The Most Annoying Book in the World

The Most Beautiful Walk in the World: A Pedestrian in Paris by John Baxter is a frustrating book. It's one of these wishy washy "travel" books where there is not much travelling going on and lots of rambling on about nothing. Yet occasionally from the bubble of thoughts and recollections would come a few interesting pages and Baxter's enthusiasm for Paris was sort of infectious and made me curious how he managed to blag his way into a job of literary guide, which is what the book morphs into about half way through. Then it would sink back into the torpor and I would wonder how this book ever got published. So it's a bit like an improvised jazz piece, with no structure or plan and could never be repeated, but occasionally is very good. 5/10

Walking the Himalayas

My journey through the travel section continued with Walking the Himalayas by Levison Wood. I have never heard of Levison Wood, apparently he has been on TV, but I don't watch it much. I thoroughly enjoyed Walking the Himalayas which was about his walking from Afghanistan to Bhutan. I am not sure how often people do this sort of walk, if ever, but most of it sounded relatively easy, although there were obviously dangerous sections. What was interesting is just journeying with Lev and getting to know him as you read the book and went through places that are so far off the beaten track it had to shaking your head in bewilderment that such areas and people still exist. 9/10