Silver Travel Book Club
We know you love travelling, and we also know that many Silver
Travellers are just as passionate about books. So what could be better than
combining both, and giving you the chance to win a book each month?
Our Literary Editor Andrew Morris, has introduced us
to TripFiction, a
wonderful website focusing on books with a strong sense of place, allowing you
to see a location through an author's eyes. Great for reading ideas for your holiday!
Each month, we'll find out what Andrew is reading. And - thanks to TripFiction and their publishing contacts - two lucky Silver Travel Book Club readers can win a free copy of the month's book (see below).
T
o enter this month, join the forum thread here and tell us about your memories of New York City aka 'The Big Apple'. Or if you prefer, you can go to our Facebook page and post there.
Each month, we'll find out what Andrew is reading and the
location he's visiting. You can join him and - thanks to TripFiction and their
publishing contacts - some lucky Silver Travel Book Club readers can even win a
free copy of the book.
Andrew's Book of the Month - September
This month Andrew is reading Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe. This classic novel of 1980s excess introduces us to Sherman McCoy, a 'Master of the Universe' Wall Street bond trader. B
ut Sherman's extravagant Manhattan lifestyle is under threat after he takes a wrong turn into the notorious Bronx district, driving from JFK airport with his mistress.A hit and run accident puts black kid Henry Lamb in hospital, where he becomes manipulated by alcoholic hack Peter Fallow and Reverend Bacon, an opportunist preacher and political leader from Harlem.
Enter media-obsessed Bronx District Attorney Abe Weiss, and Sherman is really up against it.
This was Tom Wolfe's debut novel and transports us to the glamorous heights and the sleazy depths of New York City through a perceptive narrative and vivid characterisations.
We’d love to hear about your own memories and images of the Big Apple. Join the Forum thread and the best entries from Silver Travellers before September 30th will win a copy of The Bonfire of the Vanities.
Andrew's Book of the Month - August
This month Andrew is reading The Rome Affair by Karen Swan, a book which brings the glamorous capital city of Italy to life, and sounds like the perfect summer novel to take on your travels.
1974 and Elena Damiani lives a gilded life. Born to wealth and a noted beauty, no door is closed to her, no man can resist her. At twenty-six, she is already onto her third husband when she meets her love match. But he is the one man she can never have, and all the beauty and money in the world can't change it.2017 and Francesca Hackett is living la dolce vita in Rome, leading tourist groups around the Eternal City and forgetting the ghosts she left behind in London. When she finds a stolen designer handbag in her dustbin and returns it, she is brought into the orbit of her grand neighbour who lives across the piazza - famed socialite Viscontessa Elena dei Damiani Pignatelli della Mirandola. Though the purse is stolen, Elena greets the return of the bag with exultation for it contains an unopened letter written by her husband on his deathbed, twelve years earlier.
Mutually intrigued by each other, the two women agree to collaborate on a project, with Cesca interviewing Elena for her memoirs. As summer unfurls, Elena tells her sensational stories, leaving Cesca in her thrall. But when a priceless diamond ring found in an ancient tunnel below the city streets is ascribed to Elena, Cesca begins to suspect a shocking secret at the heart of Elena's life.
The winners of the August Book Club Prize were Silvertravellerfan, LH and Manja, who are all delighted to win a copy of The Rome Affair by Karen Swan.
Andrew's Book of the Month - July
This month Andrew is reading The Talented Mr. Ripley. Written by Patricia Highsmith in 1955, this is a stylish psychological thriller and the author's first outing for Tom Ripley. Four more followed and the series has collectively become known as the Ripliad. But the original remains the best known, partly no doubt because of the hugely successful 1999 film adaptation, starring Matt Damon, Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Tom Ripley is a low-life
chancer, languishing in New York, until offered an attractive
proposition by wealthy shipping magnate Herbert Greenleaf; go to Italy
and retrieve errant son Dickie from his hedonistic lifestyle, and
persuade him to return to the US to join the family business.Tom ingratiates himself into Dickie's entourage and is soon enjoying the luxurious life too. Reluctant to return to his own sad life, how far will Tom go to ensure he lives as self-indulgent an existence as Dickie?
Taking us from 'Mongibello' to San Remo, Rome and Venice, the author effortlessly transports the action around Italy and inside the head of twisted, talented sociopath Tom Ripley.
The winners of the July Book Club Prize were Grey-Wolf and applegroupie, who are both delighted to win a copy of The Talented Mr Ripley by Patricia Highsmith.
Andrew's Book of the Month - June
This month Andrew is reading Into the Water by Paula Hawkins, the much anticipated follow up to her 2015 blockbuster debut The Girl on the Train.
Based in the imaginary town of Beckford, in rural Northumberland, Paula describes her new novel as “a psychological suspense novel centred on the fractured relationship between two sisters, Nel and Jules. When Nel dies unexpectedly, Jules finds herself trying to figure out not just what has happened to her elder sister, but what has happened between the two of them to leave them so estranged. This is a book of many mysteries. It is about searching for answers, for meaning.”“Jules is afraid. So afraid. Of her long-buried memories, of the old Mill House, of knowing that Nel would never have jumped. And most of all she’s afraid of the water, and the place they call the Drowning Pool . . .”
Into The Water is a very different read to the Silver Travel Book Club’s first Book of the Month – Rosanna Ley’s The Little Theatre by the Sea – in terms of genre, complexity and location!
The winners of the June Book Club Prize were Sally Hill and Denise Bridge who are both delighted to win a copy of Into the Water.
Andrew's Book of the Month for May
In May, Andrew was reading Rosanna Ley's latest novel The Little Theatre
by the Sea. The author whisks you off to sunny Sardinia, with an
enchanting tale of intrigue and romance, whilst immersed in local food, wine
and culture. And travelling with Silver Travel Advisor partner Sardatur
Holidays, Andrew is planning to visit sunny Sardinia to follow in the
footsteps of Rosanna's principal character, interior designer Faye.
He will visit the real town that becomes fictional Deriu in
the novel, the location of the mystery-laden Little Theatre by the Sea. He'll
visit the walled Catalan city of Alghero, which Faye explores with her father
on a road-trip while they both mark time at important times in their lives. And
he'll force himself to try some of the Sardinian food and wine that Faye enjoys
whilst working on the historic theatre.
Read all about Andrew’s trip to Sardinia in search of Faye.
The winners of the May Book Club Prize were Sally Dowling and Mags Addison who were each delighted to win a copy of The Little Theatre by the Sea.
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To leave a comment, please Sign inOther Members' Thoughts - 16 Comment(s)
Our first book was Rosanna Ley's "The Little Theatre by the Sea", based in Sardinia. I have just got back from there, following in the footsteps of the author, her characters and locations. Read about my adventures #OnLiteraryLocation here: https://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/forums/travel-places/5823-silver-travel-book-club
Our current book is "Into the Water" by Paula Hawkins, based in rural Northumberland. If you haven't already found it, there is a separate Forum thread here, where the best two entries talking about their own Northumbrian adventures and memories: https://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/forums/travel-places/5903-silver-travel-book-club-book-of-the-month-june-2017
Good luck and enjoy!
Andrew
There is now a separate forum thread for the June Book of the Month - Into the Water by Paula Hawkins - here, by the way: https://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/forums/travel-places/5903-silver-travel-book-club-book-of-the-month-june-2017
And don't forget to check out http://www.tripfiction.com/ for books firmly located in the places you have already visited...or why not before you travel, and during your trip?
Happy reading, and happy travelling!
Andrew
I’m off to Sardinia in June, to follow in the footsteps of Rosanna Ley’s character Faye from The Little Theatre by the Sea, the first Silver Travel Book club of the month.
Thanks to Silver Travel partner Sardatur Holidays, I’ll be staying on the west coast of this beautiful island and close to unspoiled Bosa, the town that was the inspiration for Rosanna’s fictional village of Deriu. It’s here where Faye helps with the restoration of the village’s old theatre, and uncovers secrets from the past that nobody could have foreseen.
I will try to bring some of Faye’s story to life for you, meeting some of the people from this pastel-coloured village on the river Temo, immersing myself in the area’s history culture, food and wine, just as Faye did.
Join me on this literary journey….the essence of TripFiction http://www.tripfiction.com/
Andrew
Other Silver Travellers are probably better qualified to give ideas on art & poetry etc., but I'll put my creative thinking cap on too.
What a great trip to look forward to this summer. What is your son doing in HK?
Andrew
I'm not at all sure that this is any use to you in understanding the place better, but if you come across a local with european features, say hello from their Uncle Riversiderouge!!!!
@Riversiderouge - I haven't read The Island yet, but I can imagine a trip to Spinalonga Island would be a very moving experience. Victoria Hislop does vast research for her books, and captures places and history really well, doesn't she? I loved learning about Thessaloniki's tumultuous history through her characters in The Thread. I don't think she has strayed far from Greece in her novels yet, but perhaps she might one day...
Did you enjoy Thessaloniki? A friend lent me The Thread before going there, and it really helped us to understand the city's history better. I even tweeted Victoria Hislop when we were there, to ask where one of the churches in the book were.
https://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/blog/destination-features-europe-greece/thessaloniki-a-historical-and-modern-greek-city
The essence of TripFiction and exactly why we set up the Silver Travel Book Club.
Looking forward to reading more and getting the recommendations.
Enjoy Sardinia.
Welcome to the first adventure for the Silver Travel Book Club.
Rosanna Ley's The Little Theatre by the Sea takes us to Sardinia, where newly qualified interior designer Faye is hired to restore the beautiful - but sadly now crumbling - old theatre in Deriu. It turns out to hold some rather interesting secrets...
Where have you been in Sardinia, and what captivated you most? The two best entries on this forum thread will each win a hardback copy of the book, and we can follow in Faye's Sardinian footsteps together.
Looking forward to loads more adventures with you and the Silver Travel Book Club. Where would you like to go next?
Andrew