My Heart Wanders: A Celebration of Taking Risks, Letting Go and Making a Home Wherever You Are

by Pia Jane Bijkerk

What would happen if one day you decided to follow your heart? Where would it take you? Author Pia Jane Bijkerk takes us on her journey as she leaves her comfortable life in Sydney to follow, unconditionally, her instincts.

Setting up home first in Paris, then on a houseboat in Amsterdam, Pia observes the serendipitous moments that only present themselves when you let go and follow your dreams. With beautiful photographs from her travels in France, Amsterdam, Belgium, Italy and Sydney, My Heart Wanders is a reflective, inspirational, tender memoir that speaks to “the wandering heart” in all of us.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Travel, Art, Biography

303 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2011

Reviews

[Eline Pullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly a book to read in autumn or winter. Or read it when you’re feeling a bit lost, sad or lonely. This book is a blend of styling, photographs, poetry, memoir and motivation to keep wandering and seeking for the path that is in front of you. Also an ode to the meaning of home.

Found this gem at the thrift store and that made me so happy!

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I expected this book to reveal Pia's beautiful take on the world through her deeply personal and creative photography. I was somewhat (pleasantly) surprised by her gentle prose, most of which I connected to as a fellow explorer of life and beauty. Her writing style is sometimes self deprecating, and always thoughtful, probing her responses and feelings in order to better understand herself and the world around her. I loved being a part of her journey, and have attempted to embrace some of principles she chooses to live by. So much beauty in a single monograph.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this sweet book. It is full of the author's beautiful photos, descriptions of her travels and most importantly, her journey to follow her wandering heart. "Taking this journey has made me aware that home is not a physical structure or a place. Now I know that regardless of where I live, finding home is an everlasting inner journey."

[Raechel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very lovely memoir about a woman who moves from Australia to France after going there for vacation. Bijkerk is a stylist and photographer, so along with little essays about traveling and how she felt and what she learned, there are really beautiful photographs in this book.

This would make a fantastic coffee table book: it lays flat when you open it, and every page has either a lovely photograph or an interesting stand-alone essay on her travels.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really is a celebration of living the creative life and looking for the good wherever you are. The divine photographs are a story in themselves. I now find myself looking for a heart shape in unexpected places. This book was a joy to read.

[Relyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard about this beautiful book waaay back in the good old days of blogging. It stayed on my radar for years and years until Thriftbooks.com came into my life. (All the praise hands.) I bought a copy and loved this book so much. It is beautiful and heartfelt and inspiring. YAY.

[Robyn Letourneau · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart Wanders has to be one of the prettiest books I've read so far

[Kimberly Kuniko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Striking photography accompanied by expressive prose and poetic turns of phrase. It’s so evident that much heart was poured into its making.

[Cindy Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Given my transitions and current move, this book was perfect for me to read right now. It is about defining what makes a home, the home you carry inside of you, and the people and objects that make a home. I enjoyed following the author to her homes in Australia, Paris, and Amsterdam (she lived on a houseboat). An extra bonus is that this book is populated with gorgeous, dreamy photographs and poetry.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

A star for its presentation, a star for the subject matter and its focus on Paris, and a star for being so beautiful I do not want to discard it from my collection.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tempted me to press pause and go wandering around the world!

Beautiful reflection and show of courage.

[Rhiannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very important to me. I found it when I was wandering a small tourist town in Melbourne and it spoke to me. Unfortunately I couldn’t afford it at the $60AU markup price so I ordered it from The Book Depository for $25NZD a few days later.

It’s about a photographer and interior designer, Bijkerk, as she travels to find her heart. It’s very romantic but, at the same time, painfully realistic and I find her style is similar to my own. It’s about finding and creating home/s, which is very important to me, and falling in love (with someone else, yes, but more importantly with herself). It’s quite symbolic and features both change and movement.

This book inspires me to travel, particularly to Paris and Amsterdam which are heavily featured. It’s a full colour hardcover that boasts a very personal story, poetic writing and absolutely beautiful photography. It’s my official coffee table book and I recommend it to everyone, especially those who feel lost or love travel.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books like this; written about a journey of any kind; whether real or imaginary.
I bought the book when I was compiling a comprehensive photo book because I liked its’ density and simplicity of layout; the opacity of photographs. Pias’ journey is a personal one, interwoven with ‘real travel’ and at times I found I would be thinking of a comparison in my life which is perhaps a little egotisic but true, as I tend to follow my heart. I like the way Pias’ prose and photographs are interspersed with vignettes. It is a beautiful book which can be looked at time and time again. ‘Life is a journey, not a destination.’

[Felicity · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely read, and it's not often that I READ a coffee table book! It's full of wonderful inspirational thoughts and beautiful photography. Everything about this book is just right. It's a very honest account of a young woman's professional and emotional journey to find her place in the world. I loved the conversational text and found her journey interesting. The icing on the cake for me, was that it ended with a quote from my favourite character, from one of my favourite television series....Chris (In the Morning) Stevens, from Northern Exposure, perfect!

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautiful. Not just in the writing and photography, but as a tangible thing. It's quite heavy, and the paper is gorgeous, and the way everything is laid out is a feast for the eyes.
And the content--it's magic. It makes me want to travel and search my soul and go on an adventure.
I can tell this is the kind of book I will pick up again and again. Perhaps to read through from cover to cover, maybe to soothe wanderlust, or even for inspiration.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely photographs and beautiful sentiments laced together with a woman longing to find her home or what home means to her. Took me some time to get used to the sort of stream of consciousness used in the book but it was enjoyable. It felt good to read about someone who wanted to find her home, who knew that while she loved where she came from, she knew she couldn't stay forever.

[Sherry Mackay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Attractive photos and a nice heavy feel to the book in your hand. I am not a huge fan of her literary style - a bit too flowery and overly sentimental but not a bad look into her life. I enjoyed the Amsterdam part of the book; how fab to live on a house boat. I did like the pallet bed she made for their apartment in Paris; will have to get me one of those.

[Emma Crameri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It meanders along, but the illustrations are breathtaking. It makes me want to hope the next plane and head over to Europe with my digital camera.

[Sonya Madden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning... I read it cover to cover and went back through it again to admire the images. Fantastic!

[Lien Vong · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been following Pia's blog for a while so was excited to find this in my local library. I especially enjoyed the part where she moves to Amsterdam.

[Kylie Doye-vella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book... Lovely words, pictures and presentation... Just a pleasure to read

[Joan]

I'm a big fan of her blog. Look forward to reading and seeing the book.

[Lisa Baudry]

fantastic, inspiring, thoughtful, beautiful