Fortunate Isle

A memoir of Tenerife

Fortunate Isle is a story to delight readers young and old. It tells of 1960, a special time in the author's life when at 18, he explores what the world has to offer, unaccompanied and far from home. His stories make Buenavista del Norte, a 15th century village in Tenerife, sparkle like the sunlit sea. There are moments of amusement and confusion, of achievements and setbacks as this young man, initially speaking no Spanish, becomes part of a close-knit community unused to strangers. He wins the confidence of a matriarch who runs the small inn that he found the very day he arrived. His curiosity, adaptability and willingness to work alongside the local inhabitants, make him popular, win him acceptance and a place to flourish and grow.

bittersweet memories

I loved listening to this story about a brave, super young man who explores the world with so much positivity and not being afraid of hardships and labor. Very educational too. Perfect for an evening at a fireplace with a cup of sweet tea. (Was it a mistake that the audiobook is narrated by a female voice?)