So you want to start reading Haruki Murakami? You’ve seen his overwhelming popularity both in Japan and the West; you’ve heard the whispers, over and over, that he might finally win the Nobel Prize for Literature; you want to know what all the fuss is about. Murakami can be accessible and inaccessible in equal parts, …
Read Before You Travel
How much do you really know about the history, cuisine, art, and culture of Romania? A country often defined by the legend of Dracula and a handful of medieval castles, Romania is so much more than that. The nation fell under the reigns of communist dictatorship and only broke free in 1989. Romanian cuisine is …
In so many ways, the women of East Asian literature are the prominent voices of their cultures today. The best East Asian writers are women. In Japan and Korea especially, those writers who have the greatest clarity of mind and creative spirits are insightful, fascinating, and imaginative women. Women who speak for the sidelined and …
Myanmar, once and still more famously known as Burma, is a Southeast Asian country that has been marred by so much conflict, subject to colonial and military control, and is now attempting to find its feet (all the while still making some pretty horrific political moves). Once a British colony, Myanmar gained independence in 1948 …
Ah, Paris. The world’s most romantic city could never be called truly romantic if it wasn’t for its legendary literature, powerful feminists, and groundbreaking philosophers. But before you visit Paris, there’s a lot you can learn. There is so much depth and beauty to Paris’ art, architecture, cuisine, and literary scene that it’s only fair …
Denmark is often celebrated as the happiest place on Earth today, and in our experience that is honestly true. What makes Denmark so exciting as a country is the contrast between its happy, positive, and friendly modern world and the thrilling history of seafaring Vikings the land was once known for a thousand years ago. …
Thailand is a nation with an incredibly rich and splendid history. A free nation which has tied the way of life that is Buddhism into its very culture, food, and traditions. There’s a reason so many of us crave Thailand holidays more than any others in South East Asia. Thai temples, architecture, food, religion, and …
If you’re planning to visit Canada and check the Great White North off your bucket list, then you’ll definitely want to familiarize yourself with some of the best authors and books about Canada. Preferably written by Canadians! Wondering What to Read Before You Visit Canada? Canada has a very strong literary tradition and many Canadian …
Taiwan is the most enigmatic country in East Asia. It’s constant legal and political struggles with China have been upsetting and frustrating to watch, but its close cultural and artistic ties to Japan have somewhat counterbalanced that. What can be said for certain (besides the fact that Taiwan is not China), is that Taiwan is …
All eyes are trained on Indonesia right now. Its tourism is flourishing more than ever; foreigners from the West are flooding there to work and live cheaply and healthily (for better or worse), and its art scene is finally being celebrated the world over. Some of the biggest names in poetry, prose, and essays all …