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Tag Archives: travel writing
Another Country
Another Country by Nicolas Rothwell. Post by Brenda from Southport Branch library. Nicolas Rothwell is an award winning Author and Journalist who has written a number of books and articles. As a correspondent for “The Australian” he has travelled the … Continue reading
Posted in Book reviews
Tagged Australia, Australian author, Indigenous Australians, non-fiction, Outback, travel writing
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Absolutely Faking It
Absolutely Faking It – Tiana Templeman post by Bindi from Southport Branch Library. Tiana Templeman was one of the Literati authors presenting a Master Class across the library branches. Her session on Pitching To Publishers was so interesting that I … Continue reading
Sing, and don’t cry: a Mexican journal
Sing, and don’t cry : a Mexican journal by Cate Kennedy Review by Jennifer, Southport Branch Library Sing, and Don’t Cry appeals as it is not your usual travel book. It documents the experience undertaken in the 1990s by … Continue reading
Stunning – Nomad: bringing your travels home
Sibella Court is a stylist, a designer, a shop owner & a talented author. Her new book, Nomad: bringing your travels home is a colourful account of her travels, a unique take on the travel diary. The book jacket caught my eye, a magic carpet look – I was immediately intrigued by this concept.
Nomad starts in Japan with pictures of the streets of Tokyo, Fukuoka & Mt Koya. The images are absolutely striking and the snippets of information added to my pleasure. Following Japan, is the Italian towns of Naples & Sorrento where the seaside locations are a standout. Next is India – Delhi, Jaipur & the Thar Desert are appreciated with elegant floral arrangements and lanterns. The book then moves to Syria where the Demascus Rose takes pride of place on the page as Court talks about its origins & its intoxicating scent. The final destination on her journey is Mexico City & the array of colour is truly amazing, full of pretty pinks and gorgeous greens. I found the Day of the Dead an interesting tradition & the hand-tooled willow chair certainly unique.
The final pages of this discovery journal lists Court’s favourite books, music, movies & magazines she credits as her inspiration to travel. This book is lovely. The only downfall I must comment on is that the page’s are a little dark so I found it hard to read the print at times. Apart from this minor criticism its really wonderfully put together & an essential read for people who enjoy travel, especially the hidden cultural details of places often missed on travellers itinerary.
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Posted in Book reviews
Tagged Australian books, Australian author, travel writing, Sibella Court, Nomad
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Every Day in Tuscany
Every Day in Tuscany by Frances Mayes. This is a great sequel to Frances Mayes bestselling books ‘Under the Tuscan Sun’ and ‘Bella Tuscany’, and continues her love affair with the Italian countryside – the people, the food, and the … Continue reading
The Spirit Wrestlers by Philip Marsden
I once visited Russia and Eastern Europe many years ago. I was excited to visit these places behind the communist curtain. I was also attracted to the folk lore and traditions of these Eastern European countries.
The Spirit Wrestlers by Philip Marsden was a wonderful book to read regarding these earlier times. It is actually a travel book interspersed with stories of people the writer interviewed and met.
It was a different book as he travelled to distant places and mountain villages, attended a prayer meeting, met a priest who was building a church, a painter who explained that the images and beautiful paintings of religious icons, etc for some people would be the closest they would have been able to come in understanding God for some of the people. (I expect in times when people may have been illiterate.) There were images described of Cossack horsemen riding across the plains which seemed to be so evocative and real. Continue reading
eNews Review – Sideways: Travels with Kafka, Hunter S, and Kerouac
Following is the latest in our series of reviews featured in the Library eNewsletter. If you are not a subscriber, why not sign up to receive the latest news of library events and happenings including author talks, workshops and tasty morsels about what’s cooking in the world on publishing.
Kimberley has provided the following review featured in the September issue of Library eNews.
A fellow colleague suggested I read Patrick O’Neil’s debut novel Sideways: Travels with Kafka, Hunter S, and Kerouac and as I do judge a book by its cover, I couldn’t resist.
O’Neil’s colourful travel memoir successfully captures the spirit of his literary heroes. O’Neil quits his desk job, breaks up with his girlfriend, sells all his belongings and flings himself at the mercy of the world. Here he abandons the popular backpackers route for a Kafkaesque Desert odyssey, a Beat inspired encounter with lawless cops in Rio, and predictably a Hunter S peyote-fuelled panic in the middle of nowhere.
Along the way, this Melbourne local finds inspiration, enlightenment and discovers the way forward isn’t necessarily straight ahead. A thoroughly entertaining, bag packing, flight booking book, where five-star accommodation and comfort looks almost boring.
(Editors note: The very charming Patrick O’Neil was one of the Literati cohort for 2010 and for those who met him, there were many more stories that didn’t make it into the book!) Continue reading
The Unlikely Voyage of Jack De Crow by A.J. Mackinnon
Jack De Crow is a little yellow dinghy complete with life-saving cream, that finds itself in the hands of a optimisitic but unprepared and ill-equipped captain, Australian author A.J. “Sandy” Mackinnon. Armed with a pith helmet, moderate sailing experience, an inability to row, and a collection of useless maps, he travels along the great rivers of Europe from Wales to Romania. This 4000 klm adventure will have you laughing out loud and shaking your head in disbelief at the brilliant insanity of his escapades.
Definitely aimed at armchair travellers as no one else would be crazy enough to use it as a travel guide, but once you start this journey it is difficult to stop.
If you like reading this genre, you may like to try Driving over lemons and The Almond Blossom Appreciation Society by Chris Stewart and A piano in the Pyrenees by Tony Hawks. Continue reading
Posted in Book reviews
Tagged A.J. Mackinnon, travel writing, unlikely voyage of jack de crow
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Author Encounter with Patrick O’Neil
Patrick O’Neil has worked as a cleaner at a butcher shop, a waiter, barman, newspaper copy boy and reporter on a Melbourne metro daily newspaper before quitting to travel and become a full-time writer. His debut memoir, Sideways: Travels with … Continue reading
Traveling with pomegranates: a mother-daughter story
I was drawn to this book firstly because of its title, travel and pomegranates are both favourites, and because of the mother daughter theme.
The book is an account of the travels in Greece, Turkey, and France, of Sue Monk Kidd, author of The secret life of bees, and her daughter, Ann Kidd Taylor. This is an introspective book, with both women reflecting on personal issues : Sue coming to terms with turning fifty, which she seems to consider as growing old, and Ann struggling with depression and her own sense of failure because she wasn’t accepted into the degree of her choice.
There are chapters of the book I really loved, including Sue and Ann’s visit to the medieval city of Rocamadour, which I have recently visited’ and found to be a truly a magical place. Sue describes Rocamadour perfectly, “clamped against a rugged four-hundred-ninety-foot cliff that rises out of the valley like some mystical province in the clouds. The Alzou River surrounds it like an old moat, the gorge floats in thin, austere haze, and the churches and houses appear to be bolted directly to the rock face. Crowning the summit is an actual fouteenth-century castle complete with ramparts.”
Rocamadour also has a nine-hundred-year old Black Virgin, one of the many venerable Madonnas of Europe and the main focus of the trip for Sue; for Ann it’s the Greek myth of Demeter and Persephone and Joan of Arc. The amount of detail about feministic icons and their fixation on the Virgin Mary is tiresome at times and there is a bit too much navel gazing for my taste.
Their recounting of inner journeys, experiences in finding themselves and their potential to accomplish their dreams, including writing this book, somewhat made up for the obsession with mythology and feminist icons. The book is beautifully written and offers an insight into the writing of The Secret Life of Bees. I would not label the book as a must read, but it is interesting…especially if you are a mother with a daughter and like travelling and pomegranates.
Go ahead and read it and see what you think. I would be interested to know. Continue reading
Posted in Book reviews
Tagged sue monk kidd, travel writing, Traveling with pomegranates
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