New York Public Library & 5 Books That Will Make You Want to Travel Now

It’s been a while since I’ve shared book recommendations on the blog, and after visiting the New York Public Library last week I felt it was time to. These are not necessarily all travel memoirs (some are fiction, some nonfiction), but they all pulled me into a different world and left me wanting to travel.

Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney

This novel left me longing for NYC, and it was so so so so beautifully written. It’s a fictional story based on the life of Margaret Fishback, a poet and the highest-paid female advertising copywriter during the 1930s. The author weaves the story of Lillian Boxfish’s complex life with the streets of Manhattan. Every page was such a delight to read.

Born To Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall 

This book left me researching how to visit this remote part of Mexico, even though it’s not a travel memoir by any means. It’s a fascinating exploration of a tribe of super runners hidden away from the mainstream world. The author stumbles upon it all when he asks himself why he keeps getting injured from running. I loved everything about this book.

The Yellow Envelope: One Gift, Three Rules, and a Life-Changing Journey around the World by Kim Dinan

This book left me wanting to completely change my life, pack whatever I could fit into a backpack, sell the rest, and travel. It’s about finding yourself, navigating life within a relationship, trusting that the world is in fact full of good people, and spreading kindness–whatever that may mean to you. It was a really heartwarming story that has stayed with me since I finished reading it.

Gift From The Sea by Ann Morrow Lindbergh

This book left me craving the ocean, and all the calmness that being near the sea brings. I’m not really sure how to do the wisdom in this book justice, so I’ll share the description that someone good at writing has written to describe it: “… Ann Morrow Lindberg shares her meditations on youth and age, love and marriage, peace, solitude, and contentment during a brief vacation by the sea…drawing inspiration from the shells on shore…” I highly recommend this one; it’s a book I can see myself reading and rereading for years to come.

The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World’s Happiest Country by Helen Russell

This book left me wanderlusting over Denmark for weeks…come to think of it, I still am. I’m really intrigued by countries with high quality of life and if living in one would do anything to my happiness. This memoir is a month-by-month life account and gave great insight into questions of living somewhere foreign known for “being happy.” I’d recommend this book if you have similar curiosities or are interested in visiting Denmark. I hope I can make it there in 2018!

So what’s next on my travel-inspired book list? Travels With Myself and Another by Martha Gelhorn 🙂

I wanted to end this post by sharing pics from my visit to the New York Public Library, which was super impressive. Happy reading friends!