Whether you’ve been infected with a debilitating case of senioritis or have caught the winter blues, there’s nothing more effective than a quick vacation to boost your mood. While you could pay for a plane ticket or use up your frequent flyer miles, taking a trip through a book makes the most of your invaluable free time and won’t cost you a thing. Sure, you could also zone out in front of Netflix for a couple hours, but there’s a healthier alternative to a one-way impersonal screen.
Though, just because you don’t have to travel to read books, doesn’t mean you can’t. If it’s warm out, get some sun and let your mind escape to the vast fields of the Sahara. If your dorm is loud, go to your local coffee shop and immerse yourself in the pages of Neverland.
Books, to me, have always seemed like entertainment on a different level. They’re the perfect way to let your mind relax and escape the worries of everyday life. And being the slow reader that I am, it takes me multiple visits to finish a story, which means I get to revisit again and again. This isn’t the downfall of novels. Au contraire, mon frère. Numerous visits just mean you get the most out of your story. I lap up every drop of information and fantastical description the author dishes out and savor every line of description and dialogue. I cherish every suspenseful scene and marvel at every new personality. Plus, the trip is completely free. You can borrow a story from a friend or pick one up at your local or school library.
Below are 10 of the most fantastical places I’ve ever visited, and none of them cost me a dime.
1. Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore: A Novel by Robin Sloan is a sensational story full of various twists and turns. It had some romance, a modern feel with a comfortable familiarity, and a whole lot of mystery; it was hard to put this down. Also, the audio book has an extra chapter, so you might want to consider listening to this one.
2. Elsewhere
There are countless books on the afterlife. Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin takes a new spin on what happens after we leave this specific world. What if we all end up on a cruise ship to Elsewhere? Maybe. Find out what it would be like in this refreshing take on the human existence.
3. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs is the first book in an incredibly creative and clever trilogy that spans continents, generations, and centuries. I’m currently exploring Hollow City, the second novel, and enjoying every second of it. I'm in and out of loops, jumping between years past and modern day. A new trilogy continued the peculiarity is rumored to be released this year!
(I’m heart-broken to report the movie adaptation was a disgrace to Ransom Riggs’ masterpiece. It combined characters, condensed the plot, and ruining the magical world I’d built up in my mind. I would recommend only reading the book, not just reading it before the movie.)
4. Spanish Pastures of Tarifa
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is my current favorite novel. Coelho whisks you away with Santiago on his journey, which intertwines with gypsies, a wise old Englishman named Melchizedek (best name ever), and the soul of the universe itself. His journey goes far beyond pastures in Spain, but I won't give anything away. It's an enchanting quest full of action, love, and philosophical questions. What more can you ask for? I can't do his work justice by summing it up, so I won't attempt it any further. Just read the book. You won't regret it.
5. Hogwarts
The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling has unarguably influenced the lives of countless children and adults, and for good reason. Anyone who reads about Harry and Hogwarts are sucked into an entirely altered world of Rowling's creation. If you suffered severe magical-deprivation when you finished the movies or just want a new series to divulge in, you can't go wrong with this series. While the movies are hands down the most book-conscious and wonderful movies I’ve ever seen, there’s still more detail and a slightly different story in the novels. They’re easy reads, as they are children’s books, and the mind of J.K. Rowling isn’t a bad place to spend an evening.
6. Futuristic Chicago
Divergent by Veronica Roth was an outstanding novel. I remember audibly gasping when Beatrice chose her faction in the beginning of the book, and that's what I love about books. You can easily avoid spoilers; simply don’t read the back of the book or the dust cover summary. Movie trailers, on the other hand, are necessary spoilers to see if the film looks interesting enough for you to watch it, which give away major plot points to reel you in. Insurgent was an alright sequel, and I never even bothered finishing Allegiant because of the depressing decrescendo in quality. The first book, however, is still worth visiting.
(Again, the movie was horrific and did the author no justice.)
7. Transylvania
Dracula by Bram Stoker was a terrifying thrilling story. I listened to the audio book version because of the lengthy novel and frequent change in narrator, as the book is told through a collection of letters, journal entries, telegrams, and the such. (You can find the whole audio book on YouTube. It is of high quality, convenient, and free to anyone.) It's told as though it is a real account of pure fact, which adds another level of horror to the novel. My first exposure to vampires included pale muscular love interests tied in with werewolves, so I was interested to see where the original fear of vampires originated from. And Dracula was truly horrifying, the original essence of vampires.
8. Middle-earth
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien is the beginning of an incredibly famous series and entire world we can escape to. I’m not very far along in the adventure, but I can already tell it’ll be a brilliantly fanciful one. The writing style of Tolkien feels like you’re listening to your favorite uncle or grandfather sit down and tell you an epic story full of adventure, obstacles, heroes, villains, and victory. I can't wait to continue my exploration into this world and see all Tolkien's creation has in store.
9. Lilliput and Brobdingnag
Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift is an incredibly didactic and engaging satire. I read some excerpts of Gulliver's experiences in Lilliput and Brobdingnag in my British Literature class last year, and I can still vividly picture the tiny Lilliputians pouring food into their strange guest's mouth or dancing and performing on their strings. Swift's work is not only symbolic and criticizing of the era, but also of the human race in general, so it is still very relatable today. The story is told through diary entries, so it's easy to follow and feels less like fiction than it actually is.
10. Neverland
Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson is based off of the classic fairy tale of Peter Pan. My dad used to read it to my sister and I before bed, and I had the most marvelous dreams after foraging deeper and deeper into the story. I remember voyaging through thick jungles and hearing the threats of petrifying antagonists. And bonus: it's a series, so the adventures can continue longer than a single novel.
The next time you need an escape from reality, consider picking up a novel instead of clicking on Netflix. You'll get more out of the experience and will cherish it longer than a couple episode of the current hit series, one you'll forget ever existed in about a month. Curl up, leave your stress behind, and get ready for an adventure to Middle-earth or the afterlife or anywhere in between.
