Travel Reading: Books in Situ

Posted by Grace Lichtenstein Sep 4, 2007

Last night, past midnight, I finished reading The Night Journal by Elizabeth Crook, a novel that takes place in present and past New Mexico. I stumbled upon this book in the gift shop at Pecos Pueblo, where I stopped recently.

I had never heard of this author and wondered why a novel was featured at a National Parks shop, along with the usual histories and archeology books. I discovered that the book took place in the very spot where I had bought it. My only regret was that I had not read the book while in New Mexico, so I could return to the prehistoric pueblo and "walk in the footsteps" of the chatacters. If you love New Mexico and ancient Puebloan places, I recommend this title highly.

During my summer in New Mexico and Colorado I learned about other titles and authors whose names were not familiar. That is the great attraction of reading what I call books "in situ" -- Latin for "in the place." The current best seller Eat Pray Love, which I reviewed, is fun on its own. But it must be wonderful to read it in Italy, India or Bali, where it takes place. When in California, I often read books by the likes of Joan Didion (perhaps its most gifted native writer, even though she no longer lives there) or Wallace Stegner (who was not a native, but whose Angle of Repose takes place in part there and is perhaps the finest work of historical fiction about the Gold Rush frontier west.)

Any recommendations of other great travel reads for specific places? Seniors, as we know, are the greatest class of book readers and buyers these days. Please share your favorites.