Where does the journey begin? That's right, out of the way. A couple of hours by car, a ten-hour flight or a day on a train - there are plenty of options to get from point A to the desired point B. But there aren’t many ways to spend time on the road. One of the most traditional and reliable is reading. 
A good book can distract you from the tiresome conversations of fellow travelers, snoring adults and bawling children. The main thing is to choose the right piece of work that will brighten up your trip and not plunge you into boredom. For example, one of those on our list.
THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN, PAULA HAWKINS 
The main character of the novel, Rachel, has been deeply depressed for several years after divorcing her husband. She finds an outlet in alcohol and watching the “ideal” young couple she sees every day from the train window. Rachel got so used to them that she even gave them names: Jess and Jason. They have everything that Rachel herself lost - love, happiness, prosperity. But one day the girl notices something in the couple’s house that shocks her. Jess soon disappears.
The further development of the novel captivates the reader with intertwining plot lines, and the ending will be unexpected. The book unvarnishedly shows complex human relationships that are often found in real life. You will literally “swallow” the last chapters one after another.
On the way back you can watch the film of the same name. The work was filmed by director Tate Taylor in 2016. The main character was played amazingly by Emily Blunt.
"SHANTARAM", GREGORY DAVID ROBERTS 
The novel, loved by both readers and literary critics, immerses you in the life of vibrant, original and noisy India.
The plot is based on real events from the life of the author. The hero of the book is Lindsay Ford, a former robber and drug addict who paid for his lifestyle with divorce, deprivation of parental rights and 12 years in prison. A man escapes from an Australian prison and heads to Bombay, where a new life full of difficulties and adventures awaits him.
This book is about love and hate, good and evil, friendship and war. But most importantly, it shows that it is never too late to look deep into your soul and change. The philosophical monologues of the main character touch upon eternal topics that are close to everyone.
The novel has a sequel called “Shadow of the Mountain.”
THE THIRTEENTH TALE, DIANA SETTERFIELD 
A book for those who love mysterious stories with unexpected endings. Once you're drawn in, you won't be able to tear yourself away from the book until you read to the last page.
The plot centers on Margaret Lee, who is passionate about literature, and the elderly writer Vida Winter, who asks the girl to write her biography.
Each of them has its own story. Margaret was born with a conjoined twin, but the girl died after they were separated. The shadow of her sister haunts Margaret all her life, and therefore she devotes a lot of time and energy in her work to the topic of twins. Vida Winter is the author of many bestsellers, but the main one is the book “Thirteen Tales.”
Margaret, previously unfamiliar with Vida's work, is greatly impressed by what she read. But something worries her - there are only twelve fairy tales in the book. Vida herself will tell her the thirteenth.
THE CATCHER IN THE Rye, JEROME DAVID SALINGER 
The story, which became the anthem of the generation of the 50s, is still winning the minds and hearts of people. This book will not only brighten up your time, but will also make you think about serious things.
The hero of the novel, 16-year-old Holden Caulfield, tells a story that happened to him a year ago. The teenager tries to escape from the surrounding reality, reflects, questions the foundations of society. Holden's inner world is constantly shaking under the pressure of harsh reality, and his youthful maximalism does not allow him to come to terms with it.
This legendary novel, contrary to popular belief, will be useful and interesting not only for teenagers, but also for adults. The questions that Holden asks himself also worry us; his feelings are familiar to everyone.
The book gives you the opportunity to look at yourself and your life from the outside through the prism of the main character’s perception.
“THREE IN A BOAT, NOT COUNTING THE DOG”, JEROME KLAPKA JEROME 
If you love humorous works, then reading this story will be an ideal activity for you on the road. The prototypes of the main characters are real people - the author himself and his friends with whom he loved to go boating.
The book tells about friends who decided to take a break from their tired work. For a boat trip, the friends choose the route from Kingston to Oxford up the Thames. On the way, many funny incidents happen to the heroes of the story that will definitely make the reader smile.
In addition, “Three Men in a Boat” was originally intended by the author as a guidebook, so in the work you can find descriptions of various places and attractions.
If you're heading to the UK, don't forget to take J. Jerome's wonderful story along for the ride. Perhaps its heroes will tell you a couple of interesting routes.
"SUMMER CRUISE", TRUMAN CAPOTE 
The very title of the book evokes associations with a long-awaited vacation and just begs to be added to your luggage. The story of Truman Capote will make you rejoice, empathize and fall in love. This work is for those who want to feel the spirit of youth and carefree, when nothing is impossible.
Grady McNeil is young, beautiful and rich. It would seem, what more could you want? But it turns out that real life begins beyond luxury and pathos. The girl's parents are sailing on a cruise around Europe, leaving her in New York.
Grady plunges headlong into a new world full of exciting events. She falls in love with Clyde, a parking lot attendant, and at the same time flirts with a childhood friend. The girl lives by feelings, searches for herself and commits rash acts. Enjoying the moment, she burns like a match.
"THE CALL OF THE CUCKOO", ROBERT GALBRAITH (JOHANE ROWLING) 
Believe me, JK Rowling, who became famous throughout the world thanks to books about the wizard Harry Potter, still has something to surprise you with. Under a male pseudonym, she released a crime novel that will move all the cogs in your brain.
Private detective Cormoran Strike has a lot of problems. He lost his leg during the war. There are few clients and there is a catastrophic lack of money to live on. A long, painful relationship ended in scandal. After breaking up with his girlfriend, he is forced to live in his cramped office. But fate presents Cormoran with a chance to put everything right, he just has to solve one mysterious case.
The detective is approached by the brother of the famous model Lula Landry, who was found dead under the balcony of her apartment. Everyone, including the police, believes it is suicide. But neither the brother of the deceased nor Cormoran himself are sure of this. The detective will have to investigate a complicated story, and his new secretary Robin will help him in this.
"A STREET CAT NAMED BOB" BY JAMES BOWEN 
James Bowen has written a touching autobiographical book about himself and his cat Bob. This kind, instructive story will melt the heart of any reader.
Before meeting the red stray cat, James himself was homeless and made his living as a musician in Covent Garden. Tensions in the family forced the guy to leave home. But the reality of the streets turned out to be so harsh that James began taking drugs. He knew the very bottom, from which it seemed impossible to get out.
But one day everything changed. Fate gave the guy a friend - a red cat, who turned his whole life upside down. With him, James remembered what love and responsibility are. And most importantly, I realized that there are no hopeless situations and it’s never too late to change something.
“LIFE ON BORROW”, ERICH MARIA REMARQUE 
The novel “Life on Borrow” is one of the writer’s most famous works. The main characters are difficult but interesting personalities. Young and beautiful Lilian is sick with tuberculosis and lives in a special boarding house. There she meets racing driver Klerfe, who came to visit a friend. Having accidentally collided, their worlds are already inseparable from each other.
This is a work about crushing love, an unbridled thirst for life, dazzling, inappropriate luxury, fun and risk. About an eternity-long moment that can end at any second.
The novel touches the delicate strings of the soul and leaves a special aftertaste. While reading the book, girls will want to put on a beautiful dress and sit on the windowsill with a glass of wine, and a man will want to rush by car to his beloved’s house to confess his feelings to her.
“STEPS ON GLASS”, IAN BANKS 
This acclaimed novel is interesting for its narrative and will still cause controversy among literature lovers. It has three storylines that merge together only at the end of the work. The perception of this book largely depends on the reader himself.
The characters in the novel are a hopelessly in love young guy, a paranoid road repairman, and a pair of war criminals from a galactic war.
What unites such dissimilar heroes? The author gives you a chance to find the answer to this question at the end of the work. But there is no guarantee that it will not raise even more questions.
Paradox is the main trump card of “Steps on Glass”. If you like unusual books, and even with a dash of fantasy, this novel will be very useful to you on your travels.
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