I’m participating in the Travel the World in Books read-a-long for the next two weeks. I feel like this is something that I have a bit of experience with since I’ve been tracking my books by location for the last three years.
For the next week I’ll be posting books that I’ve read set in various parts of the world to give you ideas.
Japan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Ah, Murakami. I thought about reading another one of his books for this read-a-long but I figured that would take the whole two weeks and I wanted to do more than one book. What is this book about? I have no idea and I read it and liked it. His books are more about the journey than the message.
Ink by Amanda Sun
I liked the premise of this book. A girl moves to Japan and meets a boy who has the power to make his drawings come to life. But, there was too much “I think you are cute so I am going to stalk you for no apparent reason” in this one for me. If that doesn’t bother you it can be a good introduction into Japanese mythology.
North Korea
The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book was big a while ago. It is a look at what it is like to live in a society that is always watching you and controlling what you do.
China
There are lots of great books set in China. Amy Tan and Lisa See have great ones. I decided to list one I liked that is completely different.
Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is an epic fantasy set in a world that resembles ancient China.
Mongolia
I’ve been fascinated with Mongolia ever since I read a book about it in 5th grade.
The Secret History of the Mongol Queens: How the Daughters of Genghis Khan Rescued His Empire by Jack Weatherford
The Mongol queens of the thirteenth century ruled the largest empire the world has ever known. Yet sometime near the end of the century, censors cut a section from The Secret History of the Mongols, leaving a single tantalizing quote from Genghis Khan: “Let us reward our female offspring.†Only this hint of a father’s legacy for his daughters remained of a much larger story. From Goodreads.
This is a nonfiction book about women’s history in Mongolia. The Queens were fascinating and I had never heard of them before. I never thought of Genghis Khan as a great proponent of women’s rights before.
What’s on my TBR list from this area?
I plan to read both of these this month.
White Tiger by Kylie Chan
A young woman accepts a position as nanny to the young daughter of a handsome, wealthy, and mysterious Chinese businessman— only to discover her new employer is really a god and every foul demon in creation is out to destroy him! From Goodreads
Fudoki by Kij Johnson
Enter the world of Kagaya-hime, a sometime woman warrior, occasional philosopher, and reluctant confidante to noblemen–who may or may not be a figment of the imagination of an aging empress who is embarking on the last journey of her life, setting aside the trappings of court life and reminiscing on the paths that lead her to death.
For she is a being who started her journey on the kami, the spirit road, as a humble tortoiseshell feline. From Goodreads.
Remember what I said about Japanese mythology? Here is it again.
Okay, I haven’t read ANY of these. But I do have the Murakami one on my TBR list. I’ve read 2 of his, Norwegian Wood and The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.
I will have to check out 1Q84 and The Secret History of the Mongol queens. In China, one of my favorites was Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. A beautiful story about the friendship between two young Chinese woman and how their relationship travels through war, marriage and a time when women were viewed as property. Thanks for joining our Travel the World in Books Readathon!