At Sunpenny, we love memoirs too and have several on our list, so we thought we might introduce you to them for this week's blog. Ours cover many of the categories listed above and are a delightful and varied collection. All these books are available in both e-book and paperback formats in all the major online stores; however, the links take you directly to Amazon.com
My Sea is Wide by Rowland Evans
In this beautifully lyrical work with great depth of insight, Rowland
Evans explores his experiences in both Wales and the Far East,
especially China. Moving into the segment of his life beyond 70, with
his eager youth and power-filled middle years behind him, and the more
rugged missionary work now past his season, Rowland searches for - and
discovers - a continued meaning for his later years, and an on-flowing
usefulness to man and to God. He takes us on a journey with him to the
scatterlings of China and Tibet, and while you are yet an
armchair-traveller, your life will be changed forever.

A Whisper on the Mediterranean by Tonia Parronchi
Travel with Tonia, her husband Guido and baby son James through weather conditions that destroyed the myth of a gentle and forgiving Mediterranean, and such varied experiences as high seas, violent storms, stuck anchors, marauding mosquitoes, and severe sunburn. Visit idyllic, secluded bays and places of sublime beauty, unreachable unless by boat and completely untarnished by tourism. This book is filled with humour and reality, and a scattering of delicious recipes too. A feast for your senses – and perhaps it will inspire you to step on deck, too, for your own watery adventures!
Told with wry humour and a gentle, sometimes quirky style slightly
reminiscent of a bygone era, William Wood's collection of anecdotes contains a mixture of
description and observation with a smattering of autobiographical
incident. Wood has lived in many places of the world, is well travelled
and well read, with a keen sense of enjoyment in what he sees and
experiences, and a talent for bringing that visually to the mind of his
reader. The short, usually self-contained pieces make wonderful cameos
both for those who do their reading in snatches, and those who will want
to devour his stories in one sitting.
Trading life in the fast lane of Johannesburg for that of Rotterdam's
serene Oude Haven, Valerie Poore packs all her worldly possessions
aboard the historic Dutch barge Hoop and sets about rebuilding both the
boat and her life after divorce – and rediscovering herself and her own
capabilities in the process.
Along the journey of renovation she is
joined by an array of characters, including two dogs and a rather
adventurous cat, a smiling but absent-minded ‘landlord’, a quirky friend
and confidante, and an olde worlde charmer whose mastery at the helm
wins more than just her respect. Before long Val has to learn to cope
with the strenuous demands of acting as Skipper's Mate during numerous
nail-biting adventures –frequently with hilarious effect.
Far Out: Sailing into a Disappearing World by Corinna Weyreter
Tired of their careers in the oil industry, Corinna Weyreter and Gjalt
van der Zee sailed away from the rat race in search of freedom and
adventure in the fabled South Pacific. Taking only what could justify
its space on their 41-foot yacht, they abandoned materialism to discover
how little a person really needs in order to be content. Trading with
fishermen in Belize, learning desert island survival from the lone
inhabitant of a Polynesian atoll, swimming with humpback whales beside
the coral island of Niue, attending the wedding of a Chief’s son in
Vanuatu... they entered an enchanting new world, one that is, however, under ecological threat from failed environmental care. In Far Out, Corinna takes us into that disappearing world and shows us its fragility with sensitive first-hand knowledge.
All of these books are memoirs to savour and enjoy over the summer whether you are travelling yourself or dream of experiencing a different life and culture. Next week, we'll introduce you to some of our top romance stories for those with a different type of dream!
3 comments:
What an interesting collection! I must try some of these. Thanks! Chris M.
As a fan of Val Poore's books, I can honestly say that each one is delightful, funny, and engaging. But, if you want to really see the unfolding of her story about buying a barge to live on up to her current books, you should start at the beginning with Watery Ways.
Patti Wilson
Thank you, Patti! That is very kind of you!
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