From Hogwarts of the infamous Harry Potter series to 221B Baker Street of Sherlock Holmes to Willy Wonka's chocolate factory from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – we have all imagined visiting the places mentioned in our favourite books.
Here is a recommendation list of selected books mentioning the locations (both real and fictional) in which the stories occur.
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Location: Ice Court, Djerholm
Ketterdam, the capital of Kerch, is a crime-infused fictional city. The fantasy novel revolves around the lives of six outcasts. They come together to pull off a heist with Kaz Brekker as their leader.
In exchange for a big reward, they try breaking into the highly secured military nobility, Ice Court. The story is narrated from the perspective of different characters. At its core, this is a tale of friendship, wizardry, chaos, and adventures.
Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks
Location: Rodanthe, South Carolina
Adrianne goes to the small coastal town of Rodanthe to look after her friend’s guesthouse. When a storm closes in, she is stranded in the holiday inn with the only other visitor, Paul.
Set against the scenic backdrop of ocean and sound-front beaches, the story embarks on the budding romance between the two divorced parents. However, life has other plans for them when they leave Rodanthe. The short novel touches on various aspects of love and leaves a reader longing for more.
Brick Lane by Monica Ali
Location: Brick Lane, London
As the name suggests, the story takes place in a street named Brick Lane in the East End of London. After spending her childhood in Sylhet with her abusive mother, Nazneen finds herself in a foreign land. Her daily life includes taking care of her husband, Chanu and spending time with other Bengali inhabitants of Brick Lane.
However, there is a shift in her mundane lifestyle after she meets Karim. This is a story about the sacrifices, self-identity, and culture of Bengali migrants.
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
Location: Inis an Amplóra, Ireland
Inis an Amplóra, a fictitious island, located on the coast of Ireland is rumoured to be haunted by ghosts. Although Julia Keegan and Will Slater decide to hold their dreamy wedding there, it soon turns into a tale of a murder thriller.
Till the final chapters of the book, it remains unclear who the victim or the killer is. This book is a page-turning whodunit that will keep a reader up past their bedtime trying to unravel the mystery.
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernières
Location: Island of Cephalonia, Greece
Based on the Second World War, the book depicts the people’s lives in war-stricken Greece. Although engaged to Mandras, Pelagia cannot reciprocate his feelings for her.
When Italy invades the Greek Island of Cephalonia, Pelagia’s father decides to accommodate an Italian soldier, Corelli. Soon, Pelagia and Corelli fall in love and share their interests and ambitions with each other. Love, war, music, and family are the central elements of this historical romance novel.
Just One Day by Gayle Forman
Location: Seine Canal, Paris
On her post-graduation trip, Lulu meets Willem, a travelling actor. When Willem asks Lulu to come to Paris with him for twenty-four hours, she does not say no.
The book follows the pair roaming all around the city touring through different European attractions. However, after their allocated time runs out, the story turns into a portrayal of tragic heartbreak and finding oneself. This is a befitting read for someone looking for a romance novel based on Paris, also known as the city of love.
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Location: Afghanistan
The historical war literature centres around the lives of two Afghan women. Mariam, born in Herat, is married off to a shoemaker at a young age. Almost a generation later, Laila, a privileged young girl, is compelled to marry Mariam’s husband due to tragic circumstances.
The narrative takes place in the war-torn neighbourhoods of Kabul. The reality of the Afghan wars and the misfortunes of oppressed women are portrayed explicitly in this bestselling novel.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Location: Barkley Cove
The crime-drama novel revolves around the journey of an abandoned young girl named Kya. After being isolated from the community of a fictional town Barkley Cove, she lives in the Marsh by herself. She learns how to read and write with the help of a friend in her self-made reading cabin.
She also manages all her everyday essentials from Jumpin’s Bait and Gas by selling oysters. These hardships do not stop her from chasing her dreams. After wounding up in a murder case as the primary suspect, she overcomes all obstacles and becomes one of the most successful wildlife authors.
