A Best Travel Books blog post seems more than fitting to add to the free resources on Travel with TMc. Why? Well, I might have come out of the womb reading. Books have been a constant companion for as long as I can remember. In fact, chocolate and books are probably the items I spend the most money on when it comes to “fun purchases”. They’re also my favourite souvenirs to buy and my most prized possessions, other than my passport.
This blog post will be a living document that I will add to as I finish more books so don’t forget to come back and check it out for updates! I’ve also created a running list of the books I’ve read the past few years, organized by category, so that something might spark your interest as well.
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The Best Travel Books (according to me!)
Of course this is a totally subjective list, however aren’t they all? I hope you enjoy these books as much as I have! Add your favourites in the comments below.
North America
Cabbagetown by Hugh Garner
Synopsis
During the Depression, Cabbagetown (Toronto) was the largest Anglo slum in North America. This novel follows the life of Ken Tilling as he leaves school without any job propects and tries to make a life for himself during dark times.
Review
Having lived in Toronto a few times, and being of Irish descent, I was fascinated to learn more about Cabbagetown. The story is both bleak and hopeful. It was interesting to learn that the author was born in England and grew up in Toronto’s Cabbagetown…quite the dynamic at the time, I’m sure.
em by Kim Thúy
Synopsis
During the war an abandoned baby is cared for by a boy, Louis, who lives on Saigon’s streets. This stunning novel weaves in and out of history around the world from Operation Babylift in 1975, to the rise of nail salons, to Indochina’s rubber plantations, and the My Lai massacre.
Shortlisted for the 2023 Dublin Literary Award
Longlisted for the 2021 Scotiabank Giller Prize
Nominated for the 2021 Grand Prix du Livre de Montréal
Sheila Fischman Shortlisted for the 2021 Cole Foundation Prize for Translation
Review
If there’s a book that gives hope in dark times, this is it. A story of love, possibility, resistance, and strength, it will stick with you for a long time. Kim Thúy is a beautiful writer. I’ve treasured every one of her books and this novel is no different.
Frying Plantain by Zalika Reid-Benta
Synopsis
Frying Plantain is a semi-autobiographical short story collection set in Toronto’s ‘Little Jamaica’ neighbourhood. It follows Kara Davis, a Jamaican-Canadian girl balancing the fine line between living in two cultures. It’s a story of identity, family, and friendship.
Danuta Gleed Literary Award
Kobo Emerging Writer Prize
2019 ByBlacks People’s Choice Award for Best Author
Longlisted for the 2019 Scotiabank Giller Prize
Shortlisted for the Toronto Book Awards
Shortlisted for the Trillium Book Award
Nominated for the 2021 White Pine Book Award
Review
I always want to learn more about the places I’ve lived and am forever drawn to books about Toronto. Zalika Reid-Benta beautifully portrays the sometimes fraught mother-daughter relationship, the tightrope walk of criss-crossing between cultures at home and in society, and what it’s like coming of age in the modern Canadian context.
How to Pronounce Knife by Souvankham Thammavongsa
Synopsis
Author Souvankham Thammavongsa brings to life a variety of characters in this collection of stories, mostly from a Laotian-Canadian immigrant family perspective. There’s the failed boxer working at a nail salon, a woman learning English from soap operas, and children observing the struggles of the adults in their lives, to name a few.
Winner of the 2020 Giller Prize
Winner of the 2021 Trillium Book Award
Winner O. Henry Award
Finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award
Finalist for the PEN Open Book Award
Globe 100 book list for 2020
Review
The stories are short, but they’re told with such detail and depth you’ll swear they were longer.
The Great Typo Hunt by Jeff Deck and Benjamin D. Herson
Synopsis
An editor, Jeff Deck, and his friend Benjamin set out on a mission as a part of the newly formed Typo Eradication Advancement League (TEAL) with all of the correction devices imaginable and an enthusiasm rarely found for mistakes. Blogging their adventures along the way, they run into trouble with the law at the Grand Canyon. This travel tale is unlike any you’ve ever read before.
Review
I absolutely loved The Great Typo Hunt! Anything quirky or having to do with words is right up my alley, so a road trip to find as many typos as possible was a jackpot. The fact that they blogged along the way made it even more entertaining. The friends’ adventure was unlike any I’ve read before. After reading about their quest I’ve been tempted to follow in their steps.
The Waterloo You Never Knew by Joanna Rickert-Hall
Synopsis
Local historian and author Joanna Rickert-Hall’s The Waterloo You Never Knew dives into the weird, the infamous, the obscene, and the down-right dirty on Waterloo Region’s history. These are the stories you wish you heard in history class.
Review
This is one of my all-time favourite place-based books, mostly because it revealed oodles of fascinating stories about my home region. I’ve recommended it often and can’t wait for her to release more local stories.
Europe
A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers by Xiaolu Suo
Synopsis
A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers introduces us to Zhuang, a Chinese woman who moves to London to study English. As you’d guess from the title, she meets and falls in love with an Englishman. Through their relationship she discovers the nuances of words, learns more about herself, and stumbles through the imperfection of translating language and culture.
Review
From the very first page, I adored this book. Admittedly the title caught my eye, specifically the word ‘dictionary’. Highly recommend it, whether or not you’ve been in a multilingual relationship. One of my favourites on this list.
A Pocket Guide to the Wild Atlantic Way
Synopsis
As the title suggests, this is a mini guide to Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way.
Review
I’ve been dipping in and out of this book, looking for (and finding) tidbits of tips to add to my Ireland trip planning.
Celtic Lightning: How The Scots And The Irish Created A Canadian by Ken McGoogan
Synopsis
Over 9 million Canadians can link their ancestry to Irish or Scottish heritage. That’s nearly a quarter of the country’s population! Ken McGoogan takes a genealogical approach to pinning down what the mentality, aspirations, and ambitions drove new Canadians when the Scots and Irish first landed in North America. He analyses and compares the values and traditions passed on from these 2 countries of origin (specifically independence, democracy, pluralism, audacity, and perseverance) to today’s social fabric.
Review
I’ll be honest, I still haven’t finished this collection. I wasn’t in the mood for non-fiction at the time. That being said, I learned a ton and will return to it at some point. People who enjoy history will dig right into Celtic Lightning.
Confessions of a Pagan Nun by Kate Horsley
Synopsis
A sixth-century druid-turned nun, Gwynneve, records her early life in secret as she transcribes Augustine and Patrick. Accusations and danger enter the monastery where she lives.
Review
This book was bought as a gift for me from a local secondhand shop (Old Goat Books). It was much different than anything I’ve read before. While it wasn’t my favourite book, I enjoyed learning more about ancient Celtic times from the perspective of an educated woman.
Moments of Glad Grace by Alison Wearing
Synopsis
This memoir set between Ireland and Canada, documents the author’s relationship with her 80-year old father who has Parkinson’s. Things don’t go as planned on their trip to Ireland.
Review
Anything about Ireland tends to draw me in, as was the case with this memoir. When I lived in Ireland my father was the only family member who came to visit and seeing as it is the country of his heritage, perhaps this made sense. My personal experiences documenting our family’s Irish ancestry, contrasted with the author’s disinterest in the study of her own family, made for a light and interesting read that ultimately highlights the importance of spending time with loved ones.
Northern Spy by Flynn Berry
Synopsis
A story that demonstrates the grey areas of our lives, Northern Spy follows two sisters during the Irish Troubles. Intense and moving, this novel pulls readers right into the very real dilemmas people face in times of division.
Reese’s Book Club Pick
New York Times Bestseller
New York Times Book Review Top 10 Thriller of 2021
Washington Post Top 10 Thriller or Mystery of 2021
Review
This thriller about Ireland’s Troubles kept me on my toes (while in my plane seat). Excellent read. Fierce convictions, deep love, the instinct to protect, and the quandary of mixing family and politics.
Small Things like These by Claire Keegan
Synopsis
A coal merchant living in a small Irish town in the mid-1980s discovers something at a local convent that forces his boundaries to expand and his empathy to take over.
Winner of Orwell Prize for Political Fiction
Shortlisted for 2022 Booker Prize
Oprah’s Book Club Pick 2024
New York Times Book Club Pick 2024
New York Times 100 Best Books of the 21st Century
Irish Times Best Book of the 21st Century
New York Times Bestseller
Review
Quiet. Short. Impactful.
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
Synopsis
Growing up under the desk of dictionary makers – her father among them – Esme gathers discarded words. These unknown letter groupings teach her to question and understand the world around her during a time when so much of her world was in flux. Set during the women’s suffrage movement in the UK, this book is a celebration and examination of the words we use.
Review
This is hands down 1 of my top 2 favourite books ever. That’s all I’m going to say!
Asia
em by Kim Thúy
Synopsis
During the war an abandoned baby is cared for by a boy, Louis, who lives on Saigon’s streets. This stunning novel weaves in and out of history around the world from Operation Babylift in 1975, to the rise of nail salons, to Indochina’s rubber plantations, and the My Lai massacre.
Shortlisted for the 2023 Dublin Literary Award
Longlisted for the 2021 Scotiabank Giller Prize
Nominated for the 2021 Grand Prix du Livre de Montréal
Sheila Fischman Shortlisted for the 2021 Cole Foundation Prize for Translation
Review
If there’s a book that gives hope in dark times, this is it. A story of love, possibility, resistance, and strength, it will stick with you for a long time. Kim Thúy is a beautiful writer. I’ve treasured every one of her books and this novel is no different.
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi
Synopsis
In this memoir, Azar Nafisi is a brave teacher who brings together her female students in secret to read forbidden Western classics under the Islamic Republic of Iran. Set against the backdrop of morality police, censorship, university seizures, and the quiet rebellion of women, this is an account of silent and bold strength.
Review
You will grow to love the women in this book. It’s impossible not to. Their love of literature and learning, not to mention joy and life are reminders to all of us of what can be accomplished in the face of darkness.
The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux
Synopsis
Paul Theroux, famed travel writer, travels for 4 months by train in the 1970s from the UK all the way to Southeast Asia. This is his account of that odyssey and the epic train rides to criss-cross continents at a time when the best entertainment was life happening in front of your eyes.
Review
A classic travel book to read for a reason.
The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
Synopsis
Set on Korea’s Jeju Island, this is a story about the Haenyeo or “women of the sea”. Following 2 friends over several decades, through Japanese colonial rule, World War II, the Korean War, and present day, this is a story of friendship, of hardship, and of the phenomenal free divers who supported this island for generations.
Review
This is hands down my favourite book I’ve read in the last 5, maybe even 10 years. Lisa See has an absolute gift with words and storytelling. I got to know a side of Jeju that I didn’t realize when I lived there. Her characters are beautiful. The story sits in your chest. I can’t recommend this beautiful novel enough.
The Mermaid from Jeju by Sumi Hahn
Synopsis
Another book set on Jeju-do in Korea, this novel introduces us to Goh Junja, a new haenyeo (free diver), shortly after World War II. In the span of a day she goes into the mountains for the first time, meets a boy she falls in love with, and watches her mother die. A story of political turmoil, personal grief, coming of age, family, and love, this is a beautifully tragic story.
Review
I cannot resist books about Jeju-do, about the magnificent and powerful haenyeo, or about the human condition. This is a three-in-one that I will probably read again down the road.
Oceania
The Bookseller at the End of the World by Ruth Shaw
Synopsis
Ruth Shaw runs 2 mini bookshops in New Zealand’s remote Manapouri in Fiordland. Before that she sailed on boats that had run-ins with pirates, she worked with drug addicts and prostitutes, and was involved in environmental campaigns. Complex, adventurous, layered, and beautiful, Ruth’s story is not your typical life lived.
Review
This memoir caught my eye for a few reasons: 1 – I used to live in New Zealand and so now I want to learn more about it, 2 – I love books and bookstores and anything to do with words, and 3 – the idea of a bookseller at the end of the world felt like just the right amount of quirky that I wanted to sink into. I didn’t realize how much more depth and zigzagging I was in for.
Worldwide Collections & Trip Planning
Return: Why We Go Back to Where We Come From by Kamal Al-Solaylee
Synopsis
Kamal Al-Solaylee is the director of the University of British Columbia’s school of journalism, writing and media and a best-selling Yemeni-Canadian author. In this quest to discover why people return to where they came from, under all sorts of conditions and in many different contexts, he is also trying to answer some of these questions for himself. Through interviews with people who have left and desire returning to their home countries, he learns their varied answers and comes to some of his own conclusions as well.
Review
Many of my friends were born in other places. This has been a topic of discussion on numerous occasions. I also, in a very circuitous way different from that of the people interviewed here, “returned” to one of my ancestral homes the year that I lived in Ireland. Despite being generations removed I felt at home in ways I never have (nor probably ever will) in Canada. I was curious to learn more about other people’s experiences. This book allowed me insight into each different situation.
What We Talk About When We Talk About Dumplings by John Lorinc
Synopsis
Dumplings are found in every corner of the world. This anthology brings together the voices of food writers, culinary historians, journalists, and even musicians to share their culture’s version of the dumpling, as well as family recipes and other tasty tidbits.
Shortlisted for the 2023 Taste Canada Award for Culinary Narratives
Review
I grew up eating and helping make homemade pierogi with my mom and Baba. At some point in my childhood I realized that cultures worldwide had their own version of “pierogi” and this blew me away. It was delightful to me that these little morsels could be found in all sorts of shapes and sizes, flavours and fillings. Dumpling, gyoza, ravioli, and pierogi still remain some of my favourite food. This book, therefore, was one I couldn’t wait to dig into.
I also love learning about smaller printing houses and have been to Coach House Books in Toronto. I couldn’t resist supporting another locally grown paperback from this very cool publisher.
World Travel: An Irreverent Guide by Anthony Bourdain
Synopsis
A household name, beloved in the travel and food communities, Anthony Bourdain was a prolific traveller. This travel guide is an introduction to many of the places he cherished, with basic travel tips as well as suggestions on what to eat and stories from his time abroad. Published posthumously, friends, colleagues, and family members also contributed to the book, giving their insight into the man so many people got to know over a plate or bowl of food.
Review
I had had little exposure to Anthony Bourdain, mostly from watching his travel show with my dad, prior to reading this book. From the beautiful illustrations, to his memories and suggestions, to his loved ones contributions, this was an enjoyable read laid out in an interesting way.
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Helpful Tips for Booking Your Trips
Flights
If you want affordable flights, you must get into the points and miles game. Check out my Points and Miles Travel Coaching services to help Canadians fly for less than a tank of gas!
Accommodation
There are so many options for affordable, comfortable, and unique accommodation. Some of my favourite accommodation options are housesitting and hostels. I’ve been using Trusted Housesitters and Hostelworld for years. If you prefer hotels, then check out Booking.com.
Activities
Get Your Guide is a fantastic resource for different activities to try when travelling. They have everything from walking tours, food tours, tickets to attractions, and multi-day trips, and more. Check out this super cool view I had of Tallinn when I was in Estonia for the Christmas markets in 2023, all because of a Get Your Guide experience. My favourite tour so far that I’ve been on with Get Your Guide is a fantastic walking food tour I did in Dublin. That experience had a wild twist, but you’ll have to read this blog post to find out why!
