10 Best Books To Transport You

Words have the magical power of shrinking distance and transporting you to the places where you would rather be – from the white sand beaches of Bali to the manicured hills of Tuscany. While you’re confined in your home, a well-crafted memoir or novel can still help you explore and live your own bucket list.

Here, we’ve compiled a list of the best books to take you to some of the world’s most exciting cities and islands – or serve as inspiration for your next adventure.

Four Seasons in Rome by Anthony Doerr

Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Anthony Doerr, writes a dazzling memoir about moving from his hometown, Idaho, USA, to Rome, Italy. He packs an Italian-to-English pocket dictionary, crib bedding, diapers and two dozen Nutri-Grain bars.

He explores Rome’s Pantheon, piazzas and churches, befriends bakers and butchers, and attends a vigil for the late Pope John Paul II – all while learning how to raise his six-month old twins.
Read here. 

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Another memoir to add to your reading list is this book turned into a major motion picture starring Julia Roberts.

Elizabeth has everything a 30-year old woman is supposed to have – a successful career, a house and a husband. In just a blink of an eye, she’s a divorcee going through depression. Follow her journey to healing as she eats her way through Rome, meditates in India and falls in love in Bali.
Listen to an audiobook here.

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Wild is the suspense-filled story of then twenty-six year old Cheryl Strayed as she hiked alone on the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon. With no professional experience in hiking, Cheryl’s story captures how living in solitude in the wild helped her strengthen herself both physically and mentally to cope with divorce and family tragedy.
Cheryl’s compelling story has since been made into a motion picture starring Reese Witherspoon.
Read here.

Sharks in the Time of Saviours by Kawai Strong Washburn

Set in Kailua-Kona in Hawaii, this novel follows seven-year old Nainoa Flores, who was on holiday on a cruise ship with his family when he fell into the Pacific Ocean and was saved by a school of sharks. From then on, the family believed they were blessed by the Hawaiian gods.
Fast forward to the present, Nainoa is in Oregon as a paramedic when another supernatural occurrence brings him and his siblings back to Hawaii. Explore cityscapes in the US, the laidback seaside of Hawaii and the journey of a family amidst phenomenal events.
Listen to the audiobook here.

An Afternoon in Summer by Kathy Giuffre

Solo parent Kathy decided it’s time to take a year off from her stressful nine to five job. She books herself a trip to the Pacific Islands with her boyfriend and two young sons, only to end up finding herself in Rarotonga in the Cook Islands alone with her children. Her inspirational story unfolds when she meets 81-year old Maori woman, Emily, who lives in a large house on the edge of the ocean. The novel introduces a compelling cast including two missionaries and a strange couple from Eastern Europe, who live in the home at different points.
Read here.

Neither Here Nor There by Bill Bryson

Backpacking in Europe is a fun adventure, even if you have a few mishaps along the way. In Neither Here Nor There, those include being robbed in Florence and wild driving in Paris, but still Bill Bryson keeps his sense of humour through it all.
Read his commentaries about tourist attractions, cultures and the locals he met, and discover the real reason why he refused to order tripe and eyeballs in a German restaurant.
Read here.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

The novel that the movie is based upon, Crazy Rich Asians gives us more than a peek at the lives of Singapore’s elite. The story starts when American-born Chinese woman Rachel Chu agrees to spend the summer with boyfriend Nick Young in Singapore.
That seems simple enough, but what follows is a holiday of extravagance, games and secrecy involving socialites from Hong Kong, upper-class ladies in Singapore and those bearing China’s old and new money.
Read here.

Arctic Dreams by Barry Lopez

An award-winning classic about living creatures and their habitat in the Far North, this beautifully written non-fiction book will transport you to the unspoilt beauty of the Arctic. Explore its strange forests, witness the breathtaking aurora borealis and pore over stunning photos of the region’s magnificent creatures: polar bears, narwhals, seals, walruses, beluga whales and many more.
Arctic Dreams is a reminder about the power that nature has to capture our imagination and play with our curiosity.
Read here.

A Cook’s Tour by Anthony Bourdain

Celebrated TV host and chef Anthony Bourdain journeys across cities – from Phnom Penh to Saigon and Paris to Lisbon – all in the name of discovering the world’s most perfect meal.
Join him in his culinary journey as he samples savoury snacks in Vietnam and feasts on roasted pig in Portugal.
Read here.

Epic Drives of the World by Lonely Planet

You can experience a thrilling road trip around the world without having to get off your couch. Lonely Planet’s guidebook lists the 50 greatest road trips in Africa, America, Asia, Europe and Australia. Sample the Wilds of Abruzzo in Italy, follow the Great Ocean Road in Australia or admire the Pacific Coast scenery in the US.
Available in hardcover, it’s complete with inspiring photographs and illustrated maps, practical advice and expert tips to help you prepare before your adventure on the road soon.
Read here.