book lists

11 Best Books About Thailand By Both Thai & Western Authors

- Amy 3 Comments
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

9 Travel Books About Social Isolation

- Amy Leave a comment
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

Asian Literature: 11 Best Books About Southeast Asia

- Amy 2 Comments
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. Read more

11 Great Japanese Novels in English to Read on Your Trip

- Amy 6 Comments
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

HK Writers | The 5 Best Books About Hong Kong

- Amy 3 Comments
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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