Books that introduce you to other places

[KristinCB]

I was reading a book the other week, The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens. Historical fiction with part of the book dealing with the Bosnian war in the 90s which I ignorantly did not/do not know much about. Reading the book though made me interested in looking up Bosnia and I have to admit it looks so much different than I thought. It's really beautiful.

Have you read books that have given you a glimpse of new places? have you ever travelled somewhere because of a book you read?

[jk703]

I have, and like to look up the location and a little about the area when I read, especially historical fiction. I always learn something.

For my book club last year, we read The Personal Librarian... it's set in NYC, and we made a whole day trip together to see the library, take a tour, and get lunch. While it wasn't my fave book by any means, seeing things come to life was cool.

We also just read The Magnolia Palace, also set in NYC, and we found out there is another museum that we can visit and tour. (I loved this one). I'm hoping - we meet up next week to discuss the book - for a field trip. I'd love to see the house and library and the surrounding parks and area.

While the books above were not in other countries, I do think Historical Fiction makes me look up and learn a little for every book I read. A few that pop in my head are The Rent Collector (Camodia), The Winemaker's Wife (France), The Berry Pickers (Canada and Maine), Beyond that, the Sea (London and East Coast America)....

[KristinCB]

Originally Posted by jk703

For my book club last year, we read The Personal Librarian... it's set in NYC, and we made a whole day trip together to see the library, take a tour, and get lunch. While it wasn't my fave book by any means, seeing things come to life was cool.

That is so cool! I got curious and so am now looking at a virtual website on it.

[Brendazzle]

In college, I took a course called Peoples Around the World. Basically introduction to anthropology for non-anthro majors. One of the ethnographies we read was for a community in Florida. And hey, I live in Florida. Me and two of my classmates combined our knowledge and figured out exactly where this community was. One of them even emailed the anthropologist who wrote it, much to the discomfort of our professor. (The location was intentionally obscured a bit but no match for three very determined nerds.)

While I haven't been to the town, I spent my anniversary in 2023 not far from there and pointed to the turnoff that would take us there. The community is sustained by hunting and fishing, which aren't exactly my interests, but I went to a nearby gator attraction/farm and hatched a baby gator. We actually rented a tiny house so I could photograph the Milky Way but it rained the first night and the lights of the property were exactly over the heart of the galaxy so I didn't quite get the photos I was hoping for.

I don't think I've ever visited a location out of a fictional book after reading it but I did only bring books set in NYC with me to the city when I was 9. It was so magical.

[jk703]

Originally Posted by KristinCB

That is so cool! I got curious and so am now looking at a virtual website on it.

It really was interesting to see how the book and location match. Or how the place is set up, and how modernization changed some things.

The second book we read is one that I would recommend. I would be excited to visit the Frick museum and library.

[Kimberly27]

One book that shocked me with culture more than location was Ruta Septys I Must Betray You. It is set in Romania in 1980's at the height of communism. I was a kid in the 80s so I had no idea this was happening.

Hubby and I have read The Monster Hunter Series by Annelise Ryan. It is set for the most part in Michigan and Wisconsin. Hubby and I went to Door County where the main character was from. We would love to travel to see more places where books are set.

West with Giraffes was a great book and I would love to take the drive the giraffes took across America.
I think knowing/seeing where a book took place makes it more real. We have visited places from TV shows/Movies too.

The WW2 books set in France have been fun since Hubby and I visited a few years ago. Paris, Bordeaux, Versailles

Michael Connelly sets his books in LA area and we have visited a few places mentioned in his books as well.

I just read a book called Head Cases that mentions a popular book store in Texas (where I purchased the book). The store is Murder by the Book in Houston, TX.

[lizziej]

I read "A Gentleman in Moscow" a couple of years ago, and it took place in the Hotel Metropol in Moscow. I will probably never visit there, but it's nice to see photos. I looked it up and it does look pretty luxurious.

I read "The Wedding Veil" by Kristy Woodson Harvey, and part of it took place at the Biltmore Estate. I would love to go there!

Other books I read are fictional places. The historical fiction and non-fiction books I have read are mainly about the Holocaust, and I don't think I'd ever want to visit one of them.

[karlimarie]

I read A Moveable Feast a few years ago and was transported to Paris in the 20s. I have never been, but my cousin was spending some time abroad there and I imagined her walking the paths of Ernest Hemingway and the lost generation of writers and other famous American expats.