“Who goes to Scotland for two weeks with a stranger they met over the internet? I did.”

With that setup, it’s time for the “Wednesday Bookmobile” to head to Scotland – and a journey of self-discovery, thanks to a terrific memoir – one of three that highlight empowered women!

“Scotland With A Stranger.”

I’m beginning with a terrific story of soul searching while seeing the sights!

Here’s how Author Ninya herself sets up her story:

“At forty-three, Ninya was depressed, out of shape, and filled with crippling anxiety after addiction, cancer, and divorce had destroyed nearly everything. One day, she received a message from a stranger. This woman offered to lead her on a self-healing trip hiking through the Scottish highlands.

It seemed like a sign.”

It was so much more than that: it was the beginning of self-reflection and the discovery of inner strength that is powerful – and very funny as well!

“Eat. Pray. Hike.”

I gave this book that subtitle, because it has a great mix of personal growth AND terrifically entertaining stories of the unpredictable paths our lives can take us on.

As Ninya writes early on in the book:

“Fear just sucked the life out of me. It forced me to play small and shrink myself, to minimize my talents and gifts.I yearned to break out of that self-imposed prison in the worst way, and Scotland was going to do that for me.”

In the vein of “Eat. Pray. Love”, the Author sets out on a hike that will be as spiritual as it is physical…

The book is candid, and at times painfully honest as Ninya looks at her life – and the issues she is still resolving with an ex-husband and two teenage children…and she shares it all in a funny, insightful way…

I purchased a paperback copy from Amazon, and there are no photos in the book, but don’t worry – everything she discovers is easy to see, because Ninja has shared terrific photos from her journey on her website:

Here is how Ninya describes Stirling Castle:

“The stone castle is set on a cliff…the views were 360-degrees panoramic. I couldn’t wait to get out and explore my first castle in real life.”

But things are NOT that easy. The “Stranger” in the book’s title is Erika, Ninya’s new friend and expert guide to the country, who puts Ninya’s self-confidence to the test at almost every stop. Let’s just say that Ninya did NOT explore her first castle that day…

The book has a great deal to say about the “human condition”, so even her adventures have a universal story to tell.

I loved going through the photos from her website after reading about some of her incredible experiences…without a doubt, she has given me “wanderlust” to discover Scotland as well…

The incredible beauty she describes in the book is matched by the photography – and just as she is exploring this country, she is also soul-searching in the most inspiring way…a terrific memoir – see more about her book, plus her works of fiction and all the pictures from he trip by going to her website here:

https://ninya.us

I enjoy reading memoirs that let me discover a time and place as well – stories that are filled with insight and inspiration like this one…

Fiona Lewis was a successful Actress who ended up renovating an abandoned French Chateau – and her memoir tells the entire story – filled with great stories about her adventures in the film business as well as a look at life in the South of France….you can see more about this terrific memoir by clicking here!

https://johnrieber.com/2019/08/14/mistakes-were-made-cult-actress-fiona-lewis-drives-wednesdays-bookmobile-from-the-swinging-60s-to-a-chateau-in-france/

This is a GREAT book!

Here’s another great memoir: Susanna Moore is a hugely popular Author – but there was so much more to her story – she grew up in the “anything goes” world of Hollywood in the 70’s.

Susanna wrote the best-selling novel “In The Cut”, which was also turned into a movie starring Meg Ryan. She’s a sharp writer who saw a lot in the 70’s and decided to share it all.

Moore’s memoir about navigating life in Hollywood, “Miss Aluminum”, is a great read and you can find out more about it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2020/04/22/susanna-moore-is-miss-aluminum-my-wednesday-bookmobile-has-terrific-candid-memoirs-of-70s-hollywood/

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https://johnrieber.com

Thanks so much for reading!

A big recommendation on this “Wednesday Bookmobile” for Ninya, Susanna and Fiona, and if you like these books, feel free to share them on social media!

Categories: 70's Cinema, Books / Media, British Cinema, Exotic Travel, Hollywood, Memoirs, Movies, nature, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities, Travel, Travel Adventures, Travel Memoir

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