The Top 10: Summer Reads

At Indagare, we believe in the transformative power of books, and that reading has the power to broaden the mind and inspire exploration. Whether you are researching a destination prior to a months-long journey or looking for a beach read that you won't be able to put down, here are some of our favorite travel-focused reads from the past few months.

Fiction

Ways to Disappear

, Idra Novey, 2016 When a celebrated Brazilian writer suddenly disappears, her American translator travels to Rio de Janeiro to solve the mystery.

Related: Rio de Janeiro Destination Report.

The Mirror Thief, Martin Seay, 2016 Tracing three different stories of deceit and espionage, this thrilling novel takes place in Venice, Italy, Venice Beach, California and the Venice casino in Las Vegas.

Related: Venice Destination Report and Recommended Reading.

Homegoing, Yaa Gyasi, 2016 Following the lives and lineage of two half sisters in Ghana, this emotional novel spans 300 years and includes stories of the American Civil War and 20^th-century Harlem.

Monterey Bay, Lindsay Hatton, 2016 Hatton’s debut novel tells of a young woman and her relationship with a marine biologist (and his friendship with John Steinbeck), and the advent of the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

The High Mountains of Portugal, Yann Martel, 2016 Spanning 100 years, this adventure novel follows three men and their individual quests to find an ancient treasure in Lisbon.

Related: Portugal Destination Report

Nonfiction

Everybody Behaves Badly: The True Story Behind Hemingway’s Masterpiece The Sun Also Rises,

Lesley M. M. Blume, 2016 Blume tells the story of Hemingway’s rise to fame, partying ways, dalliances in Paris and Spain and lasting impact on literature.

Related: Paris Recommended Reading.

The Vanishing Velázquez: A 19^th Century Bookseller’s Obsession with a Lost Masterpiece, Laura Cumming, 2016 This true story tells of John Snare’s quest to prove the significance of a painting he finds at an auction, which turns out to be a long-lost Velázquez portrait.

Voyager: Travel Writings, Russell Banks, 2016 An award-winning writer, Banks shares his most memorable travel experiences, from interviewing Fidel Castro in Cuba to traversing Alaska’s Seward Highway.

Related: Havana Destination Report.

Only in Naples: Lessons in Food and Famiglia from my Italian Mother-in-Law, Katherine Wilson, 2016 A three-month sabbatical to Naples turns into a permanent move when Wilson discovers a new love and passion for cooking.

White Sands: Experiences from the Outside World, Geoff Dyer, 2016 This series of essays follows Dyer on a journey to find tranquility through travel, which brings him to such places as the Lightning Field in New Mexico and Watts Tower in Los Angeles.