Rosemary

Hi folks

Recently I was annoyed that due to the no advertising rule I had to delete a thread regarding novels. As I am an avid reader I felt very uncomfortable doing this so thought that I would open a thread asking whether there are many novels written that are set in the various areas of Portugal.

Ones that I know about are by Keith Heaton
1. Death on the Algarve (Eyes of the Water)
2. Uncle Joe´s Revenge (Death on the Cut)
3. Devoid of Guilt (A Portugese Harvest of Death)

Although I have not had time to read any of them at the moment I plan to soon.

Have any of you read these?

Rosemary

toots sweet

No. Havn't read those. I have read "The High Mountains of Portugal" by Yann Martel. Bit of a strange story though.

Rosemary

I sometimes find that even if a story is strange if it is set in a particular area that people can relate to it, was this the case?

Rosemary

scrubbedexpat142

Very true! We have particularly enjoyed tracking down locations in Budapest referred to in the historical works that we have read. Last week, by chance, we came across the house once owned by Count Almássy (The real English Patient).

Loafing Along

"A Small Death in Lisbon" by Robert Wilson is very good, set WW2 . For a non-fiction version excellent is "Lisbon, War in the Shadow of City of the Light 1939 - 1945."

Particularly agree with Expatrick's comment, we travelled around Rumania after reading "The Historian" by Elizabeth Kostova and then Barcelona after reading "The Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Zafón.

GeniB

Yes Rosemary.... Night train to Lisbon by Pascal Mercier... Loved this book.. sadly did not love the film they made of it with Jeremy Irons in it...
Also local writer /reporter Len Ports account of the Algarve... People in a place Apart...

As to other places I came upon a series of crime novels quite by accident .. set in the San Juan Islands where my ED lives. I have loved reading them because I know the places and even some of the people...

Red Eric

I Like it Here by Kingsley Amis is a good read.

toots sweet

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rosemary

I sometimes find that even if a story is strange if it is set in a particular area that people can relate to it, was this the case?

Yes a bit .Set in early 20thC if I remember correctly and is about a man's journey in a car to the north of Portugal. Gives an idea of Portuguese way of life then and the local life of the villagers and their attitude to strangers.. Possibly it hasn't changed a great deal in some of those isolated villages.

johnhopkins

Hi all,

I have read the first two books by Keith Heaton and am currently making my way through the third. The progression of the storyline through the trilogy has made for a great read and anyone that has been to the Algarve or spent much time in the North West of Lancashire would also find these books equally enjoyable. Highly recommended.

Best wishes

John

Rosemary

Great to have the books recommended. I am hoping that we can entice Keith to post on here and perhaps tell us just how much research he had to do in the areas that he has written about. Many authors use false names of places which is unfortunate because most of us like to imagine the events occurring and this is much easier if we have either visited the area or if we visit after reading novels.

Rosemary

sidgold

Hello Everyone,
Thank you for taking an interest in the novels.-
In answer to your earlier questions, yes I have based the storyline on actual places & place names. I love the Algarve, it is one of the most beautiful and exciting but at the same time wild and rugged places in the world. The story begins in Olhas de Agua close to Albufeira and for anyone who knows or is visiting this area I hope and trust that you will be able to relate to my descriptions of this wonderful location.
Please ask me anything else you wish but of course I do not want to give too much away about the actual storyline.
Thanks again for your interest. Best Regards. Keith.

GeniB

Ooh that sounds interesting as I come from the North West of Lancashire.! Thanks John I will look him up

GeniB

Thank you for coming online Keith.. Just been to Olhas to visit an Artist I know who lives there.... Are your books available on Kindle?

sidgold

Hi There, Thank you for your interest. Yes they are available on Kindle. I hope you enjoy. Keith.

sidgold

Hello Again GeniB, I just wondered... when you were in Olhas de Agua did you go on the beach at low water & see the "Eyes Of The Water"?