the 5 must-read travel books to transform your soul
the reason we travel is to seek new experiences, to connect with unknown worlds in order to discover the unknown parts of ourselves. the act of reading offers the same escape, and words also have the power to deeply impact the human heart. although the thrill of travelling to a fresh destination is temporarily restricted to us, you can capture the same magic through these 5 books which encapsulate literary transformative travel experiences.
if you like history: Prague Spring (2018), Simon Mawer
where it will take you: prague
This historical fiction novel set in the summer of 1968 follows Ellie and James, two British university students who’ve fallen in love and decide to backpack across Europe. The two are filled with naïveté and toss coins to decide where to hitchhike next – traversing the French countryside, Luxembourg, and a West Germany still recovering from the scars of war and madness. On a whim, the two cross the Iron Curtain into Communist Czechoslovakia, and make their way to the Bohemian capital Prague, where they are immediately raptured by the sense of change and emerging freedom. It is the era of Alexander Dubček’s ‘socialism with a human face’, when the city of a hundred spires was beating to the sound of music, sex and political slogans. But when the armies of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact gather at the country’s borders, Ellie and James find their romance-fueled trip crashing headfirst into the unstoppable tides of history.
if you’re feeling inspired, or love nature: The Salt Path (2018), Raynor Winn
where it will take you: south west coast path, england
This wondrous novel is based on the author’s own experience of trekking the 1000kms of the dangerous South West Coast Path in England on foot, from Somerset to Dorset via Devon and Cornwall. What sparks the trip is sheer impulsiveness, after Raynor finds out that her husband Moth is terminally ill and the couple loses their home. This is a tale of self-discovery, salvation and rejuvenation through travel, set against the backdrop of stunning vistas. In Raynor’s words, “if we hadn’t done this there’d always have been things we wouldn’t have known, a part of ourselves we wouldn’t have found, resilience we didn’t know we had”. She imbues her each page of her writing with the deepest sincerity, describing both the beautiful landscape and the couple’s physical pains with candidness. The Salt Path is a truly inspiring read, perfect for those who love nature and the outdoors.
if you’re feeling poetic: Small Bodies of Water (2021), Nina Mingya Powles
where it will take you: borneo, london, new zealand, and more
Powles’ collection of lyrical poems explored her life as the preverbal 21st century traveler, an international-rooted young woman who has experienced many cultures. She introduces herself as “white and Malaysian Chinese, though not everyone can tell this straight away” in the opening pages, and has lived in Shanghai, New Zealand, London and Malaysia. What follows is a vast rumination on identity, through traversing topics loosely related to bodies of water that separate us. Powles muses about the colour spectrum, dreams of orcas and whales, and the nature of imperialism through multiple languages- Maori, Hakka, Mandarin. This is a book that allows the mind to travel to different places, both intellectually and emotionally.
if it’s a sunny afternoon: The Road Trip (2021), Beth O’Leary
where it will take you: north scotland
We’ve all had an awkward road trip before. This heartfelt novel pits Dylan and Addie, two exes who haven’t spoken in two years, against each other as they’re forced to be in the same car while travelling to their mutual friend’s wedding in the north of Scotland. The story is told between past and present, and tracks the decisions made during the pair’s relationship, questioning whether or not they could, or should, have made it work. The Road Trip is the perfect book to read on a sunny afternoon with a cup of coffee. Lockdown is unpleasant, but at least you’re not stuck on road trip with your ex.
if you like epic literature: Great Circle (2021), Maggie Shipstead
where it will take you: Montana, Pacific Northwest, Alaska, New Zealand, London, and Los Angeles
Featuring an array of locations including Prohibition-era Montana, New Zealand, wartime London and present-day Los Angeles among others, Great Circle is an ambitious novel which tracks protagonist Marian Graves’s aim to circumnavigate the globe during the early 20th century, flying over both the North and South Poles. Her diary reads, “What I have done is foolish; I had no choice but to do it”. Intersected with Marion’s story is that of Hadley Baxter, a disgraced Hollywood actress hoping to revive her career by playing Marian. Great Circle is epic and glorious fiction.