A Global Journey through Literature
This website charts my journey on a
Round the World trip through literature... which
started May 22nd 2009.
I am travelling the globe through contemporary literature (fiction and narrative non-fiction), having started in London, England. See the links below for my planned route:
A list of destinations that I have visited and am currently visiting
A list of planned future destinations on my trip
In the above sections you will find links to information about the countries that I have visited and am planning to visit (courtesy of Wikipedia) as well as critical reviews of the books that I am using to represent these nations, along with details of the authors and publication dates.
I have mapped out a travel list of well over 250 countries to visit, however any reading suggestions are more than welcome... at: contact@readingtheworld.co.uk
Just so you know, my constraints are:
1) Book must be fiction or narrative non-fiction (i.e. not a Lonely Planet-type Travel Guide) written by a native-born author** and set in the country of origin;
2) Book must not have been written, or be set, any earlier than 1990 (1989 at an absolute push!!);
3) Books must be translated into English - sorry, was never that good at languages...
4) Travel from one country / continent to another must be realistic (i.e. from one neighbouring country to another - such as France to Spain - or between landmasses which have an actual air/shipping route - e.g. Australia to Antarctica to Argentina:- a planned part of my trip much later on);
5) Books must be reasonably representative of the country - with a certain degree of cultural / social representation etc - even if this is as a background to a wider plot... what I am after is a sense of the country in question in recent times...
(** where necessary I will go with a suitable non-native author)
Well, there you go, just to give you an example:- my first port of call was in
my native England. My first choice was "Salaam Brick Lane" - a narrative
non-fiction by a public-school-educated Londoner who returned from 10 years
abroad - along with his Indian fiancée - to live in London's modern East End:
thus incorporating an interesting
breadth of class, as well as cultural, diversity in contemporary England.
Any further comments / suggestions more than welcome at:
Thankyou for visiting!
