What novels should I read in these countries?

Looking for books associated with the countries I'm traveling to.

Kevin and Ammi's RTW Adventure
Post Count: 37

Msg: #1 15 weeks ago, September 21st 2009

I'm wanting to learn a little bit more about each country I visit so I've decided to read books associated with them. In Thailand the book to read seems to be "The Beach" and Argentina might be "The Motorcycle Diaries." I'm a guy, looking for books that are entertaining, informative, eye opening, and relatively easy to find in a used book store on the road. What books should I read for these countries? Loas, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, China, New Zealand, and Japan.
Thanks

[Edited: 09:15 - Mell - Duplicate of this deleted]

Mell

Mell
Post Count: 15455

Msg: #2 15 weeks ago, September 21st 2009

Hello Kevin

I recommend The Glass Palace for India.

Mel

Jo Trouble

Jo McCarthy
Post Count: 3181

Msg: #3 15 weeks ago, September 21st 2009

Japan: Shogun

NZ: Once Were Warriors

[Edited: 07:01 - Jo Trouble ]

Vinovat Sudarynya

Jonathan Campion
Post Count: 748

Msg: #4 15 weeks ago, September 21st 2009

Hi Kevin,

For India: Rudyard Kipling's 'Kim'.

J.

the soul cultivator

Claire Hall
Post Count: 36

Msg: #5 15 weeks ago, September 21st 2009

'A fortune Teller Told Me' by Tiziano Terzani.
The author is a travel journalist who covers most of these countries in cultural detail but the story revolves around when he was told 16 years before that in 1993 he must avoid flying as death will be with him during this year, a travel journalist not able to fly presented a new challenge for him, he then travelled over land and suddenly experiances these countries in a different more intense way than ever before. During this year of 1993 and as a confirmed skeptic he manages to get his fortune told in every country he visits, to see if this was still forseen in the cards, he is told many strange and hysterical things by these fortune tellers but he also experiances many strange things too. A true story.

PatrickSwayzesTwin

Matt Q
Post Count: 22

Msg: #6 15 weeks ago, September 21st 2009

Sorry, this recommendation doesnt involve any of the countries you mentioned but I just finished "You Shall Know Our Velocity" by Dave Eggers...its an amazing book that describes Senegal, Morocco, Estonia, and Latvia and has a really interesting premise to it

Mell

Mell
Post Count: 15455

Msg: #7 15 weeks ago, September 22nd 2009

I also recommend Half a Life, by V. S. Naipaul

Kevin and Amarryn

Kevin and Ammi's RTW Adventure
Post Count: 37

Msg: #8 15 weeks ago, September 23rd 2009

Thanks everyone. I've read Shogun. Awesome book. I'll have to look for the rest.

Kari12

Kari Redmond
Post Count: 20

Msg: #9 15 weeks ago, September 24th 2009

Catfish and Mandala, A two-wheeled Journey Through the Landscape of Vietnam. It's not a fiction novel but reads like one

Luisa28

Luisa Eames
Post Count: 1

Msg: #10 15 weeks ago, September 24th 2009

For Japan check out "Memoirs of a Geisha" and for China I thought "Red Azalea" was really insightful as to life under the Mao regime.

Hayler

Chris Hayler
Post Count: 1

Msg: #11 15 weeks ago, September 24th 2009

For Cambodia there are numerous books you can read. My favorite was "First they Killed my Father", but I also recommend "The killing Fields" and The Quiet American". They really give you a strong insight into the Khmer Empire.

Going Global

Marc
Post Count: 86

Msg: #12 15 weeks ago, September 25th 2009

India:
- Shantaram
- Arrow of the Blue Skinned God
- Holy Cow
- The Inheritance of Loss

beverlystayart

Beverly Stayart
Post Count: 10

Msg: #13 13 weeks ago, October 6th 2009

Thanks for these book recommendations for specific destinations.

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