I’m in a book club and I need some reccomendations. I have to pick a book that is set in Asia though (excluding Russia, Middle East, India).
Does anyone have any ideas?
I’m not very well-read in Asian literature, but Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden is very readable and there are plenty of things to help generate a discussion.
I’d also recommend Bridge of Birds (fantasy) by Barry Hughart, for the sheer fun of it, although there are deeper messages about friendship, loyalty, religion, politics, etc. You can read it either way, I think.
You don’t say whether fiction or non-fiction. For non-fiction, try “Ride The Iron Rooster: By Train Through China” by paul Theroux; or “The Art of War”, by Sun Tzu. For fiction, try “Shogun” or “Noble House”, both by James Clavell.
Chefguy:
It can be either. I was thinking of suggesting a fictional work though. Thanks for the suggestions. I’ve read both books and thought they were great.
I think I’ll go with Memoirs of a Geisha. It sounds very interesting.
Thanks to both of you for your suggestions.
John
For a great non-fiction book, try The Great Game by Peter Hopkirk. It’s the story of the proxy war fought in throughout the c19th by the British and Russians ans is set mainly in Afghanistan.
Flashman and the Dragon by George MacDonald Fraser is a good read.
A good non-fiction set in Asia that I read recently was Samurai William . It’s a biography of Will Adams, the actual man upon whom John Blackthorne in Shogun was based. It reads like a novel and you don’t have to have a M.A. in Japanese history to read it.
I strongly second AuntiePam’s recommendation of Bridge of Birds. It is truly a wonderful book.
A third recommendation for Bridge of Birds and the sequel The Story of the Stone . I always cry when I reread them both. Of course the tears were already flowing from laughing so hard.