This fortnight, our reading prompt at Book and a Brew (https://www.instagram.com/book_anda_brew) is A Book Set Somewhere You’ve Always Wanted To Visit.

That means we’re dusting off our travel bucket lists and heading off on holiday! (In our minds, that is)

To give you some inspiration, here are 5 books with a setting worthy of your travel bucket list:

1. Next Year In Havana by Chanel Cleeton

Cuba is a country with a turbulent, but fascinating history. Miami-born Chanel Cleeton grew up hearing stories of her family’s exodus from Cuba during the Revolution, and this novel is loosely based on what she learnt.

It follows two parrallel narratives: in 1959, 19 year old Elisa Perez embarks on a passionate affair with a Cuban revolutionary and is forced to flee her home. In 2017, her grand-daughter, Marisol Fererra, a writer living in Miami, visits Cuba to scatter her grand-mother’s ashes. There, she befriends a local university professor and history begins to repeat itself as she delves into Elisa’s story.

As historical fiction goes, this one is as good at it gets. I found myself totally immersed in the history of Cuba and the vibrant streets of Havana. The author brings to life this country through the stories of its people – their loves, emotions and heartbreak. It’s a wonderful read.

2. The Beach by Alex Garland

Not the film.

If, like me, you saw Danny Boyle’s enjoyable but distinctly average film version in the 90s, this one is a must-read.

But you’ll be in for a hell of a shock.

The original novel is very different to the film. Whole characters are erased, the brutal ending is completely different, there is no romance. But it is much more powerful. In our minds we get a clearer sense of the tranquil setting, and how it jars in contrast with the ugly scenes that take place in the novel’s second half. But as a portrait of a holiday gone terribly wrong, it is unmatched. (That being said, maybe don’t take it with you as a beach read)

3. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

If your travel bucket list takes you closer to home, that’s ok! The first time I visited Cornwall, I couldn’t believe I’d never been there before. It is stunningly beautiful, and when the sun is shining, it is possible to close your eyes and imagine that you are totally at peace. The tranquility of this beautiful part of England is still something I crave, 13 years after my first visit.

Du Maurier’s novels are some of the finest novels ever written, and Rebecca is still my favorite (My Cousin Rachel a close second). It has a great first line (“last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again”), a masterful villain in Mrs Danvers, a sense of unease that permeates every page, and a brilliant ending. If you’ve never read it, now is your chance!

4. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

You know it’s going to be a good read when it has the words, “Castigated for offences against public decency” on the cover.

I harbour long held fantasies of emigrating to rural France. I dream of days spent in a chateau, eating croissants, and running around small villages in the manner of Juliette Binoche in Chocolat.

Until that time comes, I’ll content myself with novels instead, such as this one, Flaubert’s masterpiece. The torrid tale of Madame Bovary and her, erm, tangled love life, make for a riveting read. Some find this book tame today, full of beautiful language but not much beneath the surface. I found it to be a fascinating study of a woman oppressed by circumstance, who seeks to escape her dull existence by any means necessary. As an introduction to both classic novels and books translated into English, it’s definitely worth a read.

5. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres

We can’t have a list of books with a beautiful setting without including Captain Corelli’s Mandolin!

Everyone seemed to love this book back in the 90s. It was everyone’s new favourite novel, everyone’s beach read of choice. It was mine too, accompanying me on at least 3 holidays. It isn’t a short read at 500+ pages, and the plot is expansive, spanning World War II Kefalonia to the present day. It is worth noting too, that the central romance is only one element of the novel, and doesn’t begin until Chapter 47. The central focus of the book is the Italian occupation of Kefalonia and its effects on the islanders and Italian soldiers, and it is their stories that comprise the book’s numerous subplots.

Come for the setting, but stay for the stories. The investment of your time and patience is rewarded handsomely.

What is your favourite setting for a novel?