Book Title: Vroom By The Sea
Author: Peter Moore
Promotional Blurb: Women wanted him. Men wanted to be him. And one hot summer he roamed the Italian seaside breaking hearts throughout Sardinia, Sicily and along the Amalfi coast. Racy, loud and an incorrigible show-off, he was the epitome of Italian machismo. He showed Peter, his less flamboyant companion, another side of Italy tourists rarely see. His name was Marcello and like Sophia from Vroom With A View he was a Vespa. A Vespa the same shade of orange as Donatella Versace.
Two years after riding from Milan to Rome in search of la dolce vita, Peter Moore’s life has changed dramatically. He has married Sally and she is pregnant with their first child. With fatherhood only five months away Peter reacted the way some men facing nappies and travel systems do, he panicked. But man, Peter sure found an understanding wife. Sally gave him the opportunity to go off, just once more, to be irresponsible.
For Peter this was a wild, final, two-stroke powered fling – with permission – through some of the most beautiful coastal scenery in the world on a Vespa with white go-fast stripes that brought a smile to peoples’ faces everywhere it went. Source
My Thoughts: This is the second book by Moore celebrating his love affair with Vespas and Italy – not necessarily in that order. Each page is full of exciting adventures, a few snippets of history and endless quirky characters.
This is a light and entertaining read and would be an easy introduction to Italy if you are planning travels to that country in the future. He accurately captures the scenery and the warm and welcoming nature of the Italian people.
Moore inspires me to travel more and to open myself up to people when I do travel. It is easy to err on the side of caution in foreign lands – especially when I travel on my own – and I am sure I miss out on a lot because of that hesitancy.
The motivation for this trip was one last Vespa-fuelled blast before he has to knuckle down, finally grow up and become responsible with the birth of his first child looming. This aspect of the book became a little monotonous after a while. He is certainly not the first man to experience all the self-doubt and fears of impending fatherhood and it felt a little self-indulgent after a while.
Despite that is an entertaining and enjoyable read and a must for any Italophile. I gave it 7/10.
Author bio: “I’m an author who writes about travel. I’m always searching for places that are authentic and a little bit different. No floaty sundresses or hipster beards here. Just the World in all its tarnished glory. Born in Sydney. Living in London. Author of six best-selling travel narratives. Traveled through 108 countries. Always looking for the next dodgy lane to wander down”. Source
Author blog or website: http://www.petermoore.net
Pages: 400
Published: 2007
Publisher: Transworld/Random House
Available from: Book Depository (from $24.99)
#armchairtravel # italybyvespa #travelinspo #travelreads
Life...one big adventure 
I’d have to give him a smack! But I’d probably still read it 🙂 🙂
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Yep, the thought ‘get a grip, Peter’ did pass through my mind a couple of times!! 🙂 🙂
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No plans to go Italy anytime soon as per current situation. Still I will check out the book.
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If you read his first book first, it will be a better introduction to the way he writes and his passion for Vespas. Have a great day and thanks for reading, Mel
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Ok i will check out the book. Thanks for suggesting.
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My pleasure. It certainly is the best way to travel at the moment. Have a great day.
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Ya imagination will make you travel to places you wouldn’t have imagined.
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True, and that is the beauty of books rather than film. With a book you paint your own pictures in your mind.
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Ya what’s your favorite book or favorite genre by the way ?
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I set myself a goal of reading over 70 books a year. It is a nice goal to work towards and makes me pick up a whole range of different genres. I guess if I had to pick, I prefer fiction. My favorite book last year was A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. And you? What do you enjoy reading??
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I read a lot of Thrillers. I love the suspense and mystery in a story. But not like you, 70 books a year😂😂😂. That’s a different level. I just started reading 3 years back. My favorite book is And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. The da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. Sherlock Holmes by Arthur C Doyle. But I’m trying to read diverse genres.
By the way which author you like or get excited about when starting her or his book?
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I love the work of a couple of American authors – TC Boyle and Ann Patchett. They are excellent at developing characters. I really get excited when they release a new book and have read all their backlist. Have you read – I am Pilgrim – by Terry Hayes? I don’t normally read thrillers, but this one was pretty gripping.
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No I haven’t.
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Looks pretty good. I’ll have to look him up.
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He certainly captures the warmth of the Italian people and the beautiful scenery. The best sort of travel we can do at the moment, sadly. Take care over there, Mel
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