I love it when a book has such a beautifully well-written atmosphere, it just picks me up and carries me away. It is the best feeling and is usually what makes a book a favourite for me. So here are some I’d recommend with amazing atmospheres.
Daisy Jones and the Six, Taylor Jenkins Reid
Daisy Jones and the Six was such a fun and quick book to read, but it did such a good job of creating an atmosphere. I loved following the separate storylines of Daisy Jones and the band, The Six and seeing the two different worlds they were from. It built up the atmosphere and meant this book totally swept me away in it’s storytelling.
The Shadow of the Wind, Carlos Ruiz Zafón
This is one of my all-time favourite books. A book about books. A book about adventure. And certainly a book with a hypnotising atmosphere. It doesn’t hurt that The Shadow of the Wind is set in Barcelona, which only adds to the beautiful writing and calm, scenic atmosphere that Carlos Ruiz Zafón paints throughout his writing in this series.
The Little Paris Bookshop, Nina George
This book paints a perfect picture of a serene, culture-driven Paris as we follow the main character on his floating Literary Apothecary. The writing is beautiful and the journey you go on whilst reading this book has you totally swept up in its pages, filled with writing that puts you exactly in each scene. This book really did hypnotise me from page one with its stunning atmospheric writing.
The Secret History, Donna Tartt
I read The Secret History whilst I was in Rome, which just felt perfect because this book is filled with history, culture and adventure. It has a musty, old feel to it when reading, which I mean in a very good way. The atmosphere of this book really oozes out of the paragraphs and words as you read it and you feel like you’re really inside the story with the students it centres around.
The Bridges of Madison County, Robert James Waller
This book will always hold a special place in my heart. It is a very simple story, a short book and a beautiful tale. The setting is quite limited, but this is what makes it so meaningful. It is the characters that make this book feel so atmospheric, the two main characters are so passionate and captivating that they bring the pages to life and make it all feel real.
I’d love to know what books you think of for having a stunning atmosphere?
Great post, Beth! I agree that Daisy Jones has one of the best atmospheres! It completely drew me into the story when I read it last years 💕
OMG… I absolutely HATED Bridges. But hey, no two people read the same book, as they say.
I so agree with Daisy Jones and The Secret History! Still need to get around to The Shadow of the Wind though oop