all you want to see is make believe

Whenever I go on a trip, one of my must-haves is at least 3 good books. (It's not a secret. I'm a nerd.) Usually they consist of an entirely new book that I've yet to read, a fave book that I can (and probably have) re-read a million times, and one more of either case. The longer the trip, the more the books.

But I've also got this weird thing where I like to bring books that are based on a journey. There's something very cheesy about that, I'm well aware, but it's a thing. And it's been such a thing that since 2006 I've brought at least one of three specific books in my collection on all my trips.

American Gods, Neil Gaiman:
The journey of Shadow as he leaves prison and re-enters the world of real life only to fall straight into the world of the gods. Dark for the most part, but filled with so many excellent moments of perfect fiction that only Neil Gaiman can pull off. Plus it's like 500 pages long so that always lasts me for a bit.

The Solitaire Mystery, Jostein Gaarder:
The journey of a young boy with a pack of cards reading a book of a journey of a man living with a pack of cards. Bizarre at times, but absolutely lovely with the parallels and metaphors. Also, it's a book that I can read at different times in my life and feel something different every time. I never look at a pack of cards the same way after reading this.

On the Road, Jack Kerouac:
The quintessential journey of Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty, chasing their dreams of the Beatnik generation around America. Kerouac's autobiography of leading a life by following where the road leads, with it's highs and lows, and the sweet, sweet music we call jazz.

Three books that couldn't be more different in terms of genre, author (and their respective countries of origin) and writing styles, but are ultimately about the journeys we take in life.

They are books that remind you to stop and take a look at the beauty amidst the mundane, to take a breath and taste the difference, to listen to the sounds of life that are both music and noise, to simply open yourself to the possibilities of what makes this world such a fascinating place to live in.