‘The Gran Tour’ by Ben Aitken

Another 3rd September release and another one of my recommendations!

I love a funny travel book so I picked this up hoping for a Bill Bryson-style book that would make me laugh and look at things from a new perspective. I wasn’t disappointed with this story of a 30-something man on a series of Shearings coach tours with his elders (but only actually once with his Gran!)

Ben Aitken is an incisive and engaging narrator as he writes about the six coach holidays he took in the UK and abroad. He observes keenly and gives the reader some interesting insights into the generation gap. His writing is sometimes poignant, but also often very funny as he presents the people he shared the coach trips with – some brilliant, eccentric characters and those who really have experienced life’s ups and downs. What these older people have gone through is often sad – bereavement, illness, life’s disappointments – but they are also survivors and making the most of the time they have. Whether that is bingo, booze or bra-flinging, they know how to have fun! Indeed, it’s much more about people than places, which is good but wasn’t quite what I was expecting.

This is an enjoyable read that does make you think about life’s lessons and what we can learn from the older generation. It made me laugh, briefly consider a coach holiday (my husband said no) and order another book by this writer.

I can also recommend ‘A Chip Shop in Poznan: My Unlikely Year in Poland’ by Ben Aitken – an engaging, eye-opening and witty account of the writer’s year trying to live a Polish life.

I received a free copy of ‘The Gran Tour’ from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Links for both books are below – I may earn commission on purchases at no extra cost to you.

Header photo with thanks to Annie Spratt for sharing their work on Unsplash.