Looking for recommendations about books set in different countries!
I am doing a bit of travel in the upcoming future, and cant think of a better read than to have novels set in the country that I am going to visit. It would be neat to compile a list of books that are set in a particular country that will 'teach' me abou that country, but in a more interesting fashion than picking up a history book! Can you recommend to me some fictional books set in the following areas to give a taste of its culture and history?
Turkey: yes, I know, anyting by Pamuk, but what else?
Russia: so far I have Russka by E. Rutherfurd
Egypt:
Morocco:
Switzerland:
South Africa: I have Disgrace and Half a Yellow Sun, and Cry the Beloved Country - anything else?
If you have another list for other counrtires please post them as well, as I am sure people going to new places would be keen to read a novel set there as well!"
May be too late but...
I didn't know about this thread until I read the January issue but I'll post my recommendations anyway, and maybe add in a few other countries too.
South Africa: Just to note that Adichie isn't a South African novelist, nor is that book set there -- they're both from and set in Nigeria. ;) Damon Galgut is a South African novelist. I've only read one of this short stories which was in a "Paris Review" issue, but it was excellent and one I can easily recall. His latest book, "The Good Doctor" got shortlisted for a few awards including the Man Booker.
Egypt: The Egyptian by Mika Waltari -- a bestseller in its day, it's a great historical fiction set around the time when a Pharaoh abandoned the traditional gods in favour of a single Sun god. It's narrated by his doctor and is a lot of fun from start to finish.
The Egyptologist by Arthur Phillips -- I recently read an interview with the author on "The Morning News" website and liked it a lot so I've added this book to my wishlist. It's only partly set in Egypt but the mystery is rooted in Egyptian history and, more importantly, it sounds like a lot of fun.
The Cairo trilogy by Naguib Mahfouz - He's a Nobel prize winner of whom I've always heard a lot about so I intend to get around to this some day. These books are basically one of those sweeping multigeneration family fiction. He gets compared a lot to Honore de Balzac, one of my favourite authors.
Morocco: Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits by Laila Lalami - It's a novel made up of several connected short stories that follow a group of Moroccans trying to get to Spain on a small boat. The stories follow their lives before in Morocco and after in Spain. I enjoyed it because of the diversity of characters Lalami chose to focus on -- none of them were stereotypical and all were sympathetic. Lalami herself used to live there until she emigrated to the US.
Turkey: Elif Shafak is probably the other Turkish novelist people think about after Pamuk. I haven't read her books as I've heard mixed things about them but she's probably worth a look. :)
Now for other countries!
China: Love in a Fallen City and Other Stories by Eileen Chang - You can pretty much trust any book published by the New York Review of Books classic line. Chang is one of the more prominent Chinese writers who's just now been getting a big push in North America. Ang Lee latest movie "Lust, Caution" is an adaptation of one of her stories.
Japan: Too many! I have a thing for Japanese novelists. Everyone knows Murakami Haruki, but there's also Natsume Soseki (considered *the* Japanese novelist of the 20th century), Abe Kobo, Akutagawa Ryunosuke, Kawabata Yasunari and Oe Kenzaburo.
Argentina: Jorge Luis Borges. Anything by him. He's influenced untold numbers of contemporary novelists.
Spain: Merce Rodoreda. I recently read "My Christina and Other Stories" and was blown away by how fresh and contemporary her prose was even though it was written around the 1960s. She writes haunting, powerful stories with distinctive characters that you'll never forget. She's able to create such a distinct voice for each one.
Well, that's enough for now. :D
Novels to enrich Travel
I agree with Natalie - I love reading novels about countries I am going to visit! They "set the stage" for my travels and give me a framework for my experiences in a way that travel books and non-fiction do not. For example, reading Geraldine Brooks, "Year of Wonders" was perfect for enriching our trip to Eyam, England this summer, as was Edward Rutherfurd's " London" and "Sarum."
Any suggestions for great novels or historical fiction set in Venice; Cambridge, England; Croatia; or Greece?
Turkey during World War I era
Louis de Bernieres, the author of Corelli's Mandolin, wrote Birds without Wings, about the dying days of the Ottoman empire. The book features residents of a village, Christian and Muslim, Turk and Armenian, and shows how the Great War changed them and their country.
I haven't read it yet, but I loved Corelli's Mandolin. And this one gets raves from those who read it.
A few to check out
Natalie,
Great to have you hear on the forums! Here's to safe and joyous travels ... and a few suggestions:
Russia: So many classic Russian novels ... and don't forget The People's Act of Love by James Meek ... but those with some historical sweep that aren't Tolstoy? Perhaps Generations of Winter by Vassily Aksyonov.
Egypt: The Map of Love by Ahdaf Soueif
Morocco: The Spider's House by Paul Bowles. Or his Sheltering Sky.
South Africa: I've heard mixed things about The Heart of Redness by Zakes Mda.
Please let us know which you chose and how they (and your travels) turned out!
J
Jon Phillips
Editor & Publisher, Bookmarks
Tarvel Literature
Thank-you to the two of you! I would love to see a section in Bookmarks on Travel Literature/Adventure - it is a great way for me to get away to another world!
I ended up choosing:
Russia: Generation of Winter and Russka (Hope to get there in the Spring)
Turkey: 3 books from Orham Pamuk and Flea Palace (I have a week to go before landing there!)
Morocco: The Spiders House, and Peter Mayne's A year in Marakesh (I have 2 months to go before landing there!)
Egypt: Amelia Peabody's Egypt by E. Peters, mostly because of the beautiful cover (Hope to get there next year...)
Natalie
Trailblazer - France
post them here if you know!
You need to be a paid member to access that information on Bookbrowse.com (but thank-you for the link - the free stuff on there seems good!) If you have any recommendations can you post them here?
Natalie
Trailblazer - France
Lists of books by country
BookBrowse.com lists books by country and also by time period and they only recommend really good books so is a great place to start.
Novelist (check your library's databases)
Also, I believe Novelist and What Do I Read Next (Gale) both are searchable by country in which the book takes place. Check with your local library to see if they have subscriptions.