Karon’s reading list (any ideas?)

Whilst time on the road can be hectic, I’m looking forward to the opportunity to do a lot more reading for pleasure (more than previously, while having to do academic reading for work).

So what’s on the list? 

Well there’s the obvious travel guides to help us avoid pitfalls and missing interesting sights.

In addition, I’m looking for country/continent specific literary classics (fiction, biography, etc.) to help me get under the skin of each place as we visit.

This list will evolve alongside our journey, but if you have any suggestions for the places marked with question marks they’d always be welcome.

• India – Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts, Sleeping on Jupiter by Anuradha Roy
• Nepal – Palpasa Café by Narayan Wagle
• Malaysia?
• Cambodia?
• Laos?
• Vietnam?
• China – Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven by Susan Jane Gilman, Big Breasts and Wide Hips by Mo Yan and Behind the Wall by Colin Thubron
• Japan – Shogun by James Clavell, Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
• Philippines?
• Australia – My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin
• New Zealand?
• Tahiti – Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones (South Pacific)
• California – The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, The White Album by Joan Didion, The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon
• Costa Rica?
• Panama – Canal Dreams by Ian Banks
• Ecuador?
• Peru?
• Chile?
• Argentina?
• Brazil – State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

1.  Lastly, readings for sheer escapism….
   • The Vegetarian – Han Kang
   • Hot Milk – Deborah Levy
   • Early One Morning by Virginia Baily
   • The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
   • The Kindness by Polly Samson

Best, Karon