It took me a shamefully long time to start reading The Kite Runner - the book came out in 2003, and I only read it this week. However, once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down.

The Kite Runner is a beautifully written story, about a young boy growing up in Afghanistan. Long days are spent playing with his servant: climbing trees, picking fruit, and participating in kite fighting tournaments. The first part of the book gives us a good picture of the life of an affluent family in pre-soviet Afghanistan - lavish parties, nice clothes and bicycles, travel, and education. From there, the story take us from the fall of Afghanistan's monarchy, through the Soviet military intervention, and finally to the rise of the Taliban regime.

More than anything, The Kite Runner is a tale of loyalty, guilt, and doing the right thing, set against the backdrop of a dramatically changing Afghanistan.

Did this book make me think about travel? Yes. But not in a "Wow, I can't wait to go to Afghanistan!" way. When I was in university, my father spent two years in Afghanistan, working with the United Nations on a disarmament program, encouraging militia fighters to go back to work, in an effort to stop the fighting. During this time, he suggested that I spend a few months on internship in Bamiyan. Things got in the way of that project, and I ended up going on a different trip. Now that I have read The Kite Runner, I am happy that the project didn't pan out - the book does a great job in describing the terrifying impact of the Taliban regime on the country and its citizens, and it did a great job convincing me that I do not want to go to Afghanistan - at least, not yet.

That being said, it is obvious from the first part of the book that Afghanistan is a wonderful place, filled with culture, history, and kind people. The various rehabilitation and disarmament projects that are currently taking place in this country make me hopeful that I will one day be able to visit.

Bio:
Writer, photographer, and traveller, Allie George is a Third Culture Kid who feels most at home on the road. Her diverse travels include the Americas, Europe, and West and East Africa. She is currently based in British Columbia, Canada and is busy planning a two year round-the-world trip, with more than 40 stops.

You can see her pictures and follow her travels at Where's Alex.

Country: Saudi Arabia

Girls of Riyadh intrigued me precisely because of its title – girls in Riyadh are never spoken of, never written of, and therefore it was immensely appealing to gain some perspective on a world that is never really discussed. 

As a summer read, it checks many boxes and it is an engaging page turner. 

Set in Saudi Arabia’s capital of Riyadh, the book follows the lives of 4 friends as told in a gossip blog style.  At times, the story unravels like a Gossip Girl plot, and you imagine the characters as Paris Hilton-equse drama queens. At others, you see the immense conflict of their lives as they try to reconcile their Western interests with the traditional structure of their families. As the young women dream of careers in medicine and business, they remain preoccupied with the constraints of their lives and the balance between their ambition and the expectations they face.

This book certainly falls under the category of “chick-lit” – it’s superficial, gossipy, and filled with drama. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it – a great, light summer read!  I loved that it was set in a country that’s know for anything but fun chick lit, and I really enjoyed being able to relate to the everyday struggles (both silly and serious) of the characters. However, I can’t say it inspired me to travel to Saudi Arabia. Despite the often light-hearted nature of the book, it’s not enough to override the significant concerns to safety and well being I would face in Saudi Arabia. I would recommend this book for anyone traveling to the region, as it gives a fresh, entertaining, interesting look at the lives of young Saudi women, but it falls short of providing any genuine insight or education about the complex political world they live in.

This week we will take a short look at four fantastic nonfiction books.

1.)  A Thousand Sisters – Lisa Shannon

2.)  In Search of Hope – The Global Diaries of Mariane Pearl.

3.)  I Live Here – Mia Kirshner, J.B.MacKinnon, Paul Shoebridge, Michael Simons

4.)  King Peggy – Peggielene Bartels and Eleanor Herman

Already known as a respect writer, Mariane Pearl was thrust into the international spotlight when her husband, Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, was murdered by Islamic extremists. Refusing to believe that hate and violence are more powerful than love, Mariane Pearl worked with Glamour Magazine to bring stories of amazing women from amazing corners of the world. What she discovers is nothing short of inspirational, with uplifting and heartwarming accounts of women’s courage, determination, and spirit. Perfect for anyone travelling to a remote or challenging area.

You may already recognize the authors’ names: Kirshner is an actress, appearing in The L Word and Black Dahlia. MacKinnon is an award winning author. Shoebridge and Simons are creative directors who  worked with Adbusters Magazine. Together, their world experiences and creative talents merge together in I Live Here, a funky collection of journals that explore the life of refugees. Travelling to Ingushetia, Burma, Ciudad Juarez, and Malawi, they capture the life of those displaced by war, famine, politics, and violence. Using a combination of scrapbook, mixed media, and graphic novel designs, they capture the heart and the stories of forgotten, homeless, landless people. A poignant look at the lives and stories behind headlines.

Peggy is living her life and minding her own business as a busy American woman working as a secretary at the Embassy of Ghana in Washington, DC. When she is woken up in the middle of the night by a distant relative who calls to inform her that she has inherited the crown of King to a village of 7000 souls in Ghana, she is in utter disbelief. But her new kingdom needs her – no running water, no medical care, no school, and the royal palace is in ruins. Her trusted team of royal advisors seem to be focused more on draining the coffers than raising new roofs. Peggy’s spunk, determination, and vision is inspiring and this book would make a great mother’s day gift (even if mom doesn’t travel – yet).

Lisa Shannon was watching the Oprah show when a report by Lisa Ling described the Democratic Republic of the Congo as the “worst place on earth to be a woman”. With no real experience in international development and with little more than an overwhelming urge to do something, Shannon made helping Congolese women her life’s passion. Her work is fascinating because she brings such a human face to war’s most forgotten victims but also because she accurately highlights the complex difficulties in investigating war crimes and in delivering assistance and aid. Her descriptions of mothers no longer willing to fight to get medical assistance for their children, and of a village woman who  constantly demands sugar for her tea while Shannon is trying to deliver lifesaving supplies are aggravating, frustrating, heartbreaking. It’s a difficult read, but a great primer for anyone who has dreams of taking on an international project.

As always, you can conveniently find these books in my Amazon store to buy at great prices, or check out your local bookstore.

Country: United States
Setting: Louisiana

Bonaventure Arrow is born out of tragic circumstance, yet is perfectly healthy, gifted even, but lacks the ability to make a sound. And yet, he hears everything. Not just conversations and household noises, but the secrets contained in boxes, in stones, in his own backyard and across town.

Bonaventure is a charming yet mysterious child and he is at the centre of several tangled tales. The grief of his single mother. The lingering sorrow of his father’s mother, and the magnetic draw of her chapel. The once-handsome man now locked in an insane asylum. And the life of Trinidad, the only person who seems to share and understand his gift, whose own life has been a dramatic and intriguing saga.

The storyline didn’t sound like the kind of novel I usually enjoy, but I ended up loving this book. It is so well written that, even though Bonaventure is the central character, you gain a real sense of everyone else – what drives them, what motivates them, what makes them happy and sad. I was so eager to have so many mysteries resolved at the end of the book, yet so very sad to have it finish.

Did this book make me want to travel to Louisiana. Yes!! It was fascinating to learn about 1950’s life where the characters come from different races and classes, yet that is a distant second to the primary story of people interacting, having their lives intertwined, crossing boundaries. It was inspiring and uplifting. I also really enjoyed the rich detail describing cemeteries, country roads, and local businesses, as well as the description of different religious practices and family traditions.


You can buy this book from my Amazon Store or check your local bookstore.

Country: Australia

In a fictional community at the southwestern tip of Australia, we meet Tom, a  lighthouse keeper and WWI veteran who is haunted by the trauma of war, and Isabel, a lively, bold, adventurous young women who has a comfortable life in town. 

An unlikely courtship brings the two together and when Tom takes a posting as a the lighthouse keeper of Janus Island - little more than a rock in the middle of the ocean. Marriage to Isabel soon follows, and the population of Janus island doubles overnight. 

As a lighthouse keeper, Tom takes comfort in the routine, regularity, and rules of his trade and is meticulous in his work. Isabel, more surprisingly  also easily takes to life at the lighthouse, bringing a lively sense of home to their isolated, remote abode.

The years pass, losses incurred at war become slightly more distant, and their unconventional residence is filled with happiness. And also occasional sadness, for after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the baby they both long for seems destined to never come. And yet just days after giving birth to a dead baby boy, Isabel is tending to the rosemary shrubs she planted on his grave when she hears a baby cry.  A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby. Their well regulated world, Tom's solace in orderly rules, and Isabel's passion for life collide with the tiny infant girl who seems to have washed ashore as their answer to their prayers. Their future decisions - some easy, some agonizing, will have repercussions far beyond Janus Island and will bring up questions 
 
I really enjoyed this book. It's writing style was captivating - it seemed like the author just let her characters live out their lives and she simply recorded it. I would read for hours on end and it was hard to put down. While the characters make decisions that I don't always agree with, I think one of the book's best features is that it inspires soul searching in the reader and it proves how there are many blurred lines between right and wrong. 
 
Does this book make me travel to Australia? Yes and no. I was disappointed to learn that Janus Island was fictional, but I still really love the idea of novels that explore the unexamined corners of the world and rural southwestern Australia after WWI certainly fits that bill. You feel like you have a real insight into the community where the novel is set. On the other hand, this book could have been set in many other countries (maybe eastern Canada?) and, save for some minor adjustments in dialect, there is nothing distinctly "Australian" about this story. That being said, I would still recommend it. I really enjoyed the story, the author's style, and the fact that she looked at a remote corner of a well known country.

Countries: Canada, United States

In honour of Black History Month, I have selected a book that was an absolute favourite of my childhood and is both appropriate for preteens / teenagers and will be enjoyed by adults alike: Underground to Canada. 

When the central character, Julily, is separated from her mother and sent to work on a brutal slave plantation, she survives in part by forming a strong friendship by another young girl in equally distressing circumstances, Liza. Together, their lasting friendship is more than just a social bond: it is the key to their survival. Julily helps Liza with the backbreaking work, and Liza provides encouragement and relief with her wry sense of humor.

As a young girl, I loved reading about the interaction between the two girls and I think that this is why the book is so fantastic for young adults – while the circumstances are vastly different, they can still relate to the characters’ personalities.

Against improbable odds, and against all forms of better judgement, Julily and Liza join with some adult men, also slaves, to undertake the long, dangerous, and exhausting journey to Canada via the Underground Railroad. The tension at times is almost unbearable – my heart pounds every time I read the section when they run through the swamp to mask their scent from the bloodhounds in hot pursuit.

Is this a book that inspires me to travel? In many ways, certainly not. While the descriptions of their journey is richly written, there is as much sorrow as there is joy in this book and reading about such sadness in history doesn't make me want to get any closer to it. And while I may find the architecture of old plantation homes to be interesting, I feel that some attractions can sometimes whitewash history, explaining away the atrocities of slavery as an unfortunate chapter in an otherwise glorious family history.

But on the other hand, there is an incredibly interesting history to be discovered and retracing part of the Underground Railway would be a chance to see some amazing and diverse parts of the United States, giving the traveler the opportunity to experience a unique part of history and visit areas that aren't typically on a tourist trail.

The characters in this book are an inspiration and I re-read this book endlessly when I was young and I hope you find it just as compelling as I do!

You can buy this book (currently on sale!) through my Amazon store, or please check it out at your local library or bookstore.

Since starting my weekly review of novels that inspire travel, I have looked at several works with high critical acclaim. One of them, 419, is a major award winner. This week, however, I'm taking a slightly different approach. Don't be concerned - this week's book is still well written and well thought out. It's just that, well, I'm almost afraid to say it, but this selection nearly falls into the category of "chick-lit"!!
 
It's no Bridget Jones' Diary I read, but rather Gaile Parkin's charming and delightful "Baking Cakes in Kigali". 

Our central character, Angel, is a busy, mother-hen type of figure. A talented baker and cake decorator, as well as a savvy business woman, she decided the time is right to move to Kigali and set up a cakes-to-order business. She reasons that as Rwanda moves past their sad history of genocide, there will be much personal and political celebration. 

But as talented as she is in baking and business, Angel really shines in being a beacon for gossip and can't resist taking an interest in the concerns of her neighbours. Chauffeurs, doctors, NGO workers - no one is safe as Angel fiddles with a relationship here, tweaks an outcome there. And along the way, she faces some complex decisions - will she, for instance, bake a special cake to celebrate a young girl about to undergo female genital mutilation - that reflect the hard realities of daily life and reconciliation in Kigali. 
 
I loved this book for several reasons. First, I thought it was wonderful to have a novel set in Africa that was so cheerful, lighthearted, funny, and upbeat. Rwanda has been the inspiration for so many serious novels and films that I found it exciting to see an author focus on positive relationships, neighbourly kindness, and the comedic side of life. 

Secondly, as someone who travels, I often want a not-so-serious novel to keep me company on the road and let me daydream about future trips. I thought it was great that this slightly-girly novel wasn't about finding the boy, chasing the boy, keeping the boy, but instead about a well developed character I could really relate to. 
 
Does this book make me want to travel to Rwanda? Absolutely! While I am all to aware of the many problems the region still faces, and I can appreciate that the author chose to show only one side of life in Kigali, I was still mesmerized by the portrayal of a beautiful, delightful city with a whole host of funny characters. 

I think anyone who enjoyed Alexander McCall Smith's "The Number One Ladies' Detective Agency" series would love this book - they have similar styles and similarly written main characters. 

I think this would be a great book for a girl to pick up and leaf through no matter where she is in the world - a bit of chick lit with some real oomph behind it. And I think anyone who is apprehensive about travelling to Rwanda for the first time would feel more at ease about how welcoming and friendly the people are.

You can find this wonderful book in my Amazon Store, or go check out your local bookshop.

When you think of a tortured artistic soul, it`s hard to think of a more apt illustration than German writer Hans Fallada. His short life was a struggle. Marked by grief, addiction, suicide attempts, illness, isolation, crime, pain, and being committed to a Nazi insane asylum, he still managed to produce several masterpieces, including my favourite Every Man Dies Alone, which was written in 24 days and published just one week before Fallada`s death.

Inspired by the true story of Otto and Elise Hampel, the novel follows the life of Otto and Anna, a simple, unassuming, hardworking couple who live in a Berlin apartment building filled with interesting characters. The death of their only son in WWII war sets about a spiraling chain of events as Otto and Anna launch an unlikely clandestine campaign, a kind of civil disobedience, to undermine the Nazi authorities.

As characters, they are both simple and mysterious; dignified and pathetic, courageous yet dependent. You can't help but to love them, but they can also inspire frustration, for as the story progresses you feel more, and worry more for their situation.
 
Otto and Anna aren't the only characters you'll encounter. There's the Jewish woman living alone on the top floor of their building, who they respect because she keeps her own council. 

The family on the first floor is more insufferable than usual when their son becomes an SS officer, and we get a sense that Anna and Otto have not so much a problem with the SS son but instead with the priggish father who has always been a bit of a jerk. 

There's also the Gestapo office assigned to track down who the culprits behind Anna and Otto's campaign; and the hapless "usual suspect" who is mistakenly accused - the interaction between the two is both comic and tragic.
 
Does this book make me want to travel to Berlin? Absolutely! 

It's not the first class writing that appeals to me so much as the loving, colorful, complex portrayal of Berlin in the midst of war. 

Fallada makes the point that Berlin was a city of diverse citizens, that there was more to the population than Nazis and resistance fighters. It's an inspiration when you can so clearly see how the author loves, absolutely loves, his city and the intimate detail of every day life - an upscale pet store, the corridor of an office building, the details of a public park. 

You can really appreciate what a beautiful city Berlin was, how much was lost during the destruction of the war, and how many innocent lives were trampled by the Nazis. One of the first anti-Nazi books to be published in Germany, it's hard to believe that this book wasn't translated to English until 2009. It is a riveting novel and I think it would give a rich background of history to anyone travelling to Germany.


Check out your local bookstore, or buy through my Amazon Store.

You can also buy the Original German Version - Jeder stirbt für sich allein via Amazon, though it might be cheaper elsewhere.

Primary setting: Guernsey Island. Secondary settings: London, Bath, Northern France. 
 
World War II has just ended and all of Britain is picking up the pieces of their shattered lives, including our central character, Juliet, a London newspaper columnist, whose humourous work was a point of comic relief for many during the dark times of the war. By curious chance she falls into correspondence with the members of the The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society. Guernsey, the sole part of Britain occupied by German forces during WWII, suffers even more darkly than London, and the trials and tribulations of the islanders is slowly revealed in their correspondence with Juliet. Among the society members are Dawsey, the quiet farmer who's as steady as a rock, unflappable Isola - who makes for a good amateur detective, Will - a dubious cook who nevertheless invents the title pie, and Booker - the valet turned nobleman with a passion of wine. Central to the story, however, are courageous, loyal, plucky Elizabeth and her precocious, ferret loving daughter Kit. The literary society was sprung from necessity by a quick witted Elizabeth when she was pressed for an alibi by the Germans, but it soon developed into a lifeline of friendship and survival for the lonely  isolated, and frightened Guernsey residents
 
 
The story is compelling and often very humourous - I loved the scene of recycling a pig corpse to foil the Germans - with poignant stories of heartbreak woven throughout that highlight just how very much was lost by so many. Just like Juliet, the reader will be captivated by the Guernsey Islanders for their unflinching honesty, steadfast loyalty, and cheerful courage. Despite the heavy subject matter, the book manages to be lighthearted and good humoured throughout and it is hard to put it down once you start reading it. While it may be perhaps characterized more as a "woman's" novel, I think it would also appeal to male readers for the great writing, sharp humour, and insight into a rarely heard chapter of WWII history. A rare example of a modern poly-logic epistolary novel, it took me a few minutes to get into the rhythms of reading the characters' letters but very soon I wasn't even conscious of their correspondence as the letters melted away and the story took hold. 
 
Would this book make me want to travel to Guernsey - absolutely! The island is portrayed with beauty, charm, and character, from the harbourfront to the cottages and the residents are given even higher praise. This would make for a perfect read for anyone travelling to that area and any reader would be hard pressed not to fall in love with Guernsey.

You can check out your local bookstore for a copy, or get this book from my Amazon store.

Countries: Nigeria as primary, Canada as secondary
 
Will Ferguson, primarily a humourous travel writer, seemed a fitting choice for my first book review of 2013. Throughout the year, I'm going to write a review for every novel I read that is set in another country - I like the idea of how a book can inspire a trip and vice versa, and a great read can help bridge the quiet days between great escapes.
 
419 can be described in one word: rich. The words are lush and juicy, the narrative smooth and flowing. The descriptions of Nigeria are incredible - Ferguson does an amazing job covering the country as he covers the lives of his characters. Tribes, ethnicities, alliances, boundaries - he steers the reader from the oil rich Delta into the pale, stinging dust of the dessert, and back around to the putrid chaos of Lagos with ease. This is a proper book: great characters, vivid settings, the stories staying in your head long after you are done. A work most deserving of the Giller Prize - Canada's highest literary honor.

 419, of course, refers to the section of the Nigerian criminal code that addresses the infamous internet fraudsters. Long-exiled Nigerian princes, needing your bank account and gullibility  to seal the deal. A mysterious death in Calgary - an even more mysterious woman walking across the dessert. A small time fraudster with big time dreams, top shelf gangster with gutter morals, and an unassuming copy editor with nerves of steel. My only complaint about this book is that a few minor story lines were not concluded to my satisfaction. Minor really. Maybe designed to keep a reader guessing. Yet lingering enough for me to rate the book an A- instead of A+
 
Does this book make me want to travel to Nigeria? Unfortunately, absolutely not. Ferguson paints a stark picture of a seedy underworld that had me nervous when I was reading - I definitely feel like this is not a place for me!
 
A final tip: The book may be 30% off at your local bookstore. Being a major award winner, it could be on the best seller discount list. If not, buy it on an e-reader. You can also buy the book through my Amazon Store here. Award winners will stay in hardcover longer than the average book and, when it does come out in paperback, it is likely to be large format. No cheap, light pocket novel is forthcoming here!