I spend a good chunk of my reading time every year devouring travel-themed books (mostly memoirs but some fiction). It’s long been one of my favorite ways to learn about a new place and daydream about said place through the eyes of another. This year I read around 7 books in this genre, but I wanted to share the top 4 I would recommend and why. These are the best books I read in 2018 that made me want to travel, and you should read them too (or buy them for someone who loves to read)!
In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson
Bill Bryson is one of the best travel writers around, and I can’t believe it took me so long to pick up one of his books. I IMMEDIATELY loved this travelogue about Australia and immensely enjoyed the author’s humor. I’ve traveled to Australia 3 times myself (and a 4th visit is coming in 2019), so I already have an understanding of how special this country is. I really think Bill captured the Australian spirit and also Australia’s vast, untouched, sometimes dangerous beauty. I literally learned so much about such an interesting place and now have an actual bucket list of things to see in Australia (based on his travels) that I had never even heard of before reading this book.
This book made me want to see soooo much more of Australia. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind place.
The Beach by Alex Garland
This novel is on almost every travel book list out there, so I finally decided to read it this year. I can definitely see why it’s become such a staple for travelers. It’s a wickedly imaginative story, and the concepts will draw you in and make you think about what you seek to find on your own travels.
This book made me want to travel to remote islands in Southeast Asia or the Pacific.
Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman
Wow I loved this book, but it’s hard for me to put it into words. It’s about a young couple’s summer romance and captures ALL THE FEELS of desire, first love, intimacy, passion, and heartbreak. It’s not a “travel book” by any means, but the author’s beautiful writing transported me to a little town in the Italian Riviera and painted a clear picture of how the slow, lazy days could be spent–especially if you had a lover around 😉 Bonus: the movie is incredible which we all know is SO RARE to do when adapting a novel to film.
This book made me want to spend a whole summer in an Italian villa.
The Good Girl’s Guide to Getting Lost: A Memoir of Three Continents, Two Friends, and One Unexpected Adventure by Rachel Friedman
I had mixed feelings about this one at the beginning, mostly because the protagonist travels during her college years, which crazily I am 5 years past that time in my life. However, by the end of the book I realized how much I enjoyed her journey and how much still rings true to me despite the age difference. She captured what it’s like to go backpacking long-term (something I’m always curious about) but also what it’s like to not know what the hell you want to do with your life. Deciding to travel doesn’t always mean you’re running away.
This book made me want to buy a one-way ticket anywhere.
So there they are! I hope this was helpful if you are looking for a new book to read. You can also follow me on Goodreads to see all the books I’ve read and have lined up for the future. And don’t forget to buy your books used from Thriftbooks. I get almost all of my books from there and highly recommend it. Happy reading folks!
What travel books are your favorite?