Venere Travel Blog» books

Top 5 North American Travel Novels

Will Joce — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 16:00:56 +0000

America has a fine tradition of travel literature that is often put down to the simple size and geography of the place. Since the distances to be travelled are large and people spend a lot of time travelling it becomes an important part of their lives. The advent of the car in the twentieth century continued the trend and we are now left with a glittering array of literary options to indulge it.

The Brooklyn Book Festival

Prudence Peat — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 16:00:35 +0000

From the 15^th to the18th of September the annual Brooklyn Book Festival will take place in the vibrant eponymous New York district. The long weekend will see a wide range of literary themed events taking place catering to a broad variety of tastes and preferences. As well as meeting like minded book lovers, visitors will also get the chance to meet some of their favourite authors, from up and coming new hopes to global superstars. The obvious attraction of the festival to connoisseurs of a good book is equally matched by the appeal to general readers. The festival events have been specifically designed to cater to as wide a range of interests as possible, including for young children, making this a potentially excellent family weekend.

Books to Read While in St. Petersburg

Tatiana Cantor — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 16:00:56 +0000

The bygone capital of mother Russia, St Petersburg, is the star of Russian literature as we know it. The city founded by Peter the Great on the Neva River has been the cultural hub of the Russian empire until the Soviet rule. So, while visiting the muse of the great Russian writers, why not let yourself be guided by the city’s rich history and colorful descriptions, by reading their masterpieces? Here is a list to get you started.

Top 5 Travel Books for Kids

Will Joce — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:00:19 +0000

While it may not be possible to take children on any and every adventure they dream of, one of the joys of literature is that they can discover the world around them from the comfort of home. This is a great way to inspire youngsters about travel before a trip or simply increase their awareness of other lands and cultures. Here is my pick of travel books for kids, with notes on the appropriate age group for each.

The Tintin series of books is possibly the best series for kids yet written.

Western European Travel Novels

Will Joce — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 17:00:24 +0000

Literature can be a great way to get a sense of the atmosphere of a place before you travel, or remind yourself of the good times once you return home. Here is an entirely subjective list of novels that, for me, best capture the character of the countries of Western Europe.

The Sun Also Rises is thought by some critics to be Ernest Hemingway’s greatest work, even though it was his first novel. The book is set in the aftermath of World War I and is narrated by a journalist living in Paris, although the central characters later travel to Pamplona in Spain.

Popular Islands of Stockholm Archipelago

Abha — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 17:00:34 +0000

Stockholm Archipelago is a mosaic of numerous skerries, islets and islands scattered in the Baltic Sea. However, only 1,000 are populated.

Photo: Getty Images

These serene landmasses are accessible by boats (classic white archipelago boats) or cars. Some islands are tiny while others are huge. Most of the islands are not affected by tides. The archipelago, the home of fishermen and farmers, has inspired many Swedish writers and artists.

Solo Holiday, Travel Therapy & Trip Documentary

Marion — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:00:08 +0000

TV Travel Documentary Heather on her Travels posts an article on how to make travel films including some tips from two experts in adventure documentary making. Solo Travel On Solo Traveler, Janice blogs about the high number of people from Ireland searching for solo vacation infomation on Google and shares some twitter thoughts on why [...]

3 Places to Enjoy a Good Book in Turin, Italy

Lauren Aczon — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 10:00:57 +0000

For the true bookworm, one’s reading environment can make or break a book. This article is for the university student in Turin, Italy, who wants to get out of her dorm room or other unattractive, standard study space, and/or for the wanderer who likes to take a break from his travels to update his journal [...]

Naughty Paris, Gay Rome, Angels & Demons

Marion — Fri, 29 May 2009 09:50:37 +0000

‘Angels and Demons’ Tour in Rome Planning a holiday in Rome? If you enjoyed ‘Angels & Demons‘, you might want to visit the locations of the Hollywood movie starring Tom Hanks and based on Dan Brown’s book. Europe a la Carte recommends taking a self-guided tour and reading Angela K. Nickerson’s free e-book on Rome’s [...]

Hair Care Tourism, Hawaii Vacation & Scenic Thrill

Mireia — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:18:10 +0000

H10 hotel chain tempts you to unwind in Lanzarote. NDTravel recommends you not to miss Scandinavia’s ultimate scenic thrill article on the breathtaking Norwegian fjords. April Fool’s Day tweet: SheilaS gives you some tips on Hair Care Tourism. Dreaming of a cheap Hawaiian vacation? Whereivebeen tells you how. If you’re visiting Pompeii, Italylogue recommends you [...]

4 Novels That Make You Want To Visit France

Phil McDonald — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:00:07 +0000

1. A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle An obvious one to start with but well worth a mention never the less. This book could be thanked but also accused of changing the face of the beautiful southern French region of Provence. Mayle left his job in advertising and took himself off to live in [...]

Travel Tweets of the Week

Marion — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:06:35 +0000

Here are five of this week’s travel tweets that caught our attention: Wanderluster gives away free copies of Wanderlust and Lipstick. Visit_Rimini invites us to attend the Tiki 26 Beach Festival (April 1st – May 10th). ItalyTravelista recommends a visit to the Roman Houses in Rome’s Celio area. Madtravelmad invites us to check out its [...]

Great Book Stores in Florence

Katie Greenaway — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 09:00:40 +0000

For all the students studying in Florence this year you will be need of books. I have a list of the bookstores that can assist you in purchasing an art history book and/or a verb dictionary for your Italian language course. As your school might provide you with the books you need for school, many [...]

How To Keep A Travel Journal

Sonya Procenko — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 08:00:06 +0000

Any epic journey or unforgettable adventure deserves a well-loved travel journal, doesn’t it? Following the trip, you can share your travel journal with family and friends and revisit the destination again and again. Unfortunately, not all travelers keep up their travel journal while they’re on-the-road. Here are a few smart tips for keeping a travel [...]

4 Books to bring on holiday

Paul Crompton — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:36:51 +0000

Instead of buying a last-minute, ill-researched pulp-fiction paperback from the airport, it’s often good to spend some time beforehand and buy what will really suit you. Here are some books I’d really recommend: 1. Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe Other than being written years ago and more out-of-date than a Victorian road map, [...]

Blog Awards, Women Travelers & Hangover Cures

Marion — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:06:51 +0000

BoostnAll Travel releases its annual top 10 destinations for independent travelers including Sardinia, Italy, Berlin, Germany, Tasmania, Australia, and other fantastic travel destinations in Asia, Africa and South America. The National Geographic makes a list of hangover helpers around the world including coffee in Italy, beer in the Netherlands, sour pickle juice in Poland, pickled [...]

Top 5 English Bookstores in Berlin

Shane Anderson — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:00:29 +0000

If you’re traveling for a long time and you’re like me, you always end up schlepping around more books than you should but not enough for the entire trip. While you could certainly leave a few books at the hotel for other travelers to peruse, why not make a couple of Euros off them at [...]

Travel books, chocolate & food events

Mascha — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:50:18 +0000

Travel books: if you aren’t lucky enough to be able to travel all around the world, reading can be a great way to travel with your imagination. Paul Theroux, the legendary American travel writer, reprises the four-month journey he did 30 years ago across Europe and Asia described in his timeless classic book The Great [...]

Top 5 bookshops in Lisbon

Will Joce — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 08:10:02 +0000

Portugal has as a rich literary tradition born of its culture of maritime exploration and political struggles. Portuguese literature is also heavily influenced by the cultures of Brazil, Africa and various other regions where Portuguese explorers founded far flung colonies. This means there is a wealth of opportunity for visitors to Lisbon to explore Portuguese [...]

How to find English language books in Madrid

Karina Stenquist — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 07:34:19 +0000

If you really can’t stand (or speak) Spanish and just need a break : a run down of your English language literature options in Madrid, Spain. I know, you feel guilty about it. You’re in a foreign country, you’re supposed to immerse yourself in the culture. But what you really want is a day to [...]