With many of us under lockdown and holiday plans thrown into disarray through border closures, it's time for us to travel in our minds.

This week, we bring you the remarkable story of Angela Maxwell who went for a walk around the world and returned six years later.

With a budget of $5 a day, Angela walked some 20,000km across four continents, 14 countries and a handful of islands.

She discovered the best and worst of humanity, and whether you're an adventurer or a homebody, her story holds lessons for us all.

Next up: at this year's Sydney Writers' Festival, The Bookshelf's Kate Evans spoke to acclaimed writers Heather Rose (The Museum of Modern Love), Maxine Beneba Clarke (The Hate Race), Tegan Bennett Daylight (Six Bedrooms) and Richard Fidler (The Golden Maze) about the books that have transported them to places both real and imagined.

We've compiled them for you so you can travel vicariously from your living room.
 

Until next time,
Annika Blau, digital editor
 

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Angela Maxwell encountered the best and the worse in humanity when she set off on an adventure to see the world.

Some of Australia's favourite authors recommend books that’ll take you to places both real and imagined.

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