Traveling Through Literature

TRAVELLING THROUGH LITERATURE BY CARTER OLSON

As COVID-19 limits travel for everyone, people are trying to find ways to scratch their itch to get out and explore! In Wisconsin, winter is quickly approaching, meaning it will become even more difficult to explore outside, forcing us to once again find new ways to “travel.” We can look to literature for an escape and adventure since authors often spend a significant amount of time creating a world through their words.

The Book of Salt by Monique Truong is a novel from the perspective of Gertrude Stein’s Vietnamese cook, Bình, during part of her time in France. Truong constructs vivid images through appeals to every primary sense. Through this novel, readers can travel to Vietnam with Bình’s flashbacks, the streets of Paris, and the kitchen of the famous Gertrude Stein. This book is for anyone who likes to focus on the culinary world when travelling. As a bonus you might even find a new dish you would like to try!

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is a novel about Amir, a privileged child, and his experience growing up in Afghanistan at the start of the revolution. Although the book takes place during the time of a raging war, the text explores the complex friendship between Amir and Hassan, his family servant. This text will return you to your childhood while tackling timely concepts of classism, racism, and conflict. I recommend this text for those who enjoy learning about a place’s history while travelling.

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is an African novel about Okonkwo, a powerful man in his village. This text is well regarded as the entry text into African literature because of its popularity. Achebe will transport you to Nigeria and make you question how you make sense of your surroundings. I recommend this text to people who like to go to museums and learn about different customs and traditions, or to anyone interested in learning more about Africa specifically.

Abeng by Michelle Cliff is a novel about a young woman, Clare Savage, who grows up in Jamaica. Cliff instantly pulls the reader into the natural beauty of

the island. This work focuses on the important topics of colonization and slavery, so it is not as relaxing as the beginning may suggest. However, it is a very beautiful text that would be a fitting supplement to any social justice literature. This text is perfect for anyone who wants a break from nonfiction literature, or who is interested in the Caribbean, as it can be used as great insight into Jamaica, including its tourism.

Paradise by Toni Morrison does not necessarily leave the United States, but creates a new society within it. Morrison constructs “paradises” in this novel as utopian solutions to societal issues like racism and sexism. This book can be confusing as it jumps between the perspectives of different characters, so it might be a fun text to read with a group! This is a timely piece for anyone who wants to consider what it could mean to create their own community, or theorize what might occur in extremely remote land in the United States.

These are just a few book recommendations from texts I have recently read and enjoyed. Of course, there are many wonderful books, so make sure to ask your friends and family for recommendations. Better yet, ask them to read one with you!

BEGINNER’S TRAVEL GUIDE TO wisconsin