Quirk’s American Literary Road Trip: Route 1
It's a dream for many to take a road trip across America. Unfortunately, there are many reasons not to take a roadtrip this time of year.
1. It's freezing on the East Coast.
2. Gas isn't cheap.
3. Your personal hygiene will suffer.
4. Who the hell has time for a road trip anyway? We're not all Kerouac.
Instead, we've come up with a way for you to travel the country and remain comfy in your reading nook at home or the coffee shop down the street.
To begin, we'll be traveling from Washington to Utah – and through time. The following books cover the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries.
WASHINGTON
Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple (2012)
Compulsively readable and touching novel about misplaced genius and a mother and daughter's role in an absurd world.
OREGON
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey (1963)
Mordant, wickedly subversive parable set in a mental ward.
CALIFORNIA
The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler (1939)
Kidnapping, pornography, seduction, and murder.
NEVADA
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson (1971)
The best chronicle of drug-soaked, addle-brained, rollicking good times ever committed to the printed page.
UTAH
A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle (1887)
Potent mix of serial murder, suspense, cryptic clues, red herrings and revenge.
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Maria Vicente is a literary agent intern living in Ottawa, Canada. She likes coffee, books, snail mail, and magic. You can find her on Twitter (@MsMariaVicente) or check out her website (mariavicente.com)
