Last updated on May 16th, 2024
Books + Movies to Inspire Travel
JourneyWoman Book Club
Ten Great Novels About Mother and Daughter Relationships for Mother’s Day
For Mother’s Day, we’ve curated 10 novels about mother and daughter relationships, set in different locations around the world.
Finding Joy: Rona Maynard and Life Lessons From Casey, her “Starter Dog”
A candid, funny conversation with feminist icon Rona Maynard, who shares her journey of reinvention after her career at Canada’s Chatelaine magazine.
Six Travel Guidebooks to Explore Less-Travelled Places and Travel at Home in Canada
Written by local travel writers, these guidebooks for Canada will help you plan your travel to Eastern Ontario, Alberta or Saskatchewan.
Join the JourneyWoman Travel Book Club (it’s free!)
In 2024, our book club meetings are quarterly, at 8 pm ET. Upcoming dates are August 21 (The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey, set in India), and November 20, 2024 (The Crimson Thread by Kate Forsyth). Read more about the books here. Sign up for and watch club events on our Events Page here. Email [email protected] with any questions.
JourneyWoman Book Club Selections
“Dust Child” by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai Tells Untold Stories of the Impact of the Vietnam War
Set in 1969 to the present day, Dust Child, by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai tells the story of four lives entwined forever by the Vietnam War.
A Book for Bookstore Lovers: “The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry”
Set on a fictional island in the US, “The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry” is a powerful reminder about what saves us from loneliness and isolation.
Holiday Gift Guide: Our Top Travel Books for Women, From the JourneyWoman Book Club
With the holidays approaching, the JourneyWoman Book Club team reflects on our top books to inspire travel in 2024 and beyond.
More Books By and For Women
Travel By Book: 12 Countries Solo Women Love
TripFiction’s Tina Hartas helps us travel by book to 12 countries that solo women plan to visit in 2023, from Africa to Peru.
Karen Gershowitz Sparks “Wanderlust” and Curiosity With New Travel Book
With her new book, “Wanderlust”, Karen Gershowitz embraces curiosity to step into the unknown for more meaningful travel experiences.
Ten Great Books Set in The Mediterranean
These ten books set in the Mediterranean will have you planning travels to less-travelled islands like Alba, Crete and Sardinia in no time!
Please support our book club by buying your book or ebook using the links on our site.
Explore the World With Books + Movies
Literary Adventures: Travel in France and Italy With Best-Selling Authors
Loved the book? Now you can join a trip with best-selling authors to France and Italy, curated by Absolutely Southern France.
Finding Joy: Rona Maynard and Life Lessons From Casey, her “Starter Dog”
A candid, funny conversation with feminist icon Rona Maynard, who shares her journey of reinvention after her career at Canada’s Chatelaine magazine.
Six Travel Guidebooks to Explore Less-Travelled Places and Travel at Home in Canada
Written by local travel writers, these guidebooks for Canada will help you plan your travel to Eastern Ontario, Alberta or Saskatchewan.
“Brightening My Corner”: Ruth Malloy’s Memoir Shares Dreams Fulfilled
Chinese-Canadian journalist Ruth Lor Malloy, 91, shares her life’s work to foster intercultural dialogue and justice for marginalized groups.
Never Too Old to Travel Solo: At 86, Joyce Perrin is Still Making Connections
You’re never too old to travel solo, says 86-year old author Joyce Perrin in her memoir, “Ants in My Pants”. Join Joyce and other 80+ authors on our September 28 webinar.
Female Solo Travel: 10 Books to Inspire Your Next Adventure
Ten books by women that will have you planning your next solo adventures, from Dervla Murphy to Cheryl Strayed.
Ten Great Books with Books at Their Heart
What better way to appreciate the world of books than to pick up one of these ten great books that are, essentially, about other books.
Travel By Book: 12 Countries Solo Women Love
TripFiction’s Tina Hartas helps us travel by book to 12 countries that solo women plan to visit in 2023, from Africa to Peru.
Karen Gershowitz Sparks “Wanderlust” and Curiosity With New Travel Book
With her new book, “Wanderlust”, Karen Gershowitz embraces curiosity to step into the unknown for more meaningful travel experiences.
Ten Great Books Set in The Mediterranean
These ten books set in the Mediterranean will have you planning travels to less-travelled islands like Alba, Crete and Sardinia in no time!
Women’s Travel Memoirs: Women Authors Over 50 Share Their Solo Journeys
Join us on May 25 to learn about these four inspiring solo travel memoirs written by women from the JourneyWoman community.
Five Beloved Books That Connect Women to Trees
Curated for Earth Month, these beloved five books about trees remind us of the wisdom of listening to the forest.
Need more travel inspiration?
Listen to our JourneyWoman TravelReady Playlist on Spotify and add your own songs.
Click here to listen!
JourneyWoman Book Club: 2020-2021 Reads
Please check for upcoming book clubs on Eventbrite. All Book Clubs are recorded and available on our YouTube channel. Subscribe here.
GReeCE
A House in Corfu: A Sojourn in Greece
by Emma Tennant
ABOUT THE BOOK
Rating: 2 boots / 5 – below expectations
THE CARIBBEAN
An Embarrass-ment of Mangoes
by Ann Vanderhoof
ABOUT THE BOOK
Rating: 4 boots / 5 – fun – made us want to live on a sailboat!
Morocco + Mali
Morocco to Timbuktu: An Arabian Adventure
by Alice Morrison
ABOUT THE BOOK
Rating: 3.5 boots / 5 – loved its authenticity
Africa
Nervous Conditions
by Tsitsi Dangarembga
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Rating: 3 boots / 5 – Empowering and inspiring!
Egypt
Mistress of Nothing
by Kate Pullinger
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Rating: 3.5 boots / 5 – a step back into history
Portugal
300 Days of Sun
by Deborah Lawrenson
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Rating: 3.5 boots / 5 – learned about spies!
Iraq, Ethiopia, Egypt, Pakistan, Morocco
Travels with my Hat
by Christine Osborne
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Rating: 4.5 boots / 5 – a must-read for solo travellers
Ireland
By the Lake
by John McGahern
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Rating: 3.5 boots / 5 – a classic, beautifully written!
United States
The Kitchen House
by Kathleen Grissom
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Rating: 4.5 boots / 5 – illuminating and engaging
SPAIN
Driving Over Lemons
by Chris Stewart
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Rating: 3.5 boots / 5 – Fun and authentic
Italy
Lady in the Palazzo
by Marlena de Blasi
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Rating: 3 boots / 5 – rambling but interesting
France
The Lost Vintage
by Ann Mah
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Rating: 3 boots / 5 – history + wine, a great combination
BALI, MEXICO + MORE
Tales of a Female Nomad
by Rita Golden Gelman
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Rating: 4.5 boots / 5 – loved it all!
Silk Route
Lands of Lost Borders: Out of Bounds on the Silk Road
by Kate Harris
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Rating: 4 boots / 5 – an unexpected ride
TANZANIA
Our House in Arusha
by Sara Tucker
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Rating: 3.5 boots / 5 – wanted more of her story
ARCTIC CIRCLE
The Magnetic North: Notes from the Arctic Circle
by Sara Wheeler
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Rating: 3 boots: an intellectual read!
CUBA
The Cuban Chronicles: A True Tale of Rascals, Rogues and Romance
by Wanda St. Hillaire
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SICILY
From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Healing and Finding Home
by Tembi Locke
ABOUT THE BOOK
“For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth.
What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet or excite you. Books help us understand who we are and how we are to behave. They show us what community and friendship mean; they show us how to live and die.”
– Anne Lamont, Bird by Bird
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We only recommend things that are suggested by our community or through our own experience that we believe will be practical and helpful for you. We welcome your questions and feedback about any articles published on our site.
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