Postcards Never Written

by Janita Van de Velde

Ever wondered what it would be like to quit your job and travel? Breaking free from the daily grind, Jenny embarks on a round-the-world trip with her boyfriend, Johnny. He might just be the one - if their relationship survives the next six months. Travelling together can’t be that hard, can it?

Jenny experiences moments of extreme clarity while baiting great white sharks in the Indian Ocean, getting tossed from a bridge high over the Zambezi River and hurling herself from a plane in New Zealand. Her adventures are riddled with bouts of imagined malaria and spells of gastro-intestinal difficulties.

She chronicles her hilarious stories with no excuses or apologies, until she sends the sanitized postcards home to her parents. After all, why worry them? Jenny, the boyfriend, the adventures and the stories…join her in a journey across the continents, as she discovers many things about herself and life.

337 pages, Paperback

Reviews

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author and I live in the same city and several years ago I went to her book launch / signing and purchased myself an autographed copy. I promptly came home and put it on my bookshelf. A few years later, I discovered Goodreads and added it to my to be read list. Almost 10 years later and I challenged myself to start at the bottom of my TBR list and chose this novel.

The humour in the novel was one of my favourite things about it. The little nuggets throughout of what should be most important in our lives was well-timed. The explanation of scenery and places visited made me yearn to go somewhere (although maybe not all the places in the novel - I'm nowhere near that brave!).

A very light, entertaining, quick, enjoyable read.

[Kayla Veldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun book to read. If you love travelling and books written by Canadian authors this is a good one to pick up

[Hannah Hutchison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve gotten so many bucket list ideas from this book and I enjoyed laughing along with the author at the travel mishaps

[Alynne Marion · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of laughs! Makes me want to go out, explore the world and nab me a husband :)

[Lastgirlstanding · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book to support a local writer. Imagine my surprise, then, when it was not only a good book but a great book! A memoir about Janita's year of travel, the format of this book is brilliant: one chapter is the letter she sent home to her family/friends outlining her adventures and the chapter after tells the story of what REALLY happened (hence, half the chapters are the "postcards never written"). Humorous, touching and really well done, I hope this local endeavor meets global success.

[Raquel · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was pretty funny but I felt there was no connection between her characters. They were off on a big trip and she described all the places and events really well thrown in with humor but I would have liked more action between the main character and her boyfriend to tie up the ending better.

[Esther Reimer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very funny but it took a very long time for me to actually get pulled in. Never really felt any connection with the characters. Great descriptions of all the different locations. This is any easy and light read, which is what I had been looking for.

[Wynter · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have ever read, laughed out loud from every page!

[Leanne Wismer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic. Funny

[Tanis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a funny, easy read. It's the perfect book to read while on vacation.

[Denise Andries · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed...so hard and out loud! Loved how easy and funny this book was. Recommend to anyone looking for a light hearted read.