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 • Culture  • Books that Will Let You Travel the World

Books that Will Let You Travel the World

Books that Will Let You Travel the World

Reading is the cheapest kind of travel.  You can have wild and crazy adventures without risk of bodily injury.  Here are my top five reads for getting lost around the globe in rich and poignant stories:

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

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A classic whodunit tale about the mystery surrounding a one Julian Carax, a mysterious author who disappeared from the world without a trace.  This mystery takes place in 1940s Barcelona and follows shadowy figures who are all at once too far away and much too close.  You will read at a bristling speed to find out about Carax and how his words cause great explosions in the lives of his readers.

 

The Far Field by Madhuri Vijay

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The Far Field takes place in India following a lost 20-something, Shalini, as she tries to make sense of her mother’s death, her strange relationship with her mother’s acquaintance, and a series of actions that she can never forget.  Not only do you get a glimpse into an intense coming of age story, but you are also shown a rich glimpse of the culture of India’s Kashmir and Bangalore.

 

 

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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Americanah has quickly become a modern classic following two Nigerian lovers who find that their Western experiences do not meet their expectations.  Ifemelu and Obinze are separated while they work to understand who they are in new countries and find their way back to each other.  There is nothing like star-crossed lovers to enrich a story already so poignant and meaningful to its readers.

Elinor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

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Who knew that a novel following the shy Elinor as she learns to live in a small British town would be such a page turner?  Page by page you are drawn into the mysterious and simple life lead by the characters in this novel.  By the end, you will not be able to pinpoint when you fell in love with this book, but I guarantee that you will.

 

 

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

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Using the national pastime of Pachinko, Min Jin Lee weaves a story about four generations of a Korean family who are greatly affected by Sunja’s decision to provide her son through a safe marriage.  Readers new to the Japanese occupation of Korea in the early 1990s will find a rich world in which they will be swept along for a dramatic engagement with the sacrifices, fears, and love fostered in these generations.