Wings

Gifts of Art, Life, and Travel in France

Non-Fiction - Travel
314 Pages
Reviewed on 05/18/2016
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Erin Byrne is author of Wings - Gifts of Art, Life, and Travel in France (Travelers’ Tales, 2016), winner of the Paris Book Festival Award for travel genre, editor of Vignettes & Postcards From Paris and Vignettes & Postcards From Morocco (Reputation Books, 2016), and writer of The Storykeeper film.
Erin’s travel essays, poetry, fiction and screenplays have won numerous awards including three Grand Prize Solas Awards for Travel Story of the Year, the Reader’s Favorite Award, Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Finalist, and an Accolade Award for film.
Erin is occasional guest instructor at Shakespeare and Company Bookstore in Paris and teaches on Deep Travel trips. Her screenplay, Siesta, is in pre-production in Spain, and she is working on the novel, The Red Notebook. www.e-byrne.com

    Book Review

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Wings: Gifts of Art, Life, and Travel in France by Erin Byrne comprises stories of the author's travels to France several times for stays of three to ten weeks. Through this book, the author shares the emotions and images that gave her the sensations of crying and singing at the same time while traveling in France. The stories shared as essays will resonate with readers and will tempt them to travel, explore new destinations, and tap into their dreams. The essays also speak about the author's love for the country, her observations on art and architecture, and the culture and history of France. Her experiences in France will make any tourist or traveler want to visit there.

The book is beautifully presented with a quote at the beginning of each chapter, and small black and white sketches. As the book progresses, readers get to experience the essence, sights, and sounds of France wonderfully. The book inspires and satisfies the travel bug hidden inside each one of us, and will make readers look at France with love and interest. The book also captures all that makes France what it is; the Eiffel Tower, the museums, cafes, wine shops, eateries, Montmartre, the Seine, and much more. The book is thought provoking, insightful, entertaining, and engaging, and will encourage readers to hop onto a plane, bus, or train and visit a new place or country. This is a well written book that will encourage readers to travel not only to France, but to any interesting place.

Cheryl von Tress

I agree with the reviewer, Mamta Madhavan, and have added personal comments posted above and on my Facebook page. Wings has taken me on a seemingly personal journey -- that's how excellent Erin's writing is. The illustrations are charming -- I wish they were larger, so I'm happy they are available for purchase from the illustrator, Anna Elkins.