Library Journal's Reader's Shelf

Road Trip! A Literary Journey across America

Books recommended by editors at Library Journal

On the Road By Kerouac, Jack Introduction by Charters, Ann 2002-12 - Penguin Books 9780142437254 Check Our Catalog Jack Kerouac's classic novel of freedom and longing defined what it meant to be "Beat" and has inspired every generation since its initial publication more than 40 years ago. …More

Driving Sideways By Riley, Jess 2008-05 - Ballantine Books 9780345501103 Check Our Catalog A charming new voice in fiction, much like a twenty-something Fannie Flagg, Riley tells the funny yet touching story of one woman's road trip to self-discovery after getting a new chance at life. …More

American Pie: Slices of Life (and Pie) from America's Back Roads By Le Draoulec, Pascale 2003-04 - Harper Perennial 9780060957322 Check Our Catalog Crossing class and color lines, and spanning the nation (Montana has its huckleberry, Pennsylvania its shoofly, and Mississippi its sweet potato), pie -- real, homemade pie -- has meaning for all of us. But in today's treadmill, take-out world -- our fast-food nation -- does pie still have a place? As she traveled across the United States in an old Volvo named Betty, Pascale Le Draoulec discovered how merely mentioning homemade pie to strangers made faces soften, shoulders relax, and memories come wafting back. Rambling from town to town with Le Draoulec, you'll meet the famous, and sometimes infamous, pie makers who share their stories and recipes, and find out how a quest for pie can lead to something else entirely. …More

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values By Pirsig, Robert M. 2005-08 - Harper Perennial 9780060839871 Check Our Catalog One of the most influential and provocative books of its generation, "Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" continues to attract and inspire readers of all ages with its intriguing blend of ancient and Eastern philosophy, cultural criticism, and scientific inquiry. …More

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: An All-American Road Trip...with Recipes! By Fieri, Guy With Volkwein, Ann 2008-11 - William Morrow Cookbooks 9780061724886 Check Our Catalog The Food Network star takes readers on a tour of America's most colorful diners, drive-ins, and dives, in this tie-in to his enormously popular television show. B&w photos throughout. …More

The Ride of Our Lives By Leonard, Mike 2007-05 - Ballantine Books 9780345481498 Check Our Catalog Leonard has captivated millions of television viewers with his wry and witty feature stories for NBCUs "Today." Now he brings that same engaging charm and keen insight to the foibles and passions of his own blessedly unique family. …More

Road Trip USA: Cross-Country Adventures on America's Two-Lane Highways By Jensen, Jamie 2009-04 - Avalon Travel Publishing 9781598801019 Check Our Catalog Now in its expanded fifth edition, the bestselling "Road Trip USA" features cross-country routes and road-tested advice for adventurers who want to see the parts of America that the interstates have left behind. 140 maps. …More