Get inspired by books that make you want to travel the world!
The Year of Living Danishly / Helen Russell
Helen Russell explores why Denmark, despite its long winters, is the happiest place on earth. Over a year, she investigates Danish happiness through childcare, education, food, design, taxes, and balancing humor with poignancy. The book reveals Danish successes and shortcomings, offering insights for adopting a Danish approach to life. In a new edition, Russell reflects on her evolving understanding of Denmark and its changes over six years, acknowledging its flaws while still seeing it as a model for better living.
Available as an ebook on Libby.
910.9164 DER
Love with a Chance of Drowning / Torre DeRoche
City girl Torre DeRoche isn’t looking for love, but a chance encounter in a San Francisco bar sparks an instant connection with a soulful Argentinean man who unexpectedly sweeps her off her feet. The problem? He’s just about to cast the dock lines and voyage around the world on his small sailboat, and Torre is terrified of deep water. However, lovesick Torre determines that to keep the man of her dreams, she must embark on the voyage of her nightmares, so she waves good-bye to dry land and braces for a life-changing journey that’s as exhilarating as it is terrifying.
Available as an ebook on hoopla.
FICTION RUTHERFURD
Paris: The Novel / Edward Rutherfurd
Edward Rutherfurd’s “Paris” is an epic historical novel that weaves through different eras, revealing tales of self-discovery, loyalty, and secrets. It follows nobles descended from the hero of “The Song of Roland,” a family embodying French Revolution ideals, brothers from Montmartre’s slums, and merchants rising from the fall of Louis XV to Napoleon’s era. The novel vividly brings Paris to life with rich research and narrative skill, capturing the city’s transformation into a center of art and culture through the lives of its diverse characters.
Available as an ebook and audiobook on Libby.
BIO LIPTROT
The Outrun / Amy Liptrot
Amy Liptrot returns to her childhood farm in Orkney after years of struggling with alcoholism in London. Reconnecting with the land and its seasonal rhythms, she reflects on her upbringing amidst her father’s mental illness and her wild Orkney youth. Amidst the island’s wildlife and natural beauty, Amy embarks on a journey of recovery and self-discovery. Through early swims in the cold sea and tracking local wildlife, she finds healing and hope. The book is a poignant exploration of addiction, the contrast between city and island life, and nature’s power to restore and renew.
Available as an audiobook on hoopla.
FICTION SERLE
One Italian Summer / Rebecca Serle
Katy is devastated by her mother Carol’s death, losing not just a mom but her best friend. Facing their planned trip to Positano alone, Katy arrives on the Amalfi Coast and feels her mother’s presence. Astonishingly, she encounters a vibrant, thirty-year-old Carol. During her time in Italy, Katy bonds with this younger version of her mother, reconciling her memories with the woman before her. Rebecca Serle’s novel is a touching exploration of grief, love, and the enduring connections we have with those we lose.
Available as an ebook and audiobook on Libby. Also available in large print.
910.41 NAB
The Catch Me If You Can: One Woman’s Journey to Every Country in the World / Jessica Nabongo
Celebrated traveler and photographer Jessica Nabongo—the first documented Black woman to visit all 195 countries in the world—shares her journey around the globe with fascinating stories of adventure, culture, travel musts, and human connections.
Available as an audiobook on hoopla.
910.41 RAJ
Around the World in 80 Trains: A 45,000-Mile Adventure / Monisha Rajesh
Rajesh embarks on an ambitious 45,000-mile journey across the globe, covering some of the most remarkable routes, from the Qinghai-Tibet Railway to the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Joined by her fiancé, Jem, she travels from London’s St. Pancras International Station through Russia, Mongolia, North Korea, Canada, and Kazakhstan. Along the way, the couple meet diverse and endearing travelers, experiencing constant movement and mayhem. Rajesh’s vivid and witty narrative celebrates train travel, offering insights into life, history, and culture while reflecting on global citizenship and the joy of travel.
BIO LOCKE
From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home / Tembi Locke
A poignant cross-cultural love story set against the lush backdrop of the Sicillian countryside, where one woman discovers the healing powers of food and family in her darkest hour.
Also available as an ebook and audiobook on Libby.
910.4 WHE
We Came, We Saw, We Left: A Family Gap Year / Charles J. Wheelan
In this travelogue, Wheelan recounts his family’s adventurous year-long journey around the world. Leaving behind their everyday lives, the Wheelans travel on a modest budget, facing challenges like sneaking out of a barricaded Peruvian town and treating a flesh-eating bacteria. This pre-COVID-19 story, blends humor and insight, serving as both a “how-to” and “how-not-to” guide. Covering nine months across six continents with three teenagers, Wheelan explores themes of adventure, local politics, global economics, and family dynamics, offering a unique perspective on a gap year of world exploration.
641.59 BOU
World Travel: An Irreverent Guide / Anthony Bourdain
This engaging travel guide captures Anthony Bourdain’s extensive and unique experiences. Bourdain explores diverse locations, from New York to Borneo, Buenos Aires to Oman, sharing his insights on where to go, what to eat, and where to stay, while offering candid advice on what to avoid. The book is enriched with essays from friends and family, providing deeper insights and anecdotes about traveling with Bourdain. Illustrated by Wesley Allsbrook, it serves as a practical and entertaining guide for seasoned travelers and armchair explorers alike, allowing readers to experience the world through Bourdain’s eyes.
Available as an ebook and audiobook on Libby and hoopla.
910.4092 NEW
What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding: A Memoir / Kristin Newman
Kristin Newman shares her humorous and heartfelt memoir of traveling the world to escape the pressures of her job as a TV comedy writer and her fear of settling down. In her 20s and 30s, she embarked on solo trips, engaging in “vacationships” with locals—Israeli bartenders, Argentinian priests, Finnish poker players, and sexy Bedouins. These adventures allowed her to explore a freer, more adventurous version of herself. Through candid reflections and laugh-out-loud stories, Newman reveals how her travels helped her understand what she was avoiding at home, inspiring readers to embrace adventure.
Available as an audiobook on hoopla.
A Trip of One’s Own / Kate Wills
Travel journalist Kate Wills, newly divorced, embarks on solo travels for the first time. Unlike her previous work-related trips, she now travels without deadlines or support staff, feeling out of her element. Seeking inspiration, she delves into the histories of pioneering female travelers, from a 4th-century nun to a globe-trotting cyclist, discovering stories of women who defied societal norms. Wills’s memoir is funny and heartfelt, sparking wanderlust and encouraging solo female travel. It’s a perfect read for those looking to explore the world independently.
Available as an ebook and audiobook on hoopla.
641.59 ROS
Somebody Feed Phil the Book / Phil Rosenthal
The host of the entertaining Netflix series Somebody Feed Phil presents never-before-heard stories from every episode of the first four seasons, along with more than sixty of viewers’ most requested recipes from acclaimed international chefs and local legends alike.
Available as an ebook and audiobook on hoopla and Libby.
LP: August 2024
