Books, Chilling out and a possible change of plans

When we last joined our hero, he was on Varkala beach, South India , taking some well needed R+R...

I am pleased to say that I'm having a much better time in the south of India than the North. The beach life was really what me and Sam have needed, we're in complete hedonistic mode, getting up late, breakfast, beach, dinner, internet, sleep, repeat. Its a hard job but someones got to do it. SO I suppose there's not much to update you all on...I've been continuing my enjoyment of the prose novel, pausing on The Amber Spyglass to read some other brilliant books. (I won't do the major ego trip of writing page long reviews of each one, but since theres not much to update you on and these books have been a great experience, I'll give you brief summaries of my experience with each one)
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas I picked up first, I wasn't going to bother because I knew it would be very alike to the film, but reading that first line, I was hooked (We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold). Hunter S Thomspon is a genius, he's hilarious, inspiring and outrageous with a deep resentment/confusion with the United States. His point of view I'll find invaluable, I think, when it comes to studying the country during the next four years.
Catcher in the Rye is one of Joe's bits of media found immensly brilliant and inspiring (along with Six Feet Under and the West Wing), and that he desperately wants to convert me to! Although I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as he, and millions of people across the world, the book is interesting and (as it is famous for) deeply relatable. Almost creepily relatable, how a book from the 40's can still, I believe, represent much of the youth of today. Lots of remants of Joe Burnham/Sam Cooper/Amy Soyka. A brilliant vision of alienated youth and New York. Its best to read it when your 13-17, though as it clicks more with that age range. I'd recommend it to Parents and Teachers most of all, I believe that's where the book can do the most good!
Around the world in 80 days has been a secret love of mine for a while, however I've only ever read it in a very faithful graphic novel adaption in my childhood. Having read it in the original prose form was a wonderful experience for me (this edition had Wallace and Gromit on the front cover too!) its a really witty, enthralling and entrancing adventure, especially for a backpacker. It's filled with some wonderful characters and moving moments. I now love it even more knowing that it really is as accessible as any graphic novel adaption despite being written over a hundred years ago!
I'm now trying to find something in Science Fiction or a Thriller, but time grows short here in Varkala. Well, not short, I like it here (apart from the food, maybe) but me and Sam are craving something else, something maybe a little less eastern perhaps...I don't want to cement anything yet, but I guess our plans have changed a little. Europe is beckoning towards us...well, once I've actually got something settled in a week or so, I could provide more concrete plans then.
Anyhoo, there probably won't be much more to update you all on till we get to Kochi, but I'll see about another blog maybe when I find another book!