TheBookTrail roundup of Travels via books in April

April was a busy month travel and book wise. The number of miles travelled via books out in this first month of Spring was impressive. Where were the best spots and bookish places to recommend?

A tough call but here goes….

Lydiard Park, Swindon England

The Lady in the Lake Nicola Cornick

This was a fascinating journey as the novel is set in and inspired by a real life mansion and grounds. The excitement of reading on location would be very high indeed. Wherever you read it though, you’;ll be transported there as Nicola has some excellent ways of evoking setting, time and place. She does her research and hides it inside a gripping story so you don’t see it but you experience it as you read..

#Authorsonlocation with Nicola Cornick at Lydiard Park  here

The Woman in the Lake (c) Nicola Cornick

Mexico

 The Murmur of Bees by Sofia Segovia

Set against the backdrop of the Mexican Revolution and the devastating influenza of 1918, this is a brilliant novel in many ways. The story follows the Morales family of landowners and their find of a baby left abandoned on their land. What happens to that baby and how they story develops will break your heart but it’s a fascinating story of people coming together, of family and of struggles in a harsh land.

Ship journey from England to Australia

Fled by Meg Keneally

This was a fascinating read. Based on the true story of Mary Bryant, a real life convict from England who was sent on a ship with many others to start work in the colonies of the time. I love books with a mix of fact and fiction so you can really see the past and experience it through the  eyes of fictionalised characters who lived it. It’s like hearing voices across the walls of history….

Sweden

A Cage of Gold by Camilla Lackberg

This is not Fjallbacka! It’s Stockholm and there’s no murder as such although someone is out for blood. A scorned woman, kept down by a man, turns deadly and this is her story about what she does, why and how. She leaves no stone unturned to get revenge and moves around the social circles of Stockholm to bend people to her will. There’s lots of places to visit, and nice restaurants mentioned where you can visit, but keep an eye out for Faye…

France

The Strawberry Thief by Joanne Harris

Oh and it was back to the world of Chocolat this month with the lovely Joanne Harris. Nothing more to be said – you have to read it and meet all the characters again, and new ones too! This is a novel you need to step into, savour and enjoy with Chocolate to eat of course!

This is just a short roundup of what April had to offer! Hope you enjoyed these literary journeys and more!