Top Ten Tuesday | Books With Settings I’d Love to Visit

It’s been some time since I did a Top 10 Tuesday post! Happy Tuesday everyone! I hope you’re all enjoying what you’re reading or doing.

Top Ten Tuesday is an original blog meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and is currently being hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s given topic is None. 

This week is a freebie week and I wasn’t planning to do any since I can’t think of one relevant topic for a Top 10 Tuesday discussion. But then I encountered an entry made by Michael @ The Book Lover’s Sanctuary; it was inspired by a similar post by Jessica @ Chasing the Four Winds post. Michael listed 10 book settings he’d love to visit and I found the idea irresistible so I decided to make my own.

So let us start the list!

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Barcelona, Spain

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Origin by Dan Brown

The setting of Carlos Ruiz Zafon’s The Shadow of the Wind, and Dan Brown’s Origin, The former made me walk down narrow the city’s idyllic alley ways and its rustic atmosphere. Origin, on the other hand, made me explore the architectural marvels built by famed Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi, such as the Sagrada Familia. I do love historical settings and grandiose architectural structures.

Hokkaido, Japan

A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami
The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa

Japan, in general, is a country I want to explore. From the hubbub of Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo to the verdure and charm of the countryside, it is a traveler’s mecca. Hokkaido, however, stands out because of its picturesque landscape, especially during winter. The snow blanketed landscape described in A Wild Sheep Chase made me envision it.

Apart from Mt. Fuji, here’s one of my top reasons for wanting to visit Japan:

Iran

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

I know. Iran is carries with it a very political risk. Its colorful contemporary history makes any traveler take a pass on it. However, it is a nation that has long been part of my bucket list. Religion and politics aside, it is a very vibrant nation with many wonderful places and landmarks that can catch anyone’s breath. For a history buff like me, it is a haven for it is one of the cradles of civilization. Exploring remnants of the Persian Empire is one of the things I look forward to.

Turkey

10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this World by Elif Shafak
Snow and The Red-Haired Woman by Orhan Pamuk

My love for history, architecture and adventure make me yearn for Turkey. It is a fun-filled country that is also rife with historical landmarks. Istanbul, with Hagia Sofia and its colorful markets, is a must but exploring the country-side is something that I want to do. Perhaps dropping by Mt. Ararat? I’ll consider climbing it too but it seems that it is going to be a very tough climb.

Bagan, Myanmar

The Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh

I am not actually sure if The Glass Palace mentions Bagan but most of it was set in Myanmar. LOL. Bagan is another destination on my bucket list because, well, you must have seen the pattern already. HAHA. I am enamored by history and architecture. Bagan is a very idyllic place too! Riding an air balloon that hovers above the ancient city’s many temples sounds fun. Apart from Bagan, I also want to visit other parts of Myanmar such as Mandalay and Yangoon. The Shwe Dagon Pagoda is one of the places I want to see in the country’s former capital.

Hogwarts!

Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling

Finally, a deviation from the first places mentioned in the list! It is also the only fictional world that I want to visit. As a Potterhead, it would be the ultimate dream to visit Hogwarts (which I can relegate to just being a dream). I want to explore every nook and cranny of the castle. I also want to visit Hogsmeade and drink butterbeer! I want to be part of the real Hogwarts that I won’t take any substitutes, i.e. Universal Studios in Osaka.

Forbidden City, Beijing, China

Empress Orchid by Anchee Min

So we’re back again with my love for history and architecture. Ever since the first time I saw pictures of the Forbidden City, I knew I wanted to see it in person. Anchee Min’s vivid and colorful descriptions in Empress Orchid made me want to visit it even more. To be honest, there is a lot of places I want to visit in China. It is also a traveler’s mecca that is rich in history and architecture, such as the Great Wall of China and the Terra Cotta warriors.

New York City

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Apart from history and architecture, I also have a thing for urban sprawls. The thrill of discovery, adventure, and exploration makes cities like the Big Apple irresistible to me. With a lot of novels set in the city, it is easy to see how much there is to explore. From the artsy Soho district to the high end Fifth Avenue. Of course, there are the staples – Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Rockfeller Center, Washington Square, and the Empire State Building. Apart from Manhattan, it would be great to explore the four other boroughs as well. I heard that Brooklyn does have some artsy districts.

Prague, Czech Republic

The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera

There are a lot of European cities I want to visit, from the more obvious choices like Paris, Rome, Amsterdam to less obscure choices like Ljubljana, Dubrovnik, the continent is jotted with amazing and picturesque metropolises. However, the Czech capital really stands out for me. It just has that flair, that vibrancy that I want to immerse in. I really enjoy walking around and I feel like Prague is that walkable city that will suit my purposes whilst feeding my appetite for beauty.

India

Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie
A Passage to India by E.M. Forster
Kim by Rudyard Kipling
The God of Small Things by Arundathi Ruy

The list of novels set in the Indian subcontinent is inexhaustible. The diverse and colorful nation, with its equally rich and diverse culture, has inspired many timeless novels and stories that has also captivated the imagination of many readers and travelers. Taj Mahal is just one of the must-see destinations but with its vastness, there sure is a lot to see and experience, such as the pink city, Jaipur, or even the urban sprawl of Mumbai. It sure is an exotic destination that will definitely feed my insatiable appetite for adventure and exploration.

Another country I want to visit is Afghanistan, especially the nation before it was wrapped in the pandemonium caused by the war. Afghan writers Khaled Hosseini and Nadia Hashimi’s works made me appreciate and see the beauty of Afghanistan and its people beyond the horrors of terrorism and war.

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So thus ends my Top Ten post. I hope you enjoyed it! Apart from that, I hope to visit all these places as well once this pandemic is over and done with. For now, keep safe everyone and as always, enjoy reading!