Last updated on June 17th, 2024
Books + Movies to Inspire Travel
JourneyWoman Book Club
August Book Club: The Widows of Malabar Hill, Based on the Story of India’s First Female Lawyer
Inspired in part by a real woman who became India’s first female lawyer, The Widows of Malabar Hill brings us to 1920s Bombay.
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.
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
August Book Club: The Widows of Malabar Hill, Based on the Story of India’s First Female Lawyer
Inspired in part by a real woman who became India’s first female lawyer, The Widows of Malabar Hill brings us to 1920s Bombay.
“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.
Please support our book club by buying your book or ebook using the links on our site.
Explore the World With Books + Movies
August Book Club: The Widows of Malabar Hill, Based on the Story of India’s First Female Lawyer
Inspired in part by a real woman who became India’s first female lawyer, The Widows of Malabar Hill brings us to 1920s Bombay.
Eight New “Soulful” Travel Books by Women to Add to Your Reading List
Get inspired with these new books from Soul of Travel Podcast guests on solo travel adventures, mindful travel and self-discovery.
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.
“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.
Never Too Late: Bestselling Women Authors Over 50
Ten exceptional women authors over 50 who prove that experience and mature reflection is welcomed, showing us it’s never too late to publish.
10 Books to Inspire Travel to South Africa
In preparation for JourneyWoman’s 30th Anniversary expedition trip in November 2024, we’ve curated 10 books about South Africa for curious travellers.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“The Joy of Exploring Gardens” by Lonely Planet: A New Travel Guide for Garden Lovers
“The Joy of Exploring Gardens” by Lonely Planet takes readers on a journey to some of the world’s most uplifting gardens.
With “Nature Swagger”, Rue Mapp Writes a Love Letter to the Outdoors — And Invites Us to Find Joy in Nature
Outdoor Afro Founder and CEO Rue Mapp, winner of the 2023 JourneyWoman Award for lifetime achievement, talks about her hope for the future and her book, Nature Swagger.
Lisa See’s “Lady Tan’s Circle of Women” Celebrates the Bonds Between Women
Meet bestselling author Lisa See, Author, “Lady Tan’s Circle of Women”, at our November 15 Book Club.
Pip William’s “The Dictionary of Lost Words” Shows How Language Shapes our World
Our October 2023 Book of the Month, “The Dictionary of Lost Words”, explores the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary and how words mean different things to men and women.
Six New Travel Books for the 2023-24 JourneyWoman Book Club
Our JourneyWoman Book Club members have spoken! Announcing six new book selections to help women learn and travel by book.
Maria Dueñas’ Wartime Spy Novel “The Time In Between” Travels Back to 1930s Tangiers
In Maria Duenas’ “The Time In Between”, we learn about the Spanish Civil War from the perspective of a seamstress turned skillful spy.
“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.
Sarah Winman’s “Still Life”: A Love Letter to Florence, Italy
Sarah Winman’s captivating novel “Still Life”, set in Florence, Italy, brings the magic of chance encounters and kindred spirits to life.
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.
Getting Real About Spain’s Camino with Jane Christmas and “What the Psychic Told The Pilgrim”
Jane Christmas’s funny memoir of her 780-kilometre trek across Spain on the Camino de Santiago to celebrate her 50th birthday and midlife.
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.
Abi Daré’s Book “The Girl With the Louding Voice” Inspires Hope
Abi Daré’s debut novel, “The Girl With the Louding Voice”, is the unforgettable story of Adunni, a 14-year-old Nigerian girl.
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.
Travel to Japan with Rebecca Copeland’s Suspenseful Novel “The Kimono Tattoo”
Set in Kyoto, Japan, Rebecca Copeland’s thriller “The Kimono Tattoo” shows a deep reverence for Japanese culture.
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.
10 Intriguing Books Set in Great Britain and Ireland
Take a break from the classics and discover these 10 intriguing books set in Great Britain and Ireland, from city to countryside.
Set in New Zealand, “Remember Me” Asks ‘Are Some Secrets Best Left Buried?’
Charity Norman’s latest book “Remember Me”, set in New Zealand’s mystical Ruahine Range, is a suspenseful story of love, secrets and loss.
Six Women’s Writing Retreats in Magical Places
Five women’s writing retreats to help women share their stories in Italy, France, Japan, Spain and Morocco.
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
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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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