READ: 18 books to inspire your next holiday

With an infinite row of travel guides, adventure stories and globetrotting tales, it's a paperback minefield in your local bookshop. But fear not, finding an interesting, helpful read for your next getaway just got a little easier.

DYJR0Y

by Maria Vallahis |
Published on

Here are a selection of travel narratives, with their exotic foreign lands, exciting adventures and stunning scenery, that will have you packing your bags a step closer to the airport.

Gallery

18 books to inspire your next holiday

1. Bill Bryson – A Walk in the woods1 of 18

1. Bill Bryson – A Walk in the woods

Bryson tells the story of his trek through rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail. With the help of a friend Bryson starts out in north Georgia, with the intent to walk the entire 2,100 miles to Maine’s Mount Katahdin. It’s such an illuminating, funny read that you’ll be ‘choking on your coffee’.

2. Helen Constantine - Paris Metro Tales; The City of Lights2 of 18

2. Helen Constantine - Paris Metro Tales; The City of Lights

Paris, known as the City of Light, holds many stories within its beautiful streets above the Paris Metro. The 22-short stories is the perfect companion when visiting the French capital. With some of the short stories taking place in the Metro itself, most are linked to the quartier above ground. It captures the essence of Paris and highlights hidden gems that only a local would know about.

3. Elias Canetti - The Voices of Marrakech3 of 18

3. Elias Canetti - The Voices of Marrakech

Nobel Prize-winner Canetti records a few weeks spent in the Moroccan city in the late 1950s, capturing the vivid central square full of beggars, spice traders and camel merchants. An integral part of the book is when he describes the Mellah, or Jewish quarter, which is now all but gone.

4. Terence Flannery  - Seven Days: One Story a Day from the Philippines4 of 18

4. Terence Flannery - Seven Days: One Story a Day from the Philippines

These short stories are a selection of truthful fiction. It shows an insight into the unity of a nation, who however much filled with poverty are always hopeful and bright. It includes some VERY funny stories from a Western man now banishing his Western ways as he chooses life in the Philippines. Also if you know nothing about the Philippines Flannery will give you a small, yet mighty burst of the Filipino lifestyle.

5. Elizabeth Gilbert - Eat, Pray Love5 of 18

5. Elizabeth Gilbert - Eat, Pray Love

You may remember this one was made into a film; it’s about one American woman’s soul-searching adventure across Italy, India and Indonesia. You’ll be flicking back and forth between these pages making notes (as we were) while Gilbert leaves her mundane home life to find pleasure in Italy, devotion in India and a worldly enjoyment in Bali.

6. Alex Garland – The Beach6 of 18

6. Alex Garland – The Beach

This adventure thriller will definitely inspire travel. Either that or the thought of possible uncovering a real-life Leonardo DiCaprio, who featured in the film version of this book. You’ll follow Brit traveller Richard as his adventure heads to Thailand via Bangkok. The map Richard is given by a strange Scotsman, whilst in the countries’ capital, leads him to find a legendary beach but uncovers a more breath taking and terrifying truth. With the awful sunsets, you may find yourself booking a ticket to Southeast Asia before you’ve even finished the book.

7. Yann Martel - Life of Pi7 of 18

7. Yann Martel - Life of Pi

Apart from being turned into an Oscar-winning film 10 years after and the book selling over 9 million copies worldwide should be a factor for why this is a truly tremendous travel inspiring read. Piscine Molitor “Pi” Patel survives 227 days after a shipwreck while stranded in the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. While the shipwreck may not turn you to travel trust us, it’s a fantasy adventure novel is considered an epic meditation on spirituality and mythology.

8. Jack Kerouac – On The Road8 of 18

8. Jack Kerouac – On The Road

This is the cult classic of travel reads, which will have you booking a road-trip through America with your friends in no time. Based on the travels of Kerouac and his rowdy companions across post-war America the book is in five parts; travelling across the USA, the book takes in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Denver while depicting the escapades of the pair. Ready yourself for jazz, poetry and a mighty search for exploration and existence.

9. Jon Krakauer – Into The Wild9 of 18

9. Jon Krakauer – Into The Wild

It’s a true story, retold into a haunting tale, who survives starvation 100 days before it takes its toll. Following his graduation, Christopher McCandless, was the promising student. He decided to give away his college fund, cut contact with his family and disappeared into the American wilderness in search of truth and adventure. The solemn book stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page, as does the untamed beauty of Alaska.

10. Colin Thubron – Shadow of the Silk10 of 18

10. Colin Thubron – Shadow of the Silk

This tale recounts Thubron’s epic journey along the 7,000-mile trading route connecting Rome to China, through the likes of Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Nepal. The ancient trail proved a hub of vibrant and enlightening adventure.

11. Paul Theroux - The Great Railway Bazaar11 of 18

11. Paul Theroux - The Great Railway Bazaar

American travel writer Paul Theroux recounts his four-month adventure through Europe, Asia and the Middle East. From his intriguing experiences throughout numerous beautiful destinations, it is rail travel that you will find yourself falling for as each page is a a journey.

12. In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin12 of 18

12. In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin

One of the most legendary and well-regarded travel narratives is Chatwin’s. Documenting one of the most barren but beautiful corners of the globe his journey through Patagonia has been described as “a masterpiece of travel, history and adventure.” He doesn’t go in search of a specific mountain or lost tribe, in fact his witty ways see him discover sloth turds at the end of the world. Who said new adventures were boring?

13. Jonathan Raban – Coasting: A Private Voyage13 of 18

13. Jonathan Raban – Coasting: A Private Voyage

We’ve got something for everyone in this selection of travel reads. Keeping it British, Raban shows us you don’t have to travel millions of miles away from home to create adventures. Raban documents his incredible voyage around his native Britain in a 32-foot sailing boat. The 4,000-mile trip sees the author reflect on his life, as well as delve into several engaging and awakening social and political themes. Somewhat heavy, but not short-changing in the adventure stakes.

14. Francois Bizot – The Gate14 of 18

14. Francois Bizot – The Gate

If you’re planning a trip to south-east Asia try this one. Similar to Terence Flannery’s novel in the sense that a country filled with poverty and turmoil can turn out to be one of the most united, self-loving places in the world. This is a story of Bizot’s experiences in the Killing Fields of Cambodia, who suffered over 30 years of genocide not so long ago. It is both compelling and inspiring, graphically describing one man’s ringside seat at one of history’s most appalling genocides. If you are able, put Cambodia close to the top of your list of places to visit, and please read this astonishing book first.

15. Jessie Burton - The Miniaturist15 of 18

15. Jessie Burton - The Miniaturist

Burton’s book is set in late 17th-century Amsterdam and it will no doubt motivate you to explore the city’s canals and visualise past lives. The author’s imagination was fired by Petronella Oortman’s Cabinet House in the Rijksmuseum and visiting it brought the world of the book and the city to potent life.

16. Cheryl Strayed - Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail16 of 18

16. Cheryl Strayed - Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

Told with suspense, sparkle and a warm humour this story captures the terrors, and pleasures of a 22-year-old woman, who against all odds, is on a journey that maddened, strengthened and ultimately healed her. Strayed loses her mum, her family scatters and her own marriage is soon destroyed. So four years later she decides, although she’s had no training whatsoever, she will hike more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State — and she would do it alone.

17. Gregory David Roberts - Shantaram17 of 18

17. Gregory David Roberts - Shantaram

This is a novel of a man who served 19 years for armed robbery in Australia, escaped prison and fled to India. Now supposedly Australia’s most wanted man he immerses himself in Bombay life, sets up a free clinic for the poor and works for the local mafia before he is recaptured nine years later. Surely this is heart-racing enough to send you on your travels?

18. Miranda Dickinson - Iu2019ll Take New York18 of 18

18. Miranda Dickinson - I’ll Take New York

Have you seen Friends With Benefits? The film with Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis where they vow not to get into a relationship together and end up falling in love? WELL, if you don’t Dickinson’s book will make you feel all warm and gooey and heading to NYC in search of love.

Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us