Books that Inspire Wanderlust in General
10. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Oh, this story changed everything for me because it inspired a sense of wonder in my world. A lot of people criticized this book for being rooted in privilege. Most people can’t check out of their lives and spend a year traveling around the globe.
I understand this sentiment but do not really agree. To me, this story was about finding the magic wherever you go. It’s about enjoying your food without guilt. Moreover, to me, this book catapulted my religious and spiritual journey to reconnect with my roots.
Shows and Events In Books that Inspire Traveling To Attend Said Events
9. The Weight of Feathers by Anna-Marie McLemore
Traveling performers are not usually the types of shows I like to attend. To be honest, there are no shows I’d like to visit. The last thing I’d ever attended in public was probably my sister’s ballet show or her choir performances.
Aside from having a personal connection to anyone performing, I don’t normally like being in public all that much. Still, though. The Weight of Feathers has fascinating performances that are rooted in rich history.
I found myself wishing I could see the shows in that book. To me, even if the performances were here in California, I would probably feel like I am traveling to see the shows. They have a surreal feel to them.
8. You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour and David Levithan
You probably know already (at this point) that I don’t like reading David Levithan books. Naturally, this story was not my favorite. Still, the way Pride was described in this book was lovely. I like the way the two main characters bond with this incredible event in the background.
I’d be too nervous to go to Pride because crowded places overwhelm me. But, it was beautiful to imagine such a wonderful experience.
Places Where Travel Is Part Of the Journey
7. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Yes, I know that people found this story romanticizing of illnesses. I don’t see it that way at all. This is a story of two people coming to terms with their mortality. In addition, there is a debate furling throughout the novel in regards to legacy.
I loved the way travel was presented here. It was dreamy and charming, sweet and refreshing. The teens were able to freely explore Amsterdam. They went on to see beautiful sights.
Ugh. So good.
6. The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli
Listen. The story of this family coming to celebrate their right to be acknowledged by the law of the land…it was so beautiful to read. Granted, the traveling involved in this story is a bit smaller in terms of scale. I loved it, though. The metros and the buses, walking to people’s homes, all of it felt so real and tangible.
I basically spent most of my college years on a bus or a train. It felt whimsical, dreamlike because it allowed me some time to reflect and ponder the beauty of my surroundings.
5. Extremely
Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
Another book I did not enjoy as a whole but the element of its setting was powerful. I have never been to New York and I am too timid to talk to most people. However, my most cherished moments were the ones where the main character develops connections with strangers. It’s travel by way of empathizing with people and getting to know them with zero inhibitions.
4. Daughter of Smoke and Bone By Laini Taylor
Okay, I know I have talked about this book way too much. Listen, it’s not just the way Prague comes to life in the story. No, it’s the way Karou and Zuzana navigate the city that makes it just a breathtaking experience.
These characters embrace their surroundings and celebrate them. Plus, I know I’m scared of heights, but I’d like to see Karou and Akiva floating in the sky.
3. Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
The idea of a road trip is frightening to me. I don’t think I can handle being in a car with someone all day. Nope.
Amy and Roger were sweet, though, and they gathered all these little knick-knacks from their trip together. My journal-loving soul was pleased with the way the characters savored every moment of their journey.
2. A Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
No, I don’t want to go to Victorian London. Present-day London would suffice. I like books that throw in some landmarks throughout the story. When authors do this, the book seems to come to life even more. London in this trilogy, in particular, was vivid.
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A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
What’s better than traveling to alternate Londons? Nothing. That’s the correct answer. Seriously though, I like the idea of different versions of the same place. It reminds me to keep an open mind. Plus, I like Kel and Lila’s approach to travel. I’d come along.
Your Turn:
What are your favorite get-away spots for summer-time? Do you have any hidden gems in your town that you love? Share in the comments!
I honestly find Chaol’s name to be a perfect representation of his reserved and withdrawn nature. He is straight up like kale. I like him. Celaena’s name is also rather fetching. Dorian. Manon. I just love all their names. They just suit them perfectly. And, for some reason, I never felt like they were made up names. They feel real.
All I remember about this book is that: a) Lola is very quirky, b) she has gay dads, and c) her love interest is a boy named Cricket. His name, unlike Maas’ characters, did draw my attention. However, it soon acted as part of his charm. I remember him because of his strange name and because he was such a sweet character. Actually, the more I think about it, both of their names are delightful. Lola and Cricket.
Briefly, I had glanced at the first few pages of this book. One thing became abundantly clear: the main character is a curious and sassy kind of gal. I still have to read it to learn more, but, get this, the main character’s name is SEPTEMBER! It’s such a unique yet tangible name.
6. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
Baz has the most perfect name that ever existed in all of fiction. This could be a very biased statement, but let me tell you something: I read Carry On years ago and I STILL love Baz more than so many other characters. I guess Simon is cool, too. I am fond of the girls’ names as well. Agatha sounds like an old lady name, and it is just perfect for this story set in a reserved magical world. Penelope’s name is also pure love.
James Patterson has been coming up a lot in my book searches. He is introducing a lot of writers. The author of Gunslinger Girl, and the author of Stalking Jack the Ripper, too, they are both published with that kind of heading on their books. So, this peaked my interest and, lo, and behold, I have seen a bunch of books written by him on the ThriftBooks site.
I have no clue what this series is about, but my friend Annemieke is a fan of it. The covers give me the impression that these books would be quick reads. It just seems like a lot of books and that scares me a bit because part of the joy of reading is when things wrap up. I like when things end. It’s comforting.
Jemisin’s work keeps popping up all over the Internet. My friend Emily has recently also told me that she’s read this author’s work too. And, if anyone reads cool books, it’d be Emily.
A lot of people make fun of these books, but I am embracing my love for paranormal young adult literature. I am just here for this, okay? I am hoping to get the first book in the series at some point this year because I actually find it really compelling and interesting. Luce and Daniel are fascinating, and they have such an intense bond. Sure, they start off kind of mean to each other but it’s the best when there’s all this history between two people.
Okay. This one is complicated. Or, maybe not. Here is the deal. After finishing my first Gail Carriger novel, this one came up on Goodreads as a recommendation. I fell in love with the cover, and, besides, I found out this novel is a steampunk story, which made me even more interested. Look at that cover, though!
My friend Jolien is fond of this series and for good reason. A woman entering into the world of magicians in an epic high fantasy series? I find this premise amazing particularly because of the long history of men dominating the high fantasy leagues. It’ll be nice to see a female writer tackle such a vast genre.
Jolien kind of loves the Fool in this series of trilogies. I am interested in reading high fantasy novels that feature complex characters. Just the idea of a Fool character is promising because the jester-type of archetype can be a nice thing to mess with.
I have been eyeing Wolf by Wolf for a while now, and I just keep hesitating because I am not a history buff at all. In fact, if I am being honest with you, I am not that good at keeping timelines of events. Thus, my hesitation blooms quite a bit as I see mostly history fans talking about this author’s work.
I like friendships and adventures. But I have not met my match for fair portrayals of male friendships. To an extent, Locke Lamora had an interesting central friendship, however, I remain uncertain about Sullivan’s books because, for some reason, this genre can be a bit too…over the top in terms of human relationships. I want honest and real friendships that feature men. Can I just get that, please?
Ever get an author’s work recommended in multiple spots? This is what happened with Kate Elliott. The funny thing is that I know nothing about her stuff. What does she write? And, why is it being recommended to me? No clue. But, I am curious to find out.
This trilogy was an agonizing experience for me. I read the books to see what will happen next, out of a sense of duty. However, I am not reading them for a long while because they drag on. I think there is way too much “oh, you misunderstood me” kind of conflict in there. While I am intrigued by the two main characters and the political tensions, I do not think there was enough to keep the story worth extending to a full-on trilogy.
Oh man. I actually struggled to finish this book because I understand the author is trying to be inclusive. But, they ended up creating a very forced plot. I like the representation in the story and the very idea of a story including such a wide spectrum of minorities and intersections. Still, the characters were like cardboard cut-outs, not people.
Actually, I struggle with LaCour’s writing in general. There are pearls of beautiful wisdom in her writing but the stories tend to drag. In some ways, her writing feels like a practice in patience. I do like the topics she includes in her books, though. For a while, I was sure that I won’t be able to get any benefit from rereading her work.
7. Poison Study by Maria v. Snyder
Katniss Everdeen led an incredible journey throughout these books. I know her story is always going to be special to me but I do not think I can handle a reread anytime soon. Listen, this trilogy has some triggering content. The PTSD, the mental anguish that Katniss and her mom experience, Gale’s awful behavior, Peeta and the lack of consent in his and Katniss’ relationship. It all makes me uncomfortable. I recognize that the story is worthwhile. However, I do not think I can handle reading a story with so much political darkness and hopelessness.
I actually did not understand the point of this book. Like, to me, the story ended just fine with the book prior to this one, and I was irritated while reading this installment. Before you get upset with me, I want to say that I cherish this series and would not ever choose to give up on it. This is why I kept the whole collection of the books on my shelves for future re-reads. But, I need a break for a bit. Then, many revisits will happen because I love this series and the characters in it.
My problem with this book is that it made me feel completely unintelligent because the timeline is always mixed up. Many flashbacks happen without any signs of them happening. As a result, yours truly had no idea what was going on in this book.
I read this one way back in high school and I hated every second of it. But, in retrospect, I hadn’t been reading any science fiction at the time. My hope is to revisit it after I familiarize myself with the genre better. Unlike the book before this one, I actually intend on rereading this book even though I disliked it initially.
Sometimes, I get to read things because everyone says they’re inclusive. This book was indeed one that featured intersections of various minorities. But, there was something kind of over the top with how diversity was presented. It reminds me of Queens of Geek where the representation does not feel authentic and well developed enough to communicate about truths. I may reread it later on, maybe a few years from now. The cover is really pretty.
This book was overall a fun experience but it did lack a sense of depth when it comes to the two main characters. Still, I do think that not all work has to have this amazing development to be a fun read. It took a while for me to bring it back on my shelves. I know there’s a sequel out now, which I’ll probably get used.
10. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
9. The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald
8. Always and Forever, Lara Jean by jenny Han
7. Vampire Academy by richelle mead
6. Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins
5. gemina by amie kaufman and jay kristoff
4. iron king by julie kagawa
3. Beautiful creatures by kami garcia and margaret stohl
2. Hush, Hush by Becca fitzpatrick
1. Twilight by stephenie meyer
10. shatter me by tahereh mafi
9. Tithe by holly black
8. the hunger games by suzanne collins
7. an abundance of katherines by john green
6. a great and terrible beauty by libba bray
5. divergent by veronica roth
4. lola and the boy next door by stephanie perkins
3. the girl of fire and thorns by rae carson
2. winner’s crime by marie rutkoski
1. Daughter of smoke and bone by laini taylor
10. queens of geek by jen wilde
9. uprooted by naomi novik
8. You know me well by david levithan and nina lacour
7. graceling by kristin cashore
6. the girl in the steel corset by kady cross
4. fire study by maria v. snyder
3. timekeeper by tara sim
2. the school for good and evil by soman chianani
1. the wrath and the dawn by renee ahdieh