Looking back nearly forty years ago, Jeremy Macdonogh manages to recollect his experiences during the turbulent times of the 1970s economic recession and his early life as a graduate. Macdonogh merges the events that took place between 1970 and 1974 into the intimate details of his travels and adventures around Europe.

This is a very inspiring and beautifully written book. Perhaps we can learn a thing or two from Macdonogh’s experiences, and complete our education by taking our own (literary) gap years.

For more details about the book, visit site http://www.agapyearortwo.com/

Peggie Sheridan was a dancer. She lived, and performed, in the British Empire of the 1920s and 1930s. She died in 2004, alone and unrecognised, but still survives in the memories of those who knew her.

A fresh style and captivating storyline describe Peggie’s fascinating personality through her several "hard times". Her love for dance and her need to perform are tangible throughout the book. The pressures of growing up in the theatre, a child’s perspective of family turmoil and disruptive relationships are just some of the aspects of her existence, and they are brilliantly depicted by the author.

For more details about the book, visit site http://www.playing-the-empire.com/

"Behind every person there is a story to tell". Following this statement, Robert Bennie brings back to life a woman called Mary, who used to wander around his workplace. A story that seems to be true, completely credible yet it is not. Bennie never had the chance to talk to her to go deeper in her life and to understand what brought her to an existence of begging and wandering; he simply felt moved by her death, all alone by the streets of London and this made him think about the possible life she had had.

An inspiration to all and an example of the best the human race can hope to achieve.

For more details about the book, visit site http://www.mary-anunusualvagrant.com/

This book combined many of my interests - ships, Antarctica, the naturalist's wonder and interest in the animal world. I liked following Murphy's voyages both literal as he learned about the ways of whaling on the brig Daisy and emotional as he wished to get home to his new wife, Grace.