Dear traveller friends,
How are you all feeling?
The softness of October seems to have settled in after the whirlwind of September that many of us felt.
Autumn is one of my favourite seasons. It forever takes me back to a delightful state of mind when the air is still warm but not hot, and the outside light gets dimmer.
It signals a time for introspection and the opportunity to slow down.
I thought it would be the perfect time to write about books and travel—my two passions!
Those of you who know me well know how much I love books! When I moved to Lisbon four years ago, I even considered opening an English bookstore (as there were none! )
As I was (still am ?) contemplating the idea, three English bookstores have emerged in the city: Salted Books (all the latest trendy releases), Fable (books on wellness in a healthy restaurant with a cute patio), and Good Company Books, which will open in a few weeks with a cafe and colourful murals by talented French artist Henriette Arcelin.
Books are having a moment, as you might have noticed.
I recently wrote a piece for Télérama on Book Clubs among 20-somethings in London, which are booming in the city, while Reading Parties are the new place to be in New York!
A couple of weeks ago, I was mesmerized by how the release of Sally Rooney’s latest book, Intermezzo, was hyped, especially on social media. In some bookstores in the UK and Ireland, readers queued at 6 am to get their copy! It reminded me of the excitement that filled the air when the first iPhone was released in the States in 2007.
Seeing this enchantment for… a book in… 2024 is refreshing!
