As a child I spent hours in the school library, pouring over the shelves. I went on to accumulate hundreds of books over the years, before finally realizing how impractical it all was. While living abroad, I embraced the beauty of my kindle instead and donated most of my library. It entirely changed how I read, especially when traveling. I’m generally drawn to books set in foreign countries – especially those I’m visiting. According to Good Reads I now read more than ever, so thought I would start sharing some recent favorites!
SNOW COUNTRY – YASUNARI KAWABATA
Set in a rural Japanese village in the mountains of Niigata, this novel is considered the masterpiece of Kawabata, a nobel prize winner. It’s a strange, beautiful and poetic tale of wasted love in a town of geisha and hot springs. I fittingly read this as we were traveling through the snowy Japanese Alps.
I AM MALALA – MALALA YOUSAFZAI
Follows the life of this incredible young woman from her youth in Pakistan through to her address at the United Nations. It’s a moving tale, from the reality of conflict through to the challenges of peaceful protest. Her fight for human rights earned her the nobel peace prize and I think everyone should hear her story.
WANT NOT – JONATHAN MILES
Told through a collection of three separate narratives, this witty novel deals with over-consumption in the modern world. Set around the New York area, it cleverly considers not only the material things we acquire and discard, but how we deal with relationships too. As a minimalist myself, I was absorbed in this book.
SCENES FROM A PROVINCIAL LIFE – J. M. COETZEE
This is a compilation of the three novels Boyhood, Youth and Summertime; forming the fictionalized biography of nobel winner Coetzee’s life. This fascinating collection discusses the complexities of life in South Africa over time and I devoured them while we were in Cape Town ourselves.
Recent reads are a selection of books I’ve read lately and enjoyed. I’m generally drawn to books set in foreign countries and I love to spend hours on my kindle. Happy reading!
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