Some more suggestions for holiday reading
Equator by Miguel Sousa Tavares Bloomsbury, £16.99
Luis Bernardo Valenca, a wealthy, debonair man about town, dabbles in politics while wining and dining his way around the more privileged salons of Lisbon at the turn of the early 20th century. His economic theorising and capitalist morals are put to the test when he is asked to take governorship of the tiny Portuguese-run islands of Säo Tomé and Principe in the Gulf of Guinea, off the African west coast, and convince the increasingly-inquisitive English that slave labour does not exist on the islands' booming cocoa plantations. Intrigue, adultery, gambling debts and secrets stalk the verdant background of this rollicking novel, translated here by Peter Bush. The firm roots of the plot draw deeply on the colonial history they are planted in, and it lends realism and edge to a quality story told with enthusiasm.
Malta Gozo by Victor Paul Borg Rough Guides Directions, £6.99
The islands of Malta and Gozo seem to be enjoying something of a Renaissance for Irish tourists and it's easy, looking at this guide, to see why. Malta has more historical monuments per square kilometre then anywhere else, thanks to its historically-strategic location at the heart of the Mediterranean. Combined with terrific coastline and grand festivals where entire towns join in, it makes for a varied and manageable destination. This cracking guide will have you hungry for pastizzi and ftira and dreaming of diving into azure blue waters before you get past the first 40 pages or so of edited, colourful highlights. Check out the "essentials" section for some alternative ways to spend your time, such as going fishing with the locals.