The Places Books Have Made Me Want To Visit
Real Places
1. Prague from Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Prague has never really been on my radar as a tourist destination, probably because travelling from South Africa is expensive and there are so many places I’d like to visit, but Laini Taylor has painted such a beautiful, historical city in my mind that it’s now one of my top places to explore.
2. Paris from Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, Just One Day by Gayle Forman and Die for Me by Amy Plum
I have dreamt of going to France for years, but it’s always been the countryside and small villages that I wanted to see, Paris never really appealed. It is these three books in particular that have sparked a longing to be swept up in the magic of this city.
3. Australia from In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson
Australia – I was almost there – while we were living in Indonesia we planned to visit Australia but life threw a curveball and we didn’t get there. Bill Bryson is at his best in this account of his journey through Australia, his dry humour hitting the mark every time.
4. Greece from Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernières
Greece is popular for its sunny climate and beautiful beaches, but I would love to experience the rich culture portrayed by Louis de Bernières in this significant account of Greece at war.
Fictional Places
5. Narnia from The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Narnia needs no introduction…. a land I explored and retreated to often as a child and to which I return regularly, as The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe is a story I love to share with my students.
6. Hogwarts from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter Series
Hogwarts is likely to be on everyone’s list! I wish this book had been available when I was a child, but reading them as an adult did not diminish their charm. I only wish my boarding schools were like this!
7. Lothlórien from R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of The Rings
Lothlórien… I have spent many happy hours in this beautiful, haunting Elven forest featured in the books written by one of South Africa’s ‘Hall of Fame’ authors.
8. Creepy Hollow from Rachel Morgan’s Faerie Guardian
Of all fantasy, faerie is my favourite, and of all the Fae worlds I have visited, the one I love best is Rachel Morgan’s enticing, enchanting Creepy Hollow – visit once and you’ll be back for more!
9. Mirrorworld from Reckless by Cornelia Funke
Mirrorworld is a dark and dangerous magical land – but I can’t help climbing back through the mirror for another peek….
10. Faraway Tree and the lands above from The Enchanted Wood by Enid Blyton
The Magic Faraway Tree is a destination itself, with its unique residents and fruit-laden branches, but it is the ever-changing lands above that attached me to want to climb this tree again and again. A series of books I treasured as a child and still enjoy today as I share them with our students.
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish at http://www.brokeandbookish.com/p/top-ten-tuesday-other-features.html
Rachel Morgan
Hey Stephanie 🙂
If you want to check out my faerie books “risk-free”, the first one is free to read on Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/story/3829379-the-faerie-guardian
Hope you enjoy it 🙂
xx
Stephanie
I like how we got to some of the same places but often through different books! I have never heard of and now want to read Rachel Morgan as I also enjoy books set in Faery.
crushingcinders
Rachel Morgan’s Creepy Hollow series is amazing. The first book is The Faerie Guardian. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did 🙂
crushingcinders
Imagine going for Butterbeer at The Three Broomsticks on a winter’s afternoon… or maybe Firewhisky!
Nobody@TheStoryGoes...
Prague, Paris, Narnia, and Hogwarts are all places I would love to visit. I would want to visit both Narnia and Hogwarts in the winter…so dreamy. =)
Kristalyn @ The Sarcastic Palmtree
I honestly cannot believe I didn’t remember Narnia! I swear I read those books so many years ago that it always slips my mind! I love that we both have Die For Me. I love that series. I may do a reread of it next year. It has been a while so time to revisit! Thanks so much for stopping by mine today! Have a great week!
Sofia @ Take A Walk On The Write Side
Great list! Thanks for sharing and for stopping by my TTT!
Nicole @ The Quiet Concert
Prague and Hogwarts made our list as well 🙂 I think they are going to be popular choices today!
Nicole @ The Quiet Concert
Rachel Morgan
Oh, if only we could visit those fictional places! Lothlorien looked SOOO beautiful in the LOTR movies. I think it might be at the top of my list of fictional places to visit. (Maybe tied with Hogwarts!)
And thank you for including Creepy Hollow!