June Book List: Vacation Abroad
A new month means a new reading challenge…and this month we are going on vacation abroad!
Well…on vacation abroad in our reading lists….
This month I have put together a list of books that are set in locations around the world. So choose a location from the list below and find a book to transport you there!
***FRANCE***
The Elegance of the Hedgehog centers around the residence in a condominium in Paris….especially that of the intelligent concierge and a precocious little girl.
The Nightingale tells the story of two sisters struggle to survive the German occupation of France during WWII.
Little is such a good read!!!! It is describes as wry and macabre and I couldn’t stop reading it. Little tells the tale of a tiny orphan girl, befriended by royalty and radicals during the French Revolution, who becomes the legendary Madame Tussaud.
***ENGLAND***
84, Charing Cross Road follows the 20 year correspondence between the author and a Frank Doel starting in 1949. Helene lives in New York and Frank runs a book store in London. This sweet, true story has been turned into a play, BBC series, movie, etc.
The Secret Garden is a classic novel that I will always love. It follows Mary Lennox, a sour, unloved 10 year old who is sent to live with her strange, unhappy uncle in the English countryside. The manor is mysterious…as are the grounds.
The Secret Keeper follows Dorothy who, when she was 16, witnessed a shocking crime at family picnic. Now, 50 years later at a family gathering she tries to piece together the truth of what she saw.
***MEXICO***
Like Water for Chocolate is the story of a young woman who longs to be with her love but is stopped by a family tradition…but the good news is each chapter starts with a recipe.
Mexican Gothic is a modern horror story. Dark and creepy but fun to read!!!
***AUSTRALIA***
The Dry was one of my favorite reads year before last. A great mystery, who done it type of read.
The Thorn Birds is one of my grandmas favorite books…although….I have never read it. It follows the saga of a family through generations and involves death, love, and betrayal.
***CHINA***
This story is heartbreaking and beautifully written. It is the non-fiction autobiography of Adeline Yen Mah describing her experiences growing up in China.
Amy Tan is a fantastic author. This novel follows the complicated relationship between an American born Chinese woman and her immigrant mother.
The Good Earth follows the life and decline of Wang Lung, a Chinese farmer in the early 20th century…but it is his wife who tragically captured my heart. The book is wonderfully written but if you are looking for an inspirational, or uplifting story this may not be the read for you.
***AFRICA***
A Long Walk to Water combines the story of a non fiction boy with a fictitious tale of a young girl, blending together the story of two youth trying to survive in a war torn Sudan.
The Power of One is a powerful story set in the 1930s-40s. It is the coming of age tale of a young man who had to suffer humiliation, abandonment, and prejudice on his journey to learn the power of words.
Things Fall Apart takes place in Nigeria during the European invasion in the late 19th century. It follows the life of the main character Okonkwo who is part of the village clan, is exiled, and then returns to a changed village. This is another story that will pull at your heart.
***INDIA***
Following Fish is a nonfiction collection of 9 essays that, well, follows the fish industry around India…with lore, recipes, culture, and commerce…this book is top on my list of reads this month.
This book wrecked me. It is a narrative nonfiction about a makeshift settlement just out of site of the luxury hotels of Mumbai. The stories are gritty and heartbreaking and you will be transported into a world that you will wish doesn’t exist.
The Storytellers Secret is a novel that follows a New York journalist to India to explore her family’s past and discover the legacy that her grandmother left behind.
***SOUTH AMERICA***
I loved this book! It is the non-fiction account of a decades worth of research and exploration into finding the “white city” in Honduras. It was adventure and history and folklore and so interesting…but the parts with the snakes…yikes!!!
The House of Spirits follows 4 generations of a family in Chile from 1910-1970. It is a story filled with social and political upheaval, love, loss, and ambition.
The Air You Breathe follows 9 year old Dolores, a poor orphan girl who works on a sugar plantation and Graca, the daughter of the owner of the plantation….who become best friends and eventually rivals. This novel is set in 1930’s Brazil.
***NETHERLANDS***
The Hiding Place is an AMAZING autobiography written by an extraordinary woman. She recounts her time hiding Jewish people during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands as well as her capture and imprisonment at a concentration camp for doing so. I am always inspired by her courage, humanity, and spirit every time I read this book. ***NOTE: In the same vein…The Diary of Anne Frank is another autobiography that is written and takes place in the Netherlands.
The Dinner is a suspenseful novel that takes place over the course of a dinner in Amsterdam where two families are making the decision of their lives.
Set in 17th century Amsterdam I have heard this book is sad tale of love, loss, and secrets…and I have it on hold so I can tell you more about it soon.
***
So there you have it our June Book List: Vacation Abroad…a random collection of books from around the world…some happy…some sad…fiction and nonfiction…mysteries and love stories…and hopefully something for everyone.
What are your favorite reads set in other countries?
Happy Reading!
Need more reads? Check out our list of books with Colors in the Titles HERE.
June Book List: Vacation Abroad
