Reading isn’t something that many of us seem to do anymore; the immediate access we have to social media and visual distraction has led a good number of us away from the joys of a good book, with over a third of us reading less than twice a year if even at all.
For an opportunity to buck the trend, though, look no further than a good holiday. A continental café or balmy beach is the perfect place to settle down, switch off and read something – whether fun, illuminating or invigorating. All the better if the book you’re reading was somewhat inspired by travel!
But which should you consider reading on your next getaway?
The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway
The Old Man and The Sea is one of Ernest Hemingway’s most well-known contributions to literature, and also one of his last. Set in Cuba, this short read tells the story of titular old man Santiago, an unlucky fisherman shunned by locals in the trade, and his multi-day encounter with a large marlin. Though brief, its themes leap from the page – and you’d swear you were there too. This is small and light enough to take up a minimal amount of space in your luggage, and the perfect length to enjoy over the course of a short break.
Homage to Catalonia, by George Orwell
George Orwell is a seminal writer, best known for his genre-defining dystopic science-fiction novel 1984. Outside of this singular, cerebral contribution to speculative fiction, Orwell was a master journalist with worldly experience like no one else. From touring the mining communities in the north of England to a period of homelessness in Paris, Orwell’s life was a full one – but his worldly travels were themselves defined by his volunteering to fight in the Spanish Civil War. The resulting memoir of his experiences in Aragon, Huesca and Barcelona, Homage to Catalonia, is a fascinating snapshot of war and liberation in the years preceding the Second World War – and an illuminating holiday read at that.
Boats on Land by Janice Pariat
Boats on Land is a collection of 15 short stories, spanning the colonial past and bustling urban present of India. Focused largely on the north-easterly parts of the subcontinent, Boats on Land is suffused with rich prose; streaks of folky supernature embellish stories of empire and decline, creating a mystical lens through which land and water are imbued with nostalgic magic. This book is perfect for individuals preparing for a river cruise in India. The tranquil images in Boats on Land beautifully enhance leisurely days spent on the water.
The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown
Though not strictly inspired by travel, there’s plenty globe-trotting in Dan Brown’s world-famous thriller phenomenon The Da Vinci Code. The Da Vinci Code is the perfect holiday book for its pulpy, accessible nature; chapters are short but compelling, and the ever-deepening conspiracies uncovered by protagonist Robert Langdon are fun to chew on from the beachside.
Stewart Thurlow
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