We all know the struggle of finding the right book to read to switch off from daily struggles, so here are the top 10 books I can recommend about travel and lived experiences in countries all over the world.
Books are a great way to satisfy your wanderlust, they make us explore places both near and far through the protagonist’s eyes. If you love discovering a breadth of different countries and cultures those books are for you! Especially during this difficult times when travelling is not as easy as it was just a few months ago reading those books might help you fight that travel nostalgia. Discover your next favourite book in this top 10 list of travel books to unwind and relax!
- Shantaram by G. D. Roberts
Shantaram has a special place in my heart, it is a book full of emotions and vivid places. It is highly influenced by the author’s life, and you’ll be amazed to learn and see India from a new perspective, one that we, as readers, rarely encounter. Follow Gregory’s adventure from a prison in Australia all the way to India. Be ready to be stunned by the evocative and realistic description of big cities like Bombay and small villages like Sunder.
- An Artist of The Floating World by K. Ishiguro
I know, I am recommending a book by a Nobel Prize in Literature winner (2018). But trust me, this book describes a traditional yet evolving Japan as you have never read before. It is a book that takes your breath away. Ishiguro describes places in such an effortless but memorable way. It will make you feel like you visited each place.
- A Thousand Splendid Suns by K. Hosseini
This book is an emotional rollercoaster complete with wonderful descriptions. It is a touching and moving story, written in such a simple way, but with the power of leaving you speechless. This book is more centred around Afghani culture rather than places, but the author includes many rich descriptions of locations.
- In Search of Lost Time by M. Proust
I know you have probably heard of this, and you might be wondering how it fits into a post about travel books? Well, you are right, this is not a physical trip but more a mental and introspective one. It is very well written, and it immerses you in the wonders of your imaginations.
- Meeting with Japan by F. Maraini
This book is the diary of a year-long journey through Japan. The reader gets to experience Japan through the eyes of a foreigner that sees everything for the first, or at least for the first few times. In the book, there are awe-inspiring photos of different places, but the power of Mariani’s descriptions makes those pictures pale by comparison.
- Veiled Sentiments: Honor and Poetry in a Bedouin Society by L. Abu-Lughod
Veiled Sentiments is a touching but brutal description of life in a Bedouin community, located in the Western Desert near Alexandria. The surroundings are described extensively and it is truly an understanding of society’s relations to its environment.
7. The Impasse of the Angels by S. Pandolfo: Scenes from a Moroccan Space of Memory
This book is constructed as a polyphonic dialogue between the author and other people she encounters on her travels. Through their voices, we learn about places that as tourists we would never have heard of, and more importantly, we learn the history and the significance of those places.
- The Tigers of Mompracem by E. Salgari
This famous adventure book will lead your imagination to Kuraman Island, Mompracem in the book. I can assure you that after encountering Salgari’s breath-taking descriptions and plot you will not want to put it down. Follow Sandokan’s adventures in this first book of a series of four, all worth reading.
- That Awful Mess on Via Merulana by C.E. Gadda
This book is a funny but insightful view of Rome. Rome here is described as it is – confusing, beautiful, chaotic, and warm. The main plot revolves around a murder investigation. Be ready to get lost in the little streets of this amazing city and learn about its people during fascist Italy.
- My Brilliant Friend by E. Ferrante
This sweet and romantic book will show you the parallel growth of the protagonist and Naples. It is a touching story that describes the cruelty and the beauty embedded in Naples and in different Italian cities. This is one of those books you won’t be able to stop reading.
I hope you found here something that can spirit you away on an amazing journey in your mind, and maybe for some time free you from any daily chores.
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