The 11 Best Books About Thailand, By Both Thai & Western Authors

Best Books about Thailand - A Good True Thai

I’ve been living in Bangkok for two years and it’s taken me just as long to compile this list of the best books about Thailand. Why? Because I didn’t want it to be weighted toward novels set in Thailand by predominantly white, Western authors, yet great Thai literature that resonates in English and is available in good translation is hard to find. (Sadly, even after two years, my Thai is still mostly limited to: “Another beer, please,” “Straight on, then turn left,” and “I am a guava.”) Read more

Reasons to Stay Alive: Matt Haig Quotes About Mental Health

reasons to stay alive book by matt haig

Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig should be made mandatory reading. When I was going through a rough time with depression and anxiety, a friend pressed this book into my hands and said, “I think you should read this.” That copy was quickly filled with underlined quotes and margin notes because as I read, I related to every word.

And since then, I’ve bought and pressed copies of Reasons to Stay Alive into the hands of loved ones who are having a tough time, or know someone going through a tough time. Read more

9 Travel Books About Social Isolation

travel book with candles map and compass art

Are you pining for travel, stuck in lockdown, or looking to escape the perils of 2020 by diving deep inside the pages of a comforting book? The best of both worlds (that is, physical journeys and those undertaken through chapters) can be found in travel books about social isolation – a bit of an oxymoron, but nonetheless a relatable one during these “uncertain times.”

Here, I’ve created a collection of nine recommendations of the best travel stories most suited for travel in the time of Corona. Some are intrepid tales of solo adventures, while others are impressive feats of survival. Some of the examples of isolation are voluntary and others involuntary, but all relate to the challenges of remoteness and solitude, while satisfying wanderlust for the reader. Read more

How to Get Free Audiobooks & E-books Right Now

blog - audiobook and e-book reader with headphones

Hi there, social distancers! Welcome to a list of everywhere you can get free audiobooks and e-books right now – to make your self-isolation or lockdown experience a bit more bearable. With libraries and bookshops closed during this time you might be looking for a little literary distraction. So, I thought it would be good to compile a list of places that are offering free services or free trials of audiobooks and e-books, allowing you to escape into another world. (Not literally of course – definitely stay the fuck at home.)

Personally, I’m on a 30-day free trial of Scribd at the moment for audiobooks, which I’m really enjoying. But, after researching this list I have my eye on Kindle Unlimited and perhaps the paid version of Libro.fm later, as profits support independent bookstores. Some of the below are general subscription services from big names such as Amazon, whereas others are more niche and indy. Some catalogs can be accessed via apps, others include free downloads.  All have at least a 30-day free trial available and a handful are free all the time. Read more

Asian Literature | The Best Books About Southeast Asia

Reading a book in the sun - Southeast Asia

So, I recently made Southeast Asia my home by officially moving to Bangkok! I’ve celebrated in the only way I know how – adding the best books about Southeast Asia to my ever-growing reading wishlist and further expanding on my knowledge of Asian literature (see my list of the best Japanese novels for more on that topic too).

Here, I’m recommending one novel set in each country in Southeast Asia (available in English) and where possible, by an author from that country too. Also, just a friendly reminder that I have a printable World Book List, which lists one recommended read for every country in world – you can get a copy if you sign up to the Page Traveller monthly newsletter. Read more

17 Best Shakespeare Quotes About Travel That Will Inspire You Explore

The Best Shakespeare Quotes About Travel - Boldness be my friend - Cymbeline

It’s Shakespeare’s birthday weekend and I’m celebrating in his birthplace of Stratford-upon-Avon (Will, you don’t look a day over 400). So, in the spirit of all things literary and wanderlustful, I have compiled a list of Shakespeare quotes about travel from the bard’s most famous plays; to inspire you to either pick up a pen or get on a plane (or both). Read more

11 Great Japanese Novels in English You Need to Read on Your Trip

Reading a Book - Dance Dance Dance by Japanese Novelist Haruki Murakami

When I read Haruki Murakami’s Norwegian Wood during a trip to Japan, both the trip and the book sparked a fascination with Japanese novels that has stayed with me ever since. This list was meant to be a top five, but I simply couldn’t choose! So instead, here are 11 great Japanese writers and the their books, available in English, that make great travel buddies for a trip to Japan. Read more

The Best Quirky Bookshops and Used Bookstores in Los Angeles You Need to Visit

A Local's Guide to the Best Used Bookstore in Los Angeles

Shopping for books may not be the first thing that pops into your head when you think about visiting Los Angeles, but you may be surprised. Local Angeleno Maggie Torsney-Weir shares her guide to the best quirky bookshops and used bookstores in Los Angeles, from children’s books to travel tomes, to independent bookstores that have become LA literary institutions, such as the iconic The Last Bookstore: Read more

The Best Birmingham Bookshops for New and Secondhand Books

Birmingham City Centre - Floozy in the Jacuzzi

My passport may be bursting at the seams, but I’m definitely guilty of ignoring what’s in my own back yard. So, since I’ve been back in Birmingham (UK, not US), I’m making it my mission to explore my home city a little more, starting with my favourite places to visit – bookstores! Here’s my list of the best Birmingham bookshops for new and secondhand books, from comic book stores to independent bookshops selling used books; where you can find your next Brummy read: Read more

HK Writers | The 5 Best Books About Hong Kong

Chi Lin Nunnery in Hong Kong

Living in Hong Kong for five years, I explored the city, the islands and the mountainous New Territories. I also explored the SAR’s history through popular books set in Hong Kong, from romantic novels to informative works of non-fiction. So, I’ve decided to compile a list of the best books about Hong Kong and my favourite HK writers, which I highly recommend you read if you are visiting. Read more

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