Or did we? I didn’t get on any planes this year, but when I reflect back on the past few months, I realise that I actually had some wonderful little escapes. I visited Washington DC in June (via Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld), I visited Paris in July (via Under Occupation by Alan Furst), and in May I spent an incredible couple of weeks in Tudor England (via The Mirror & the Light by Hilary Mantel).
Books always offer us some form of escape – whether a thriller, romance or some YA fiction. However, there is a special form of escape found in those books that can transport you to another country – something I think we could all use more of at the end of a year like 2020. These are the books with such a strong sense of place and atmosphere that you feel entirely immersed in the reality of that different country and culture.
To inspire your bookshelf travels, I have pulled together a list of six books, which all transport you to a different country. So much so, you will pull your head out of the book after an hour (or two), and be surprised to find yourself on your couch. They are also all excellent reads, so you can’t really go wrong with any on this list – it just depends on where you want to travel!
Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
The execution of a young woman in Iceland in 1829 does not sound like the premise for a beautiful book, but in this case, it most certainly is. While the story itself is compelling (and based on a true event), it was the description of life in rural Iceland during this time that I found so incredible. I could almost feel the cold, smell the smoke, taste the (terrible) food. Reading this book remains one of my top reading experiences of all time, as I read it in a setting that matched the book so well – snuggled in a chalet in the Alps, with the snow and wind raging outside the window. Perhaps a good one to take on a winter holiday (if we are able to have one).
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
This book is one big adventure, which spans different countries, but spends a considerable amount of time in India, in a slum in Mumbai specifically. Drawn partly from the (Australian) author’s own life, this is an incredible story with lots of great characters throughout. I sometimes forget that I haven’t actually been to India, because since reading this book, I feel like I have. (As a bonus – Basel also features in the book, as the hometown of one of the main characters).
The Dry by Jane Harper
In a sense, this one took me home, as it’s set in rural Australia, which is where I grew up. It’s a brilliant (and sadly accurate) depiction of life in a small Aussie town during a drought. Still, it also happens to be an incredible murder mystery, that had me completely hooked, and kept me guessing right up until the end. The easiest read of all the books on this list, and if you enjoy it, Jane Harper has since written three more.
Colorlesss Tsukuru Tazaki by Haruki Murakami
I should start with a disclaimer that Murakami’s quirky and surreal writing style is not for everyone – so although I really enjoyed this book, I can certainly understand why some people would not. Essentially, it is the story of a lonely man who lives in Tokyo and tries to understand a falling out he had with his childhood friends. However, I think the storyline is secondary to the incredible and unique writing. You feel like you are travelling across Japan with him (and later in the book, even to Finland).
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Set between the US and Nigeria, this novel gives you the feeling of moving between both countries, with a character that has grown up in one (Nigeria) and is trying to find her place in the other (the US). At its core it is a beautiful love story spanning decades, however, it also addresses issues around race in a really interesting away. Despite being on holiday with a toddler, I managed to devour this in a couple of days – a strong indication of how good I thought it was.
Hausfrau by Jill Alexander Essbaum
If you’re still a little gun-shy about travel (even via books, which would admittedly be a bit weird), then you could stick close to home, and stay in Switzerland, just outside of Zurich. This novel is about an American woman who has married a Swiss man, has three children and is struggling – for many reasons. The story is quite dark (and sexually explicit), and I found the protagonist unlikeable. However, it is very well written, and if you have ever lived in Switzerland, then you will be blown away by some of the scarily accurate observations about the Swiss environment, culture and people.
I love adding to my ridiculously long To Read list, so please, if you have any other suggestions of books with a strong sense of place, I would love to hear them.
Happy (bookshelf) travelling, and let’s hope it’s not too long until we can read books while on holidays, rather than instead of them.
