As year two of the COVID pandemic continues, many are concentrating more on their ‘staycation’ than trips further afield. Whatever the destination, no-doubt there’ll be time to tuck into a good book or two. If you’re looking for some literary inspiration, the online motor home insurance comparison specialist ‘The Insurers’ have ranked their top seven road trip reads.
One of the Good Ones – Maika and Maritza Moulite (Inkyard Press, £13.95)
Happi and Genny embark on a journey to honour Kezi, their sister who was killed under mysterious circumstances whilst attending a social justice rally. As Kezi becomes another immortalized victim in the fight against police brutality, Happi begins to question the idolised way her sister is remembered. This book features a road trip whilst holding important discussions about race, social activism and prejudice and focusing on sisterhood and familial relationships.
The Road Trip – Beth O’Leary (Quercus Publishing, £14.99)
Addie and her sister are about to go on an epic road trip to a friend’s wedding, but their plans are disrupted when Addie’s ex and his friend slam their car into the back of Addie’s. The four join forces and set off together. This is a modern-day romance about two people forced to confront their messy history.
On the Road – Jack Kerouac (Penguin Books Ltd, £8.99)
A classic piece of literature, On the Road is inspired by Kerouac’s adventures with Neal Cassady and tells the story of two friends whose cross-country road trips are a quest for meaning and true experience. A key novel to read if you want to experience a road trip, from the comfort of your own home (or motorhome).
Wild – Cheryl Strayed (Atlantic Books, £8.99)
This memoir is Strayed’s account of how she made the impulsive decision to upend her life and hike more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State alone. Told with warmth and humour, Wild captures the terrors and pleasures of a single woman’s journey who set off with all odds against her.
Parable of the Sower – Octavia E. Butler (Headline Publishing Group, £9.99)
In a world descending into madness, Lauren and her family live in one of the only safe neighbourhoods remaining. But when a fire destroys the compound and Lauren’s family is killed, she is forced to make her way north to safety. This dystopian story may not seem like the most obvious book to read whilst on a road trip but the key themes of hope and found family will inspire unity in any travelling group.
The Buried Giant – Kazuo Ishiguro (Faber and Faber, £8.99)
In this 2015 fantasy novel, husband and wife, Axl and Beatrice, set off across a troubled land in the hope of finding a son they have not seen in years. This is a book about an elderly couple driven by love, stepping out of their comfort zone to uncover lost memories and hidden secrets. This is the perfect novel if you want to escape to a fictional, fantastical world.
The Salt Path – Raynor Winn (Penguin Books Ltd, £9.99)
Days after Raynor learns that Moth, her husband of 32 years is terminally ill, their home and livelihood is taken away. They make the brave decision to walk the 630 miles of the sea-swept Southwest Coast Path, from Somerset to Dorset. With only the essentials on their backs, they encounter every trial and tribulation along the way. In this true story, we see Raynor and Moth coming to terms with grief, whilst learning how life can be lost, and rebuilt in the most unusual of ways.
Ed Bevis, Commerical and Marketing Director at The Insurers, said: “We know that everyone’s plans for travel have had to change recently, but with the world opening up again we want ease your worries on the open road so you can make the most of your time away – whether that means providing you with a competitive insurance quote or suggesting some road trip reads while you’re away.
“If you already own or are thinking about buying a motorhome to head off on a British road trip this summer or into the autumn, we can help. We aim to provide motorhome owners with a range of insurance quotes for their vehicle from some of the UK’s leading insurers so they can find their own freedom and a sense of escape wherever they’re heading on their holidays.”
The Insurers
Compare caravan and motorhome insurance from multiple providers to find the right deal to get you covered
www.theinsurers.co.uk
