Daring desert adventure books you should read
The desert, vast and mysterious, has inspired captivating literature beyond Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist. This spiritual journey through the Egyptian desert is just a start. Numerous books delve into the challenges and revelations of arid landscapes. Here are recommendations for those seeking adventures in the world's deserts, offering a mix of survival tales and explorations of mystical lands.
'Tracks'
Tracks by Robyn Davidson is an extraordinary true story of a young woman who treks 1,700 miles across the Australian deserts with four camels and her faithful dog. Davidson's journey is not just a physical challenge but also an exploration of self and solitude. This book offers insights into the harsh desert environment and the resilience required to navigate it.
'Dune'
Dune by Frank Herbert is often hailed as one of the greatest science fiction novels ever written. Set on the desert planet of Arrakis, it tells the story of young Paul Atreides, whose family accepts control of Arrakis and its valuable spice production. "Dune" combines adventure with questions about politics, religion, and power, all within a meticulously detailed desert world.
'The Sheltering Sky'
The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles explores themes of alienation and existential despair against a North African desert backdrop. It follows an American couple traveling deeper into the Sahara Desert, only to find themselves struggling to survive both physically and mentally. Bowles captures the beauty and terror of the desert landscape while delving deep into his characters' psyches.
'Holes'
Holes by Louis Sachar combines adventure, mystery, and historical fiction. It features Stanley Yelnats IV, wrongly sent to Camp Green Lake for digging holes in a dry lake bed daily. The story intertwines Stanley's current challenges, his family's cursed history, and a hidden treasure under the Texas desert. This book is engaging for all ages, offering a unique desert adventure.
