France is one of those countries that everyone dreams about – from the romance of Paris to the countryside in Provence and the glitz of the French Riviera. The best way to mentally prepare and get excited for your French vacation is to read these books to read before visiting France! You’ll find tons of WWII books set in France, but there are so many others as well! I’ve organized these in both WWII books, as well as non-WWII books, depending on your preference! There are thousands of amazing fiction books set in France, but these are just a few fun ones to start your list. Headed to Italy on…
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Great Books to Read While Visiting Key West and the Florida Keys
The Florida Keys and Key West have been the home of many great authors, and are a great place to relax – so what better to do than find some fun beach reads for the Florida Keys? Key West is an incredible literary town, with a rich tradition of some of the world’s most revered writers calling it home. Combine that with the island lifestyle “where the weird go pro,” Key West and the Florida Keys are the perfect place to grab a great book and enjoy! Hemingway Books to Read in Key West A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway One of the most immortal classics by Hemingway himself,…
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Books to Read Before You Visit Florence, Italy
Florence is one of the most unique and incredible cities in the world – and it’s also one of the most storied. One of the best ways to get ready for your vacation and immerse yourself in it while you’re there is by reading books set in that location. I love the history books that make the ancient city come alive, or the retrospectives that will explore how the Medici ruled the city, or even just the history books. All parts of Florence are alive with art, beauty and history. A Room With a View As a tourist, what I love about this book is that it’s the story of…
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Books Set In the Amalfi Coast, Capri, & Naples
I love when I can read books set wherever I’m visiting, and there are many awesome books about the Amalfi Coast, Naples, and Capri! Books Set in the Amalfi Coast, Capri, and Sorrento The Night Villa This fascinating and suspenseful book is set both in ancient Pompeii and modern Capri. It’s the perfect read to feel deeply involved in the history of Pompeii, and to feel the romance of Capri. This is also an excellent beach or airplane book! Stones of the Madonna Set in Positano, this tells the story of two Americans who are – you guessed it – escaping from their past. Reasonably predictable, this book is no…
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The Essential India Reading List
India is an incredible, awesome country – but it’s also incredibly different from any other. I love immersing myself in books to have a way to connect with and learn more about the countries I’m visiting or want to visit. India has some of the best books! My recommendations for books to read when visiting India: Fiction Books About India The God of Small Things This book is set in Kerala, so I highly recommend it if you’re headed to southern India. Even if you’re not, it’s still a book that deeply examines family life in India. I liked the interplay between the brothers, and the overall family dynamics. It’s…
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The Ultimate Egypt Reading List
Egypt. The word alone conjures up so many thoughts and ideas. From the Pyramids to Cleopatra, everyone knows some stories about ancient Egypt. The mythology of Pharaohs, the annual flood of the Nile, and so much more leave ancient Egypt as somewhat mysterious. If you’re going to Egypt, or just interested in learning more about the country, these books will let you imagine life as a Pharaoh – or a commoner!
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15 Books to Read While Visiting Italy
Italy. It’s the place of pasta and Puccini, and hundreds of stories. If you’re visiting Italy, you should be reading books about Italy and books set in Italy! Here are a few to consider: Non-Fiction Books About Italy The House of Medici: It’s Rise and Fall If you want to understand modern Italy, start understanding the Medici family. The great patrons of many of the arts, this book brings much of Tuscany to life. You’ll look at Florence with new eyes, and see Siena anew, not to mention Milan! If you’re headed to Rome, you’re also going to be surrounded by the papacy – and understanding the Medicis is great…
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Books for Backpacking Southeast Asia
I love reading. And I love traveling. One of my favorite things to do is combine the two and read books set where I’m traveling. Here are some of my favorite books for vacationing in Southeast Asia (or when you’re dreaming of vacationing!). One thing that struck me as I was thinking about books for this list is how, while I consider myself to be reasonably well-read, I haven’t read just a ton of books set in Southeast Asia. I realized this before my trip, and have definitely added more than a few to my to-read list! Burmese Days by George Orwell I love Orwell in general, and I love…
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My Round the World Reading List
I decided for the most part to try to get books that are set in the areas where I’m going for my trip. There’s something fun about having a fictional account of a place and then seeing it in person! For me, it adds a lot more context. And then I’ve been reading books about other people traveling, and catching up on some recent stuff I haven’t read. Thank goodness for the invention of the Kindle. And the part where you can rent Kindle books from the library! I’ve got about 15 books with me at any given time, so there’s lots of reading to do! Here are the books…