# Need Book Reccomendations **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 11, 2003, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-reccomendations/194495 "2003-08-11T22:34:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JCorre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3da27b/32.png) [@JCorre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JCorre)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-reccomendations/194495/1 "2003-08-11T22:34:03Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-reccomendations/194495/2 "2003-08-11T23:04:08Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-reccomendations/194495/3 "2003-08-11T23:19:21Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![JCorre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3da27b/32.png) [@JCorre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JCorre)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-reccomendations/194495/4 "2003-08-12T00:18:58Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-reccomendations/194495/5 "2003-08-12T01:01:01Z")
For a great non-fiction book, try [The Great Game](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1568360223/qid=1060650399/sr=2-2/ref=sr_2_2/002-2390263-0322452) 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. ---
**Author:** ![hlanelee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@hlanelee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hlanelee)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-reccomendations/194495/6 "2003-08-14T22:50:32Z")
Flashman and the Dragon by George MacDonald Fraser is a good read. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-reccomendations/194495/7 "2003-08-15T03:45:09Z")
A good non-fiction set in Asia that I read recently was [Samurai William](http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0340794682/ref%3Dbr%5Fac%5Ftop5%5F1%5F5/qid%3D1050448277/sr%3D1-5/202-8466569-5667807) . It’s a biography of Will Adams, the actual man upon whom John Blackthorne in [Shogun](http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0340766166/qid=1060919487/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_3_1/202-8466569-5667807) was based. It reads like a novel and you don’t have to have a M.A. in Japanese history to read it. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-reccomendations/194495/8 "2003-08-15T04:08:44Z")
I strongly second **AuntiePam’s** recommendation of **Bridge of Birds**. It is truly a wonderful book. ---
**Author:** ![Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krisfer_the_Cat)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-reccomendations/194495/9 "2003-08-15T16:28:12Z")
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.