A Book That You Would Like to Live In: Staff Picks for the TPL Reading Challenge 2020
It's one thing to get lost in a book, swept up in the plot and totally unaware of the world around you. It's another to start daydreaming about living in it.
Have you ever settled down with a good book and found yourself periodically imagining living there? Maybe you search for images of the setting online, or you lose yourself daydreaming, lost in the whimsical. What would it be like to live underwater or in outer space? Reading children's books like Richard Scarry’s Busy, Busy Town (available in print only) I couldn’t help but wish for a world with pickle cars. Who wouldn't want to live in Scarry's Best Little Word Book: there are cats wearing lederhosen and dresses! To live in a world where magical spells are a regular occurrence would be pretty cool. Some books are so vividly written that you cannot help but want to visit the places (real or imagined) that are described.
As I tried to create a list of a few of my picks, I realized, most of them were by Peter Mayle, both fiction and non-fiction, and all set in the beautiful south of France (my dream locale). So to start you off:
A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle
The first in Mayle's series of books documenting his new life in Provence in the south of France. Mayle will make you believe you are there alongside him as he traipses through the French countryside. I could smell the fresh country air and hear the hustle and bustle of the market. The book set me off down a rabbit hole. I quickly ended up reading the rest of the books in the series and then ventured off to his fictional mystery series (also set in France).
The Vintage Caper by Peter Mayle
Imagine a good mystery story full of twists and suspense. Now add a layer of gorgeous French countryside and drool-worthy descriptions and luscious food and wine – and you've got the perfect book to escape the world around you. It is the first in a series of mystery books centered around French wine country.
Staff Recommendations
These books were picked by our staff for "a book that you would like to live in."
The Complete Cosmicomics by Italo Calvino
The narrator of these short stories, a kind of mobile consciousness named Qwfwq, takes the form of an intelligent atom, a fantastical moon-creature and an amorous camel, among others. I can't imagine a place more varied and stimulating to live in than the cosmic-yet-faintly-ludicrous universe of this book.
– Wendy, Digital Content Lead
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
It's set throughout England – I've been once (was supposed to go this late summer) and I recognized almost all the cities he visited. Can't wait to go back.
– Grace, Branch Head
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
I'm trying to come up with a description for the wizarding world of Harry Potter, but I can't. There are just too many elements that make it so magical. All I can do is name some of the things that I love about the world of Harry Potter – Platform 9 3/4, the sorting hat, Hagrid, marvelous creatures, quidditch, potions, Diagon Alley, Hogsmede, Marauder's map, the invisibility cloak, the list goes on.
– Nalini, Senior Branch Head
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
A magical circus appears suddenly and brings with it mystery, intrigue and love. It's a very well-written novel that will keep you up late at night wanting to know what happens next. It is not necessarily a real place or any one place but anywhere the night circus appears is where I would want to be.
– Howard, Manager
Winnie the Pooh series by A.A. Milne
My little family had a good chat about this category! We decided the Hundred Acre Wood in Winnie the Pooh is where we'd want to live, preferably near Piglet. The library has several of A.A. Milne's books available through OverDrive. Peter Dennis reads these adventures well.
– Jennifer, Librarian
Inspector Gamache series by Lousie Penny
Three Pines, the Eastern-Township-inspired fictional setting for Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache mysteries. The series features a beautiful rural setting, an independent bookstore and a bistro with the most mouth-watering food (recipes included)! If only it didn’t have such a high murder rate.....
– Shelagh, Librarian
I have decided after much deliberation that I want to live in Three Pines, Quebec, the fictional town in Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache novels. Good points: the residents all seem to be friendly creative and/or smart people. Amenities include a good bakery, great bookstore, a bistro where everyone enjoys excellent food and banter. On the negative side: sort of a high murder rate and lots of snow. I'm not sure I'd get along with the cranky poet either.
– Margaret, Librarian
Joyful by Ingrid Fetell Lee
The author visits the most joyful places in the world!
– Camilla, Librarian
The Power by Naomi Alderman
Women all over the world develop a "skein" somewhere up around their collar bones, which gives them the power to zap anyone close to them with a jolt of electricity. Imagine being unafraid to walk alone off the beaten path late on a balmy summer night – through a park, a trail by the river, side streets, alley ways…
– Maureen, Librarian
Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett
Set in an industrial city inspired by the Italian city states, this fantasy novel has one of the most innovative magic systems I've ever encountered. Basically the consciousness of objects in the world can be manipulated when they’re inscribed (referred to in-world as "scriving") with a set of magical symbols and codes. Operating like the rules of a computer programming language in our world, scriving tricks objects into believing that they are supposed to behave differently. I don't have a background in computer science but I'd love to see scriving in action! I also love how the novel is uniquely placed to comment on the ethics of technology, intellectual property, and anticompetitive practices that create barriers to information for the less privileged members of society.
Also "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman. When her friend Roger is stolen by Gobblers, Lyra and her daemon Pan follow his trail north, meeting witch clans and armored bears. I love the idea of having a daemon, a physical manifestation of the soul in the form of an animal. Much like fans of Harry Potter like to think about what form their patronus would take, it's fun to consider what animal my daemon would be!
– Chelsea, Librarian
Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger
It's set in an alternate England in the 1800s. Sophronia attends a Finishing School where young ladies are trained to be able to finish... anything. Spies, assassins, intelligencers, all with the most genteel manners. I'd love to attend myself. Oh, there are werewolves and vampires, too! Plus dry wit and lots of humour.
It's YA. Recommended for ages 13 and up!
– Amy, Communications Officer
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Ever since I read the books (and watched the movies!) I have wanted to live in Middle Earth. The world Tolkien built is so detailed it feels like a real place, one where magic is around every corner. Also, I love elves. Sure, there are tons of monsters there that want to eat you, but nothing is perfect.
– Isabel, Librarian
Discworld series by Terry Pratchett
The series has always been on this list for me. The first book in the series is "The Colour of Magic". I think what makes me want to live there is that the world is self-consciously absurd and, as a result, anything is possible.
– Michael, Librarian
Only Print Copies Available
- Show Me the Magic: Travels Through Benin By Taxi by Annie Caulfield
- Cry of the Kalahari by Mark Owens
Children's Recommendations from the Facebook Group
These are just some of the recommendations from our Facebook TPL Reading Challenge 2020 discussion group. All of these books and series below are available as ebooks.
- Dr. Seuss books
- The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
- Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery
- Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett
- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
- Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
- The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis
- Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan
- Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan
- Pokemon series by various authors
Other Recommendations
We also had some additional recommendations from one our Reading Challenge Meetups, held back in February.
- Memoirs of Montparnasse by John Glassco
- Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey
- Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman
- Howards End by E.M. Forster
- Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
- The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald
- Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
- The Discovery of Chocolate (ebook only) by James Runcie
- Other People’s Houses by Abbi Waxman
- Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
- The Europeans by Henry James
- My Family and Other Animals, first in the Corfu trilogy by Gerald Durrell
- The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery
What did you read for "a book that you would like to live in"? Do you have other recommendations? Share in the comments below!
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