BOOK REVIEWS
Near Varna
Graham Field
2020
ISBN 978-0-9931993-6-3
In a style that we’ve become
accustomed to, Graham Field’s
latest adventure was low budget,
and he still managed to buy a
house, make a home in Bulgaria.
This new home is called ‘Near
Varna’. Why?
In his way Graham uses a word
play to drive a story of exploration,
he explores his new home,
the surrounds, the people, the
travellers and we the reader come
out perhaps knowing a little more
about this solo motorcycle traveller.
Although there’s not a lot of bike
travel, we do learn a lot about
Bulgaria and Graham’s life.
Near Varna is full of
observations, Graham is quick to
point out the failings of others as
well as himself, all with a level of
jest; you’ll laugh and all the time
wonder, “who the hell is he talking
about?”
While Graham finds a level
of contentment in ‘Near Varna’,
it takes a shift of home, of land,
of mindset. We discover he has
become disenchanted with the
‘adventure’ bike industry, what was
once a community of travellers is
now a money gobbling machine.
We all see ourselves in a little
of that, for some it might be
confronting.
At heart, Graham is a traveller,
an explorer, and while Near Varna
is a different adventure, he still
finds himself with many chance
encounters that sees him learning
about his being, his expectations,
his nirvana …
Near Varna will make you want
to sit with Graham, in a beer
garden somewhere, and over a
few ales you’ll discuss the latest
blogging, Instagram travelling
sensation, you might even see
yourself. If nothing else, you will
have a good laugh.
Near Varna is certainly well
worth the read.
I Could've Been A Stoker
For A Verticle Wimple
Crimper
Geoff Hill
2020
ISBN B08BDK54LN
Geoff Hill is a motorcyclist,
one of the long-distance variety,
but don’t be mistaken I Could
Have Been A Stoker For A Vertical
Wimple Crimper is not a tale of
motorcycle adventure … it does
mention Harley Davidson if that
counts.
I Could Have Been A Stoker For
A Vertical Wimple Crimper might
not be about bikes, but it is a story
(or stories) of travel of the highest
quality.
Through this tome of short
stories, Hill explores a secondment
to Canada in only a way that he
can. I Could Have Been A Stoker
For A Vertical Wimple Crimper
will see you reading from start to
finish in one sitting and have you
laughing the whole way through,
Hill sees the world in a very
unique way and has a magical way
with words that keeps the reader
enthralled.
Travelling with Hill is an
experience in itself; monuments,
fancy museums, tourists traps all
get a bit of workout but it’s the odd
and strange that Hill enchants with.
Frogs, dentists, vertical wimple
crimpers he takes us to all of them,
and there he genuinely believes he
Could Have Been A Stoker For A
Vertical Wimple Crimper.
TRAVERSE 141