Stuck in your room and eager to escape? Pick your destination: the backstreets of Naples, the soaring peaks of the Andes, the breezy bay of San Francisco... Your choice is limitless, because wherever you’re dreaming of going, right now a plane may not get you there, but a book will. DK Eyewitness Editorial Assistant Lucy Sara-Kelly shares 10 titles that will transport you.
On the Road – Jack Kerouac (USA)
Hit the road with Sal Paradiso and Dean Moriarty on a scenic and soul-searching ride through the great plains of the USA. Emblematic of the postwar Beat Generation, Kerouac’s spontaneous and exuberant prose whooshes you along a youthful adventure from the cool streets of San Francisco to the jazz-infused nightclubs of New York.
Norwegian Wood – Haruki Murakami (Japan)
Dive into this modern classic for a glimpse of Japan’s capital in the 1960s. Norwegian Wood meanders around Tokyo’s inner districts as its characters’ relationships blossom during long ambling walks along the urban streets. The novel also wanders away from the hustle and bustle of the city, giving readers a peek into the quieter reaches of Kyoto’s countryside.
Ulysses – James Joyce (Dublin)
It’s daunting, but it’s also considered one of the greatest works of modern literature and what better time to read it than now? Joyce’s magnum opus takes place over the course of one day and leads you on a rambling walking tour of Ireland’s characterful capital, Dublin, passing numerous landmarks that can still be seen today.
Chronicle of a Last Summer – Yasmine El Rashidi (Cairo)
The animated streets of Cairo are the backdrop for this vibrant account of Egypt’s political history. With a keen eye for detail, Yasmine El Rashidi unveils the essence of life in the capital, following the city, and its characters, through three turbulent and transformative decades.
Picnic at Hanging Rock – Joan Lindsay (Australia)
Wide golden plains, gardens fragrant with flowers and rust-red rocks looming overhead… you’re now in Australia. Vivid description brings the continent’s landscape to life in this novel which follows the disappearance of three school girls in the eerie realms of the Hanging Rock; a mystery unfolds and Lindsay’s otherworldly setting only makes this story more beguiling.
Wide Sargasso Sea – Jean Rhys (Jamaica)
A fiery study of Jane Eyre’s ‘mad woman in the attic’, Wide Sargasso Sea sizzles with the tropical heat of its Caribbean setting. Dealing with culture clashes and gender inequalities, this is an unflinching portrait of Jamaica, but also one that never forgets to linger quietly on the island’s natural beauty.
My Brilliant Friend — Elena Ferrante (Naples)
The first book in Ferrante’s series of Neapolitan Novels, My Brilliant Friend is a coming-of-age story set in the buzzing backstreets of Naples. Capturing the sights, smells and sounds of the ancient alleys and colorful markets, the novel paints a detailed picture of this historic Italian city.
Walden – Henry David Thoreau (Concord, USA)
Escape to the reflective waters and leafy surroundings of Concord in this seminal look at a life in tune with nature. From the types of plants he sees to the colour of the ice on Walden Pond, Thoreau records a detailed picture of his surroundings, immersing the reader, as well as himself, in the peaceful heart of the woods.
The Motorcycle Diaries – Che Guevara (South America)
Launching you into the vibrant and varied world of South America, Che Guevara’s memoir travels around the continent, passing through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The diary provides an intimate insight into local communities and their way of life, favouring a slow, authentic and personal way of travel.
The Living Mountain – Nan Shepherd (Scottish Highlands)
Nan Shepherd’s exploration of the Cairngorm mountains in Scotland is relived in this perceptive and poetic classic of nature writing. Shepherd swims in lochs, hikes through wild moors and sleeps under the moonlit mountain; her deep familiarity with the area and sensitivity towards the wildlife inform this evocative account of the Scottish landscape.
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