Last updated on April 21st, 2024
Books + Movies to Inspire Travel
JourneyWoman Book Club
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.
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.
Join the JourneyWoman Travel Book Club (it’s free!)
JourneyWoman Book Club Selections
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.
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.
More Books By and For Women
Women’s Travel Memoirs: Women Authors 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.
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.
Please support our book club by buying your book or ebook using the links on our site.
Explore the World With Books + Movies
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.
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.
Grief and Solo Travel: A Mother’s Memoir to Heal Her Heart
Author Becky Livingston shares the story of losing her 23-year old daughter, Rachel, and the solo journey that helped her to start healing.
5 Books by Women About Women for International Women’s Day
For International Women’s Day 2023, we feature five recently published books written by women, about women.
Discover the Wonders of Asia and India With These 10 Books
JourneyWoman travel book club partner TripFiction recommends 10 books to help solo women travelers discover the wonders of Asia.
Spark Your Curiosity With These 10 Books Set in South America
TripFiction’s Tina Hartas shares 10 books set in Central, Latin, and South America that capture the heart and soul of the countries in this incredibly culturally rich and beautiful part of the world.
G Adventures’ Bruce Poon Tip on “The Last Tourist”, Women and Sustainable Travel
JourneyWoman’s Carolyn Ray and G Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip, executive producer of “The Last Tourist”, talk about sustainable travel.
Claudia Laroye’s New Book Features Heartwarming Family Travel Stories
Claudia Laroye’s book “A Gelato a Day” includes short stories from leading travel writers that show the true impact of family travel.
Five Inspiring Books Set in the Middle East
TripFiction’s Tina Hartas recommends five books set in the Middle East, a region overflowing with history, beauty and culture.
Five Great Books to Inspire Travel to New Zealand
TripFiction’s Tina Hartas shares her top picks for women to explore New Zealand with books that reflect this rural and bucolic country.
5 Great Books to Read Before a Trip to Australia
TripFiction’s Tina Hartas recommends five books that allow travellers to see Australia through an author’s eyes.
Cambodian Author Loung Ung: A Call to Action For Women
Meet Loung Ung, a life-long activist, solo traveller, and author of ‘First They Killed My Father, a 2017 movie directed by Angelina Jolie.
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
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Rating: 2 boots / 5 – below expectations
THE CARIBBEAN
An Embarrass-ment of Mangoes
by Ann Vanderhoof
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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
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“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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