10 best travel books to read in 2021
2020 changed the plans of many travelers and left them with itchy feet. The feeling of adventure, going to the places you have never been before, exploring towns and cities and living like a local in the different culture even for just several days is what we are all missing this year. But not being able to travel does not mean that you cannot get such an experience without leaving your home. As it is said, a book can take you anywhere. Some books can help you dive into the whole new world, take you to your next adventure and fuel your wanderlust.
Let’s start
Table of Contents
“On the Road” by Jack Kerouac
On the Road can be the first book one can remember about travelling and one of the best travel novels. Written in 1957 it is a timeless and quintessential work of the American literature. The main character, Sal, leaves New York City and starts his travel to the west. The readers follow his story, how he goes from one state to another, makes friends, and how frustrated is he to see the world. If you miss the road trip and you too cannot wait to get to know the world, you will connect to this book almost immediately. At the end of his adventure, Sal is a better and stronger person, and readers are too.
There was nowhere to go but everywhere, so just keep on rolling under the stars
“Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert
We travel to find the world, and often we end up finding ourselves. It is what one of the must-read travel books “Eat, Pray, Love” is all about. It is a memoir of a time spent travelling solo and exploring earthly pleasures, spirituality and the balance between the worldly joy and divine transcendence. It is a book of self-discovery every traveler should read. Not to mention that the novel will travel you to Italy, India, and Bali, places that belong to every travelers’ bucket list.
“A Year in Provence” by Peter Mayle
France, the most popular destination between many travelers and non-travelers promises divine cultural and culinary adventures. If you dream about travelling to France “A Year in Provence” is a novel to read before you have a chance to go there. It will let you look into the British writer’s experience who is living in the south of France
“Calypso” by David Sedaris
“Calypso” is a combination of everything you might seek in the book. It is as warm as it is dark, but it is also extremely funny. The story follows Sedaris, who buys a beach house in South Carolina, envisioning a relaxing and idyllic vacation spent under the sun. But not everything goes as planned as he realizes that one cannot take a vacation from himself. It is a novel where the author observes middle age and mortality. While reading the book, you follow him around the country and trips to Japan and most importantly, you laugh a lot.
“My Brilliant Friend” by Elena Ferrante
Italy is another dream destination for many, and the book “My Brilliant Friend” can take you there. The novel is about two girls, Elena and Lila and their beautiful friendship. The story starts in Naples, Italy from the childhood of the characters and follows them to the adolescence. It is a novel that immerses readers in Italian life.
“The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho
This novel is read and loved by many readers all around the world. It is a truly enchanting and inspiring novel that will let your mind travel around the globe and experience the stories with the main character. The hero of the story is a little Andalusian shepherd boy, Santiago, who leaves his Spain, his homeland and starts travelling to Egypt to find the treasure. He is sure that at the end of his long journey, he will find the treasure buried near the Pyramids. While reading the book, you will dive into the adventure that ends with finding the treasure within yourself.
It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting
“A Moveable Feast” by Ernest Hemingway
One thing is to visit Paris, France, and another thing is to experience Paris the way Ernest Hemingway did. “A Moveable Feast” is a memory of the writer. The novel describes the life of the then-unknown writer in Paris. It is deeply personal, warm and full of wit novel that will not leave any reader emotionless. There he recalls the times when he, while poor and happy found his vocation. He shares Paris with the other writers Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, James Joyce and Wyndham Lewis, which makes the story even more interesting. It is a wonderful novel that will help you experience Paris in a whole different way
“Dark Star Safari” by Paul Theroux
Have you always dreamt about travelling in Africa? If so, this is the book that will help you make this dream come try by telling you stories about the travel from Cairo to Cape Town. It is an enlightening journey, full of danger and delay, history, politics and of course, the thrilling beauty of Africa and its people. It is written in a way that will make you hold your breath and follow the writer while he travels.
“World Travel: An Irreverent Guide” by Anthony Bourdain
With this book, readers can experience the world as it is, as the writer himself experienced it. What makes this book special, besides the manner of writing and absolute frankness, is that Anthony Bourdain has seen more of the world than the vast majority of people. He travelled from New York, his hometown, to Tanzania and everywhere that is in between, Paris, Buenos Aires, Shanghai, Tribal places, cosmopolitan cities, deserts and so many more! This novel is the translation of the experiences he collected during this journey into worlds. It is full of practical, entertaining, fun and most importantly, honest travel guides that give readers an introduction to the favorite places of the author. It is a perfect novel to prepare for travelling.
“Travels with Charley” by John Steinbeck
It is the perfect book to read if you are planning to go on a trip across the US. John Steinbeck and his French poodle started the journey to the US in 1960. The novel tells all about this tour in a way, that you can travel with the author. He beautifully describes the landscapes he sees and the people he encounters during their trip. It rediscovers America, reflects the character of it, shows racial hostility, describes American loneliness Steinbeck finds almost everywhere and tells us about the kindness of strangers.
Author – Mariam Rusishvili
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