Last updated on February 15th, 2024
Books + Movies to Inspire Travel
JourneyWoman Book Club
Featured Book Club Meeting: Lisa See, Author of “Lady Tan’s Cirlce of Women” (November 2023)
Our 2024 Book Club
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.
Join Our Women’s Travel Book Club
We partner with TripFiction to present you with compelling reads set in incredible locations. The TripFiction database has thousands of location-based books set all around the world to transport you to a location of your dreams – or, perhaps one you are about to visit. Looking for book ideas? Visit TripFiction’s Great Reads page and use the map to find the book of your dreams.
Since our book club began in 2021, we’ve read over 40 books and reviewed many others. In 2024, we will be holding quarterly virtual book club meetings. All meetings are recorded on our YouTube channel. Please check our Events page for the next one. If you are purchasing a book, please support us by using the links on our site. We recommend you order books in advance, check your local library, use audiobooks or share!
2023 Book Club Selections
Travel by Book to South America with Isabel Allende’s “Eva Luna”
Set in South America, our February Book is Isabel Allende’s “Eva Luna” which explores the transformative power of words and stories.
The JourneyWoman Book Club Travels to Ukraine With Erin Litteken’s “The Memory Keeper of Kyiv”
JourneyWoman readers have chosen Erin Litteken’s “The Memory Keeper of Kyiv”, set in Ukraine, as our January 2023 Book of the Month.
Introducing the 2023 JourneyWoman Travel Book Club Selections
Introducing our first round of books for the 2023 JourneyWoman Travel Book Club, as chosen by our readers.
Laura Maya’s Memoir “Tell Them My Name” Celebrates Curiosity and Exploration
Laura Maya’s new memoir, “Tell Them My Name”, takes us to Nepal to explore the beauty of our differences and the joy of exploration.
“The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” Affirms the Nourishing Power of Books
Our October book of the month explores the little-known history of the German occupation of Guernsey and affirms the power of the written word.
Travel to Morocco With Vendela Vida’s “The Diver’s Clothes Lie Empty”
Set in Morocco, Vendela Vida’s novel “The Diver’s Clothes Lie Empty” features a solo traveller on her own journey to identity.
Previous Book Club Selections
Travel by Book to Tangier, Morocco with “Tangerine” by Christine Mangan
For our March 2023 book of the month, we return to Morocco, for a gripping psychological thriller set in 1950s Tangier.
Travel by Book to South America with Isabel Allende’s “Eva Luna”
Set in South America, our February Book is Isabel Allende’s “Eva Luna” which explores the transformative power of words and stories.
The JourneyWoman Book Club Travels to Ukraine With Erin Litteken’s “The Memory Keeper of Kyiv”
JourneyWoman readers have chosen Erin Litteken’s “The Memory Keeper of Kyiv”, set in Ukraine, as our January 2023 Book of the Month.
Please support our book club by buying your book or ebook using the links on our site.
Explore the World With Books + Movies
With “Travel Mania”, Karen Gershowitz Hopes to Inspire Women to Travel Solo
Karen Gershowitz’ new book, “Travel Mania”, shares a lifetime of travel stories as inspiration for solo women travellers to take the first step.
10 Books to Make You Fall in Love With Italy… Again
Tina Hartas from TripFiction shares 10 books about Italy that will make you fall in love with this country all over again.
Margaret’s Travel Treats: 10 of the Best Travel Documentaries to Feed a Curious Mind
As we look to future travel, here are a fresh selection of films and documentaries shared by JourneyWoman Margaret Byrne in Australia to ease her border blues.
Women’s Travel Memoirs: Kelly Lewis Inspires With Stories of ‘Unstoppable Women’ in ‘Tell Her She Can’t”
Entrepreneur and traveller Kelly Lewis shares stories of women overcoming adversity in her new book “Tell Her She Can’t: Inspiring Stories of Unstoppable Women.”
Six Books About Midlife Misadventures on the Camino de Santiago
Six books about the Camino de Santiago, from midlife misadventures to practical guides, all recommended by women.
Step Into a Timeless World in “A House in Corfu: A Family’s Sojourn in Greece” by Emma Tennant
In Emma Tennant’s memoir “A House in Corfu” we visit Greece and celebrate the joy of a timeless world, one of vine, olive and sea.
23 Women Whose Travel Memoirs Will Inspire Your Next Journey
There is no shortage of incredible travel memoirs written by women. Here are 23 of our favourite authors, as recommended by our readers.
Travelling the World Through Dance: How Aliénor Salmon Found Happiness by Taking the First Step
In Finding Rhythm: An International Dance Journey, Aliénor Salmon embarks on a dance journey around the world, discovering how beautiful life can be when you take the first step.
Leslie Ehm: Lessons From My Mother, the Original JourneyWoman, Evelyn Hannon
With the publication of her new book, ‘Swagger’, Leslie Ehm shares lessons learned from her mother, Evelyn Hannon, the founder of JourneyWoman.
Bike The Silk Route in Kate Harris’ Memoir “Lands of Lost Borders”
Kate Harris’ memoir ‘Lands of Lost Borders: Out of Bounds on the Silk Road’, follows Marco Polo’s journey across Asia.
The Ultimate Women’s Travel Movie List: 16+ Top Picks from JourneyWomen
Need a little pick-me-up? Here are 16 of the best travel movies recommended by JourneyWomen to fuel your wanderlust.
Top 10 Armchair Travel Movies from Mother-Daughter Film Buffs
Mother-daughter film buffs Doni and Franny Belau share their top 10 travel movies to quench your travel wanderlust.
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
ABOUT THE BOOK
Rating: 3 boots / 5 – Empowering and inspiring!
Egypt
Mistress of Nothing
by Kate Pullinger
ABOUT THE BOOK
Rating: 3.5 boots / 5 – a step back into history
Portugal
300 Days of Sun
by Deborah Lawrenson
ABOUT THE BOOK
Rating: 3.5 boots / 5 – learned about spies!
Iraq, Ethiopia, Egypt, Pakistan, Morocco
Travels with my Hat
by Christine Osborne
ABOUT THE BOOK
Rating: 4.5 boots / 5 – a must-read for solo travellers
Ireland
By the Lake
by John McGahern
ABOUT THE BOOK
Rating: 3.5 boots / 5 – a classic, beautifully written!
United States
The Kitchen House
by Kathleen Grissom
ABOUT THE BOOK
Rating: 4.5 boots / 5 – illuminating and engaging
SPAIN
Driving Over Lemons
by Chris Stewart
ABOUT THE BOOK
Rating: 3.5 boots / 5 – Fun and authentic
Italy
Lady in the Palazzo
by Marlena de Blasi
ABOUT THE BOOK
Rating: 3 boots / 5 – rambling but interesting
France
The Lost Vintage
by Ann Mah
ABOUT THE BOOK
Rating: 3 boots / 5 – history + wine, a great combination
BALI, MEXICO + MORE
Tales of a Female Nomad
by Rita Golden Gelman
ABOUT THE BOOK
Rating: 4.5 boots / 5 – loved it all!
Silk Route
Lands of Lost Borders: Out of Bounds on the Silk Road
by Kate Harris
ABOUT THE BOOK
Rating: 4 boots / 5 – an unexpected ride
TANZANIA
Our House in Arusha
by Sara Tucker
ABOUT THE BOOK
Rating: 3.5 boots / 5 – wanted more of her story
ARCTIC CIRCLE
The Magnetic North: Notes from the Arctic Circle
by Sara Wheeler
ABOUT THE BOOK
Rating: 3 boots: an intellectual read!
CUBA
The Cuban Chronicles: A True Tale of Rascals, Rogues and Romance
by Wanda St. Hillaire
ABOUT THE BOOK
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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