So, you want to learn more about the history, politics, and culture of China and you’re looking to read some books about China in order to do that. Do you pick up a novel by a Chinese author or search for a Chinese memoir? I suspect most English-language readers would go for fiction. It’s so …
Is there anything better than a bookish gift? So many of us grew up as bookworms: living in fantasy worlds, escaping reality through the pages of our books, and much of that was because the real world just doesn’t measure up. But these days, we have thousands of creative bookworms out there bringing to life …
Now is a great time to dig into some spooky reads, from classic horror novels to modern thrillers, paranormal stories to twisted murder mysteries. These novels from Canada, Korea, UK, Japan, Argentina, and more present narratives that are unnerving, unsettling, and weird, bordering on outright horrifying. The Most Unsettling Books from Around the World From …
Love is often seen as a language that transcends boundaries, but does that make it universal? Romance is, after all, found in every form of fiction, from romance movies to romance manga. Love means different things to different people, and reading romance novels from different countries, backgrounds, and sexualities can help us become a little …
Slice of life manga come in many shapes and sizes. Some focus on romance, others comedy. Some take simple situations and twist them into bizarre shapes. Others are queer coming-of-age stories. Essential Slice of Life Manga Whatever your personal flavour when it comes to slice of life manga, you’ll find something to sink your teeth …
Before you travel to any new country, you should know a little about its history, food, art, language, and customs. Japan’s literature and culture are so rich and the best way to learn more is to tuck into a few Japanese novels by some of the best Japanese authors, as well as some fantastic travel …
Tattoos are for everyone. That much should be plain these days, but it bares repeating every once in a while. Tattoos are collected and worn proudly by lovers of cinema, anime, video games, comics, and books alike. And Literary tattoos are fast becoming a normal and celebrated niche in the tattoo world. The Best Literary …
Books about witches take many different forms. Some are horror novels; others are historical accounts. Some are charming children’s stories; others are strange and disturbing mysteries. Setting witches at the heart of a novel, a comic book, or a nonfiction book can mean many different things and can cover many different genres, settings, and styles. …
So much of our experience with a novel relies on its narrator and its protagonist. When we read, we both apply our understanding of the world to the novel, and seek to put that aside to look through the narrator’s eyes. Most protagonists and narrators feel trustworthy, pleasant, and kind; even if that protagonist has …
For more than a decade now, mythology has had a colossal resurgence in popular culture. From the God of War video games to Thor: Ragnarok, kids and adults around the world are devouring every movie, TV show, and video game based in mythology. But, for those of us wanting to dig a little deeper, there …