The way language can transport you to another world – or another realm, even – making you feel as if you’re dipping your toes in the Mediterranean or witnessing a thrilling chase through the streets of Sicily…A book takes you on a voyage all of its own.
And for our team and Inntravellers alike, there’s nothing better. We hope one of our choices resonates with you and takes you on a journey page by page.
The Island by Victoria Hislop
While jumping back and forth in time, this is primarily the story of a family living in north-eastern Crete in the mid-1900s. A short stretch of sea separates their village from Spinalonga – a real-life, small and rocky island with centuries of history. At this time, the island was used as a place of exile for anyone suffering from leprosy – context that Hislop brings evocatively to life through her characters and their story. (I’d also recommend Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernières for anyone looking for more historical fiction set in Greece).
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
I loved this book. I read it quite a few years ago now, but whenever I think of it, my mind is immediately filled with beautifully warm, sun-saturated imagery, and magic. The plot follows Santiago, a shepherd, as he leaves his home in Andalucía in southern Spain and crosses northern Africa in search of his destiny. His journey is one that takes him right to the Pyramids of Egypt, and is woven with existential signs and omens, the supernatural, and the spiritual.
Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
A dramatic story of love and tragedy, set in the fictional English region of Wessex (nodding to the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of the same name) – written by the king of rural writing himself!
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen A classic novel and one of my favourite stories. It’s ultimately a romance but is, perhaps surprisingly, full of social commentary and humour. A key location is the beautiful Peak District, which is also home to Chatsworth House – the filming location for Pemberley in the 2005 film.
Next on Katharine’s list?
It’s a long list, but The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell, which is set partly in Northumberland – the coast of which I spent many holidays growing up (I’d particularly recommend Bamburgh Castle and the beach in front of it).
Happy Place by Emily Henry
An easy-going fiction that's all about a group of friends' happy place – a place they've all been going for a decade, a place where they can fully relax and enjoy the coastal air and, most importantly, a place that holds lots of memories. I love the idea of having a 'happy place', wherever it is in the world. Mine has got to be the beach with a good book!
Seven Summers by Paige Toon
This book is an emotional roller-coaster, but what really gripped me was the setting. It's set in the summer in Cornwall and Paige Toon does an incredible job of depicting the incredible rugged Cornish coastline and the slower pace of life in this part of the UK. It made me want to pack my bag and head off on a road trip to Cornwall.
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