Mar 20 2009
Spain Books
Andalucia
Andalusia by Nina Epton–Nina Epton travelled as a single woman into Andalusia in the days that there were very few travellers in the inland areasand lone women, especially foreign lone women were far from the norm. The book had its moments which were unfortunately few and far between, as a historian I’m sure she’s done an excellent job, this book is definitely for history lovers and not for story or novel readers. Get an honest look at the book here. (Contribution from Andalucia for Holidays.)
Death’s Other Kingdom by Gamel Woolsey–Death’s Other Kingdom is an eye-witness account of the start of the Civil War. Gamel, an American poet and the wife of writer Gerald Brenan, paints an evocative picture of life in a poor Andalucian village in the 1930’s and the ensuing perversities, changes and fears as the Civil War atrocities close in. This is a book you’ll walk away from changed, provoked, angry yet inspired by its writer and its people. More of the review can be read here. (Contribution from Andalucia for Holidays.)
The Factory of Light: Tales from My Andalucian Village by Michael Jacobs–Based in the village of Frailes in Andalucia this book tells the story of a chance encounter with a village that adopted Jacobs, and where he himself found his “spiritual roots”. He literally falls in love with the village, the lifestyle, the heritage and the people. Factory of light is not a particularly easy read, at times he’s very wordy - but get past his dry style and the tale he’s sharing is a wonderful insight into rural Spanish village life. Find out more about the book here. (Contribution from Andalucia for Holidays.)
Driving Over Lemons: An Optimist in Spain by Chris Stewart—This English author is a sheepshearer, travel writer, and used to play the drums for the band Genesis. He decided to pack it up, however, and purchase a home in Granada, Spain—this humorous book details, in the same vane as Peter Mayle’s A Year in Provence, that adventure including combating scorpions, dealing with language barriers, and dependence on the weather. A review for the memoir is available. (Contribution from Paperback Places).
Getting to Mañana by Miranda Innes–Having spent a lot of her adult life worrying, running from deadlines, bills and stress Innes accomplished what most people only dream of. From rats in the dressing-room (barn) to run-away turkeys, dust and rubble to fancy four-posters you have to admire her grit for staying. The run-of –the-mill eccentric builders, odd-ball neighbours and Spanish locals being Spanish locals makes this a good read. There’s more of the review here. (Contribution from Andalucia for Holidays.)
Spanish Recognitions: The Roads to the Present by Mary Lee Settle–At the age of 82, historian and award-winning writer, Mary Lee Settle took a solo trip to Spain. It wasn’t her first visit but it was her first exploration of life both past and present. Her voyage of discovery leads her to experience and learn far more than she hoped for and travel more than her loose itinerary proposed. Spanish Recognitions is an important addition to the library of any lover of Spain, its culture, its history and its present day. A very positive review is available here. (Contribution from Andalucia for Holidays.)
South from Granada by Gerald Brenan–One of the early new-life stories set in the 1930’s, the young Brenan lived in a very rural mountain village on the south flanks of the Sierra Nevada’s in Andalucía. The majority of the book is his account of festivals, folk-lore, lively characters and traditions. It’s a fascinating account of how the poor of the day lived, without which our knowledge of Spanish history and our understanding would be sadly lacking. Find out more here. (Contribution from Andalucia for Holidays.)
Mallorca
A Lizard in My Luggage: Mayfair to Mallorca in One Easy Move by Anna Nicholas–Nicholas has written a great account of how she, a high-powered PR Company owner, left London, lured by the charm of a simple rustic life. Having holidayed on the Island of Mallorca on the advice of her sisters’ au pair, who said that it was the most beautiful place on earth, Nicholas found she returned home having impulsively bought a run-down farmhouse! A review is available here. (Contribution from Andalucia for Holidays.)
Cat on a Hot Tiled Roof: Mayhem in Mayfair and Mallorca by Anna Nicholas–An amusing sequel about the life of Anna Nicholas who moves between rural living in Mallorca, fast-paced London PR events, and her next project. Life for Nicholas is like a rollercoaster, rural valleys and metropolis highs, a book to roll with, snigger with and sigh with.
Read more about the book here. (Contribution from Andalucia for Holidays.)
The Santiago de Compostela Pilgrimage
Sue Kenney’s My Camino by Sue Kenney–This book is the true story of Sue Kenney’s walk on a spiritual journey to Santiago de Compostela, which is the one of the oldest pilgrim destinations. Kenney packs up her life, packs up her bags and embarks on a life-changing pilgrimage from France to north-west Spain. A review of the book is available here. (Contribution from Andalucia for Holidays.)
