A Cairn to travel without leaving home

One of my claims to fame in my youth was winning a contest at the local library for reading the most books over the summer. Not to brag but the prize was a pretty sweet Jansport backpack that held a large amount of books. All that is to say that even in the thick of humid upstate New York summers, I remained an avid reader and library kid.

Luckily, the local library was right next to the public pool. Dive, dry, read while roasting in the sun and repeat from June through September. We rarely took family vacations so my summer travels were largely confined to the pages of novels ranging from Anne of Green Gables to the Boxcar Children and Nancy Drew.

Sadly, not my view this summer; Sean (husband) and Martin (son) hiking Zermatt, Switzerland in summer 2017

In late 2023, my husband and I decided that I would take a sabbatical from work after being laid off from a terrible job at a company that I hated anyway (some might call it divine intervention). After working full time since I was 16, this marks the first extended period of time where I am not working and do not have plans to work full time anytime soon. In true adult fashion, we’ve had to tighten our belts and sadly travel was one of the first expenses on the chopping block. This has been a bitter pill to swallow. I’ve prided myself in showing my children the world, stamping their passports and filling up their skymiles account.

Also not my view this summer; Bridget (daughter) in Costa Rica, summer 2023

Luckily I remain a library kid at heart and so have been diving into comfort reads that provide a beautiful sense of place, allowing me to transport to different countries without any travel budget needed. I could fill a whole list with just Paris-based books but I’ve tried to pull together a diverse group of novels that cover a wide swath of geography. These are not traditional travel stories either! They are novels that imbue a really strong sense of place, making you feel like you’re there with the main characters. You’ll find some thrillers, an art book, historical fiction and magical realism in this cairn.

Another view that I sadly did not have this summer; Meghan in Iceland, summer 2016

I also want to recommend the Strong Sense of Place podcast and newsletter if you want to dive into different cities and countries around the world. Most recently, I listened to their episode on Space and found my TBR stack expanding, much like our universe is (though I don’t think I’ll add outer space onto my travel list anytime soon!)

xx Meghan

• August Blue by Deborah Levy

  A wisp of a novel, we open with a celebrate piano virtuoso walking off the stage at the height of her career and follow her across Europe, from Athens to Paris and London as she is shadowed by a woman who is seemingly her double. Think warm summertime in Europe, melancholy vibes.

• Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

  A writer rents a sea battered cottage on the sea in Scotland to research her new book, set in the same location in the 1700s. Along the way, she discovers that the past is not nearly as out of reach as she thinks, and her ties to the subject matter are more personal too. Think the crisp North Sea, chilly walks along a windy beach vibes.

• Vintage 1954 by Antoine Laurain

  Paris in 2017 finds a group of ragtag residents from an apartment building invited to enjoy a rare bottle of 1954 Beaujolais one evening and waking up in 1950s Paris the next day. Think Edith Piaf’s Paris of yore, smoky bistros, cobblestone streets with dim lighting and run-ins with luminaries of that time vibes.

• The Guest List by Lucy Foley

  We open with a murder on a remote island off the coast of Ireland. Who is the victim? Who is the murderer? All will be revealed, all while situated on a beautiful and wild island. Think hearth fires, walks along bogs and wildflower scents filling the air vibes.

• The Hotel by Sophie Calle

  Consider this one more of an art book than a novel. The author/artist got a job as a maid at a hotel in Italy in the 1980s and photographed people’s belongings. We’re all voyeurs at heart, aren’t we? Think vintage Italy, stale cologne and stiff comforts but with a side of nostalgia vibes

• I Want You More by Swan Huntley

  A young ghost writer in need of quick cash accepts a strange job writing the memoir of an internet famous food influencer that comes with a catch - the writer must stay with the influencer at her Hampton estate while writing the book. This is a true thriller and when I say I gasped out loud at several parts. All of that plus sumptuous descriptions of sprawling Hamptons property and food. Think sinister happenings in a beautifully curated and lush garden and a secret door to the beach vibes.

I’d also love to hear in the comments which books you feel have the strongest sense of place?