1 – Sarah’s cousin lives in Spain. She needs a book for a long flight and likes detective stories. If the main character is a woman, even better.
2 – John is a very good football player, but now he is looking for a humorous book about life in the different countries in Europe, because he is going there in the summer. He is studying Japanese at university.
3 – Norman, who is half Spanish, is getting over an operation, and has a lot of free time. He needs a book about animals and unusual people, because these subjects interest him. He doesn’t want the book to be difficult to read as he is not a serious reader.
4 – Janet lives a very busy life as a leather fashion designer, and is looking for a book with short stories. She wants to pick it up when she has a few minutes free and be able to follow the plot. She is not keen on drama, and needs something relaxing and easy to read. She likes reading about love and romance.
5 – Mike works as a detective, and he needs a book to help him travel. He is visiting some Spanish friends, and needs information on what to see and do. It should not be too detailed because he doesn’t really like reading very much.
A – Life on The Road
This book tells of
one man’s journey from England to Greece by bike with his two dogs. It describes the people he met and the difficulties he had to face. Sleeping rough with only his dogs for company gave him plenty of time to think, and his thoughts are shared in this
lovely, very easy-to-read book.
B – Dakoo
If you are interested in Indian legends and mysteries, this could be the book for you. The writer describes the life of a thief working as a cook in India, and does a very good job. It may be a bit long for some readers, but you get your money’s worth.
C – Mañana
You could call this the best book ever written on Spain, without any fear of contradiction. The writer understands his subject, but more importantly, is careful in what he chooses to explain, and how he explains it. Once you read the book, it’s hardly worth going, because his words will have given you everything you could discover in reality.
D – Slam Dunk
Detective Vicky Marshal takes no prisoners in this masterpiece. There are criminals in the NBA, and she is after the ring leaders, but her life is in danger, as the bad guys won’t give up without a fight. You will need time if you pick this book up, because you won’t be able to put it down.
E – The Look
The writer is a psychologist and has used all her analytical skill to produce this enchanting collection of short stories, each one different. The work is fresh and the description of how people form relationships will surprise you.
F – Leather on leather
England won the football world cup in 1966 and here we get a view of what it would have been like in the changing rooms with that winning team. All the sporting tension is beautifully described.
G – Life In The Olive Grove
This is a beautifully written book about life in Southern Europe, written by a very funny man. It is full of beautiful observations, and you can almost taste the olive oil and fresh tomatoes. Anyone travelling to this part of the world should carry this book with them.
H –Sayonara
Japan in the fifties was a very complicated place. It isn’t ever simple, but here the Japanese society of that time is explained through the eyes of two people in love. This is not just any normal love story because both characters are blind.
