Andrea Montgomery’s ‘The Banana Road: It’s Tenerife but not as you know it’ is a frank, hilarious and sometimes shocking memoir; following the author and her husband as they trade the damp suburbs of Manchester for a sub-tropical banana plantation in Tenerife. Far from a tranquil island paradise, readers should prepare to encounter an espionage agent neighbour, a white cat with no tail, a sudden death and dozens of islanders who keep life spicy.
When the pandemic came crashing down on travel, and Andrea Montgomery was unable to continue her work in mainland Europe, she finally had time to sit down and document the preceding few years of her life.
After all, the first few years she and her husband had been living in Tenerife were something of a pantomime of unbelievable characters, unexpected experiences and a total about face on what most dream of when picturing “island life”.
In ‘The Banana Road: It’s Tenerife but not as you know it’, Montgomery finally shares all!
Synopsis:
When Andy and Jack walk away from their successful careers, leaving family, friends and Manchester to move to the Canary Islands, they hope to find a new adventure and quality time together in the sun. What they do not expect to encounter is the intriguing, often amusing and sometimes downright bizarre cast of characters that inhabit their new, sub-tropical world.
Buying a small house on a pitch ‘n’ putt golf course surrounded by banana plantations in the north of Tenerife, they set about trying to earn a living while getting to know the eccentric neighbour who hints at a double life as an espionage agent; the Disney Gang; and a white cat with no tail, an Eric Cantona attitude and a penchant for torture.
An arrest and a sudden death turn their world upside down and open the door to a series of seemingly unrelated incidents. As Jesus takes up residence in the bottom of the garden and paradise begins to unravel, the shocking truth is finally uncovered and Andy and Jack face losing everything.
“I want to show people a side of Tenerife that exists far beyond the scope of holiday brochures, and also inspire people to take their own leap of faith as an expat,” explains the author. “This has definitely been the weirdest ride of our life, in complete contrast to what we expected when we decided to commit to getting our own “place in the sun”. Among all of the chaos, we’ve found plenty of time to laugh!”
Continuing, “I want my readers to understand that, with bravery and tenacity, they can radically change their life and be in control of their destiny, no matter the problems they’ll face when carving out a new life abroad. Jack and I are stronger because of what we’ve been through, and the pitfalls have ultimately brought us closer together. So, strap in and join us for an adventure unlike anything you’ve read before.”
Helen Ochyra, travel writer and author of Scotland Beyond the Bagpipes, writes:
“The Banana Road is an engaging and lively account of what it’s really like to up sticks and move to Tenerife. A fascinating cast of characters, both human and animal, make for an entertaining read that will appeal to anyone who’s ever drifted off in the sunshine dreaming of extending their holiday on this subtropical island.”
‘The Banana Road: It’s Tenerife but not as you know it’, from Cranthorpe Millner, is due for release on May 4th, 2021:
Waterstones: https://bit.ly/3lEFB36
Publisher’s website: https://bit.ly/3qYgjhr.
Follow the author on social media:
Facebook – Andrea Montgomery Writer
Instagram – andymontwriter
Twitter – @AndyMontWriter
Linked In – andreamontgomerywriter