Vacations…the thing we dream about all year long until it finally, mercifully arrives at the end of summer. Some of us get more time than others, but the anticipation is basically the same for all of us. The idea of getting away from it all, finding that free abandon in unknown places…there is nothing like it.
This is why stories that focus on vacations are so exciting for us. Even if we can’t physically get away ourselves most of the time, we can always curl up with a good book at the end of the day and live vicariously through the characters that we read about. Let’s take a closer look.
Ah, vacation time…
Again, there is nothing like vacations, virtual or otherwise. Writers are well aware of this, and this is why vacation novels are so popular. Everything from Vacation with My Stepmom to The Guest List takes us away to another world, where we can mentally relocate to a place free from our usual concerns.
Escapism
This is really what it is all about, isn’t it? Anyone can go to the spa in their hometown, get a massage, and maybe even lay out in their backyard. But there is something about the act of physically getting away that is fundamentally different from simply doing relaxing or exciting things in your usual environment. Whether it be the thrill of skiing in a remote location, the relaxation of lying on white sand beaches in a distant land, or the excitement of trekking through the jungle, vacations have a way of taking us outside of ourselves.
And good vacation stories can have the same effect. Even more so; they actually provide the entire adventure for you. A well-written vacation story will have you sitting on edge, excited to know what the next page of the adventure will be. Replete with diverse characters and varied surprises, these stories can captivate readers far and wide, and keep them coming back for more.
Location, location, location
Let’s face it: location is everything. Some people can’t afford that trip around the world they’ve always dreamed of. Others don’t have time for a 19 hour flight. And there are people whose citizenship prevents them from getting the visas they seek to certain countries. With stories, however, you don’t have to worry about this (in addition to those pesky mosquitos you’d probably be swarmed by in real life!). Vacation stories can give you all the excitement of being in far-flung places without the nuisances of making your way through them.
Have you ever dreamed of vacationing in the Swiss Alps? You can surely find numerous novels that are set there. Successful novelists know the value of desirable locations, and this is why they choose them as the centers of their storylines. How about an island adventure in the South Pacific? While Lord of the Flies might be a bit much for some people, how about The Life of Pi, or Tales of the South Pacific (that’s where the musical comes from!). Whatever your geographical interest, you can find it in vacation stories.
Storylines beyond our wildest dreams
The other great thing about vacation stories is that writers are able to take vacation adventures wherever they want to go. We’ve all had the experience of arriving at that so-called “dream resort” only to find that it is a fraction of the size we want, the water runs cold, and the beach is actually 30 minutes away. But with stories, you don’t have to worry about any of these disappointments.
These stories can also take you to different time periods. Isabella Bird’s A Lady’s Life in the Rocky Mountains tells the tale of a British explorer in the American Rockies more than a century ago. Vacation stories can also cross into the realm of the surreal with books like Frank Herbert’s Dune and Denis Taylor’s Bobiverse Series. As we’ve seen, some of these books were such big hits that they got made into award-winning movies.
Inspiration for your own life
Another benefit that good vacation stories can give you is inspiration for your own life. A really rich story set in a sumptuous location can actually serve multiple practical purposes. If you’ve been thinking about quitting your day job (or convincing your boss to let you work remotely), an amazing beach novel can be just the thing you need to provide that big incentive you need.
Perhaps you might pick up a book set in a place you’ve never even heard about. If you’ve never been to a jungle before, reading something like The Lost City of Z could inspire a whole new life for you (big burgeoning digital nomad community in Costa Rica!).
Start reading, and see where it takes you
The point is, you never know. Vacation novels can take you to the places you always dreamed about, the places you never dreamed about, and so, so much more. You can experience the thrill of different terrains, cross paths with diverse peoples, fight for survival in remote places, all in the comfort of your own living room. These stories can both give you a sense of escapism after work, and possibly also inspire you to pick up and start over somewhere else. You won’t know until you start reading. So grab yourself a vacation novel today, and see where it takes you!
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