manipulation of reality.
Humbert, a European intellectual and pedophile, becomes infatuated with Dolores Haze, whom he kidnaps and sexually abuses after marrying her mother.
The narrative delves into the complex and disturbing relationship between Humbert and Lolita, highlighting issues of morality, solipsism, and the erasure of Lolita's independent identity.
The book is known for its eloquent but deceptive narrator and its exploration of delusion, coercion, and cruelty.
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• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Gypsy
Carole Mortimer
In 'Gypsy' by Carole Mortimer, the story revolves around Shay, a widowed and pregnant woman who returns to the home of her former lover, Lyon Falconer, who is also her dead husband's brother.
The novel explores their complex relationship and the irresistible attraction between them, as well as the involvement of other characters who find Shay captivating.
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Sing Unburied Sing
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Jasmine Ward
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• Mentioned in 9 episodes
On the Road
Jack Kerouac
Written in a style of spontaneous prose, 'On the Road' is a semi-autobiographical novel that follows the travels of Sal Paradise and his friend Dean Moriarty across America.
The book captures the spirit of the post-war Beat Generation, embracing a lifestyle of freedom, jazz, and rebellion against societal norms.
It has become a defining work of American counterculture.
Summer is the season for road trips, and also for road trip stories. Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road” may be the most famous example in American literature — but there are lots of other great road trip books, so this week the Book Review’s staff critics Dwight Garner, Alexandra Jacobs and Jennifer Szalai presented readers with a list of 18 of their favorites. On this episode of the podcast they chat with host Gilbert Cruz about the project, their picks and the top-down, wind blown, carefree appeal of the road trip narrative as a genre.
Books discussed in this episode:
“On the Road,” by Jack Kerouac
“Sing, Unburied, Sing,” by Jesmyn Ward
“Lost Children Archive,” by Valeria Luiselli
“I Am Homeless if This Is Not My Home,” by Lorrie Moore
“Tramps Like Us," by Joe Westmoreland
“Driving Mr. Albert,” by Michael Paterniti
“Gypsy: A Memoir," by Gypsy Rose Lee
“The Dog of the South,” by Charles Portis
“All Fours,” by Miranda July
“Hearts,” by Hilma Wolitzer
“The Pigeon Tunnel: Stories From My Life,” by John le Carré
“Machine Dreams,” by Jayne Anne Phillips
“Lonesome Dove,” by Larry McMurtry
“Lolita,” by Vladimir Nabokov
“The Grapes of Wrath,” by John Steinbeck
“The Price of Salt,” by Patricia Highsmith
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