Tuesday, June 12, 2018

*Top Ten Tuesday* Books that Awaken the Travel Bug in Me (June 12)


Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Joood - Hooligan of Platypire reviews bossed me into doing this, so I guess this is a thing I do now. 

This weeks theme is books that awaken the travel bug in me. Now I just spent seven years living in Germany where I should have done lots of traveling, but I discovered early on that I HATE traveling with my children. They suck all the fun out of it for me, so I didn't see nearly as many places as I should have. So I'm going to focus on books that make me regret not traveling more while I lived in Europe.


Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Prague. I have so many friends from Germany that rave about the beauty of Prague and I never went. 


The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck
I may have lived in Germany, but I didn't see very much of it, and only toured I think four castles in 7 years, and one of them was just ruins. 


It Takes Death to Reach a Star by Stu Jones and Gareth Worthington
Russia (Siberia specifically). Based on the experiences of my friends who visited Russia, I think this is a trip we would have had to make in our first three years in Germany. I'm just not so sure we would have been allowed in after that. 


Cooking for Picasso by Camille Aubray
The French Riviera. Can you believe that I didn't make it to France even once in seven years, let alone going to the riviera?


The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George
Paris. Considering the fact that I never set foot in France at all, I never made it to Paris. I thought it was going to happen over Thanksgiving last year, but the stress of moving made that trip unrealistic. 


A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Sweden (I think). Honestly, I read this book a couple years ago, I don't remember where it's set, but since the author lives in Sweden, I assume that's the setting as well. 


Radio Girls by Sarah-Jane Stratford
London. It was and is my dream to go into a shop in London as an obnoxious American tourist and ask the shopkeeper if they speak American. Obviously I would have to spend a fair amount of money in that shop to make up for being an ass. 


Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
Poland. Okay, so technically I have been to Poland. However, it was a short two day trip and the only things I saw were pottery stores (where I spent more money than I intended to, but I finally own grown-up dishes). 


The Winemakers by Jan Moran
Italy. I drank a lot of Italian wine while I was living in Germany (I could get it relatively cheap thanks to my location). But I never managed to make a trip to Italy, which is a real shame because I'm also a big fan of Italian food. 


The Venetian Bargain by Marina Fiorato (This is the US title)
Venice. I know I used Italy as a whole already, but aside from just visiting Italy, I really want to see Venice specifically. Although I hear it's best to go not in summer, because apparently the canals kind of stink. 

So there you go. Ten books featuring places that I regret not visiting while I had the chance to do it affordably. 

What are some books that inspire the travel bug in you? - Katie 

*If you're stopping by from the linkup, please be sure to drop a link to your post below so I can see your list.*

16 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing these books with us. I've just added several to my wishlist!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Awesome take on the topic. To me, traveling with children always seemed a lot like work :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was so much work. And then they'd get fussy in the middle of museums and such (although I did eventually discover that I could get them at least a bit involved by having them help me pick things to take pictures of).

      I just kind of feel like a horrible parent because I decided I just wouldn't travel instead of dealing with the hassle of doing it with the kids. - Katie

      Delete
  3. I hear ya on the kids. Even though mine are teens, they're hard enough to take to Target, let alone on a road trip. But ugh, I'd love to visit Germany some day. My grandfather came over from there with his mother back in the early 1900's.

    Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm hoping that we'll get to go back to Germany for a few years after my kids are out of high school and I can pretend they're no longer my problem (temporarily of course). Then I can do all the traveling with none of the hassle.

      Thanks for stopping by. - Katie

      Delete
    2. ROFL - at least as teens they can mostly take care of themselves, right?

      Delete
    3. Exactly. And we've got family that they could surely stay with during school holidays and such, so they'd be fine! - Katie

      Delete
  4. I'm going to Prague in a week and a half, I'm so excited! Part of the reason I don't really want kids is that I want to travel a lot and it seems like it would be so much more fun without screaming children!
    My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2018/06/12/top-ten-tuesday-163/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There were definitely times when I wished I hadn't had children yet (I was pregnant with my second/last when we moved to Germany) while we were living in Germany because I could have gotten out and done so much more while there. A lot of times the traveling just did not seem worth the hassle and annoyance of packing for the kids and then listening to them whine/cry.

      I hope you have a blast in Prague and take all the pictures. Thanks for stopping by. - Katie

      Delete
  5. Ooh I need to find a little bookshop in Paris! Or ALL the bookshops lol!

    The french Riviera and Venice as well.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Daughter of Smohttps://justmeandmyblogreviews.blogspot.com/2018/06/top-ten-tuesday-10-books-that-makes-me.htmlke and Bone was pretty good. I want to read The Little Bookshop in Paris!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I actually didn't love the Little Paris Bookshop like I thought I would, but it still made me want to travel to Paris, so it wasn't all bad.

      Thanks for stopping by. - Katie

      Delete
  7. Great list. I've heard good things about Daughter of Smoke and Bone, but I never got around to reading the series.
    Krystianna @ Downright Dystopian

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really enjoyed the first book, and at some point I'm going to listen to the audiobook of the second in the series...just have to find the time.

      Thanks for stopping by. - Katie

      Delete