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Taking a novel abroad has become one of the key traditions of going on holiday. Whether you’re sunbathing on a beach or lying in bed after a night’s travelling, there are many times during your trip when you will want to curl up with a good book. Here is a short list of five novels which are perfect for the job.

Live and Let Die by Ian Fleming

The second novel to star James Bond, and the first to truly solidify the formula. Above all else, Live and Let Die emphasises location: Bond travels from the backstreets of Florida to a small Jamaican island on the tail of the villainous Mr. Big. Exotic settings were a big part of the Bond novels’ success, as contemporary readers could not afford flights abroad. The basic appeal is as a strong as ever, however, and reading about 007’s daring journeys while on holiday yourself will enhance the experience.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

A holiday is not just a time to forget your worries, it is also a time to consider yourself and your place in the world. This is a central theme in Yann Martel’s poplar novel Life of Pi: Pi is a young man who becomes stranded on a boat with nothing but a tiger for company. As he tames the wild beast he undergoes a series of strange experiences which make him question the distinction between fantasy and reality.

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

There is always room for a great love story while you are on holiday. Better still, there is always room for a love story which is also a brilliant novel in its own right. Anna Karenina is a fine example of the epic Russian novel, one which maintains a great scope while focusing on a relatively small cast. A perfect book to lose yourself in while you have the spare time.

Salem’s Lot by Stephen King

If you fancy something a little darker for your holiday read, the chunky novels of Stephen King will be right up your street. Salem’s Lot is a contemporary update of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, with a vampire invading a small town in 1970s America – with the passage of time, this setting has taken on a bit of an exotic appeal of its own, just as much as the Victorian England of Stoker.

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

Speaking of the Victorian era, let us close this list with a genuine classic, one which has been read and loved for more than a century and a half. The story follows David Copperfield as he grows from childhood, encountering an entire cast of unforgettable characters along the way. With its wide scope and addictive storytelling structure, reading this while you’ve got a few weeks of spare time will remind you exactly why Dickens has stuck with us all these years.

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