A Bookish Year in Review

I can't say that I've ever been a prolific reader, primarily because I read quite slowly. But when your life no longer consists of unlimited wifi, hundreds of TV channels, or term papers, it's amazing how much time you have to get sucked into a good book, even at my speed. Since moving to Southeast Asia a year ago, I've consumed 24 books, which is more than I have read in the previous 5 years combined.

When I finish a book that's made an impression, I always pass it on to someone I think would similarly appreciate it. As a backpacker, books are currency and I have a hardcopy on hand at all times. But most of you are far away and Cambodia's postal service is not yet in the 20th century, so instead I thought I'd share some of the highlights, in no particular order.

Stiff: The Curious Life of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach

The title may be off-putting, but don't turn your nose up. Roach artfully investigates the many possible outcomes for cadavers: from crash-test dummies and medical school teaching tools to decomposition experiment subjects and organ donors. She explores historical uses (and abuses) of dead bodies as well as modern alternatives to burial or cremation. Equal parts thought-provoking, sentimental and humorous. “The way I see it, being dead is not terribly far off from being on a cruise ship. Most of your time is spent lying on your back. The brain has shut down. The flesh begins to soften. Nothing much new happens, and nothing is expected of you. ”

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman 

I recommend this book to anyone who works in the medical field, though its an interesting look at the "collision" of cultures for anyone. It tells the true story of a young Hmong girl, Lia, who's family moved to the US before she was born. She has epilepsy, a condition regarded quite differently between the two cultures. Though both her doctors and her family have her best interests in mind, their actions and assumptions cause pain and mistrust of one another and eventually prove harmful to Lia. A unique scenario that digs to the heart of misunderstanding and fear of the unknown, especially in the form of foreign cultures. 

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

I found this on my grandmother's kindle, so I didn't have the opportunity to be intimidated by the length. I enjoy period pieces and this one is set in 12th century England. It follows the lives of father and then son in the quest to build a cathedral despite corrupt and malicious clergy and laymen alike. Follett gracefully weaves together the various character story lines. You'll be cheering for the good guys, cursing the evil villains and holding your breath for a happily ever after in this NY Times Best Seller.

A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin

If you haven't jumped on this bandwagon yet, I highly encourage it. Martin doesn't just describe, he creates. The first book begins weaving an intricate story of family, betrayal, love, alliances, monarchies and of course the game of thrones. This is one of those books that no review will ever do justice, so just pick it up already! Plus reading it gives far more background to the HBO series. 

Inferno by Dan Brown

The most recent release on this list, Brown comes back with another thriller center around Robert Langdon. This time Langdon finds himself in Florence on a mission to save the human race from disease through his knowledge of the symbolism in Dante's Divine Comedy. Moving on from religious themes, this novel delves into biological terrorism and population control. An easy and fun read, Brown as usual delivers an unpredictable (though not exactly realistic) page-turner. My biggest criticism is the way in which he portrays Manila as a dangerous hellhole (as I beg to differ!)

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer 

Recently popularized by the film adaptation, Into the Wild inspects the circumstances leading up to the death of Chris McCandless - a 24-year-old naturalist who died in Alaska in 1992. Krakauer originally wrote an article on the young man in Outside Magazine. Drawn to his tragic yet perplexing story, Krakauer traces McCandless's movements after his college graduation. Through interviews with his family as well as friends met in the two years he spent exploring the US, Krakauer tries to understand the motivation behind McCandless's seemingly impractical and arrogant approach to the Last Frontier. 

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts

I've been told for years that I needed to read this, but at 900+ pages, I wasn't diving right in. Based on his own life, the story follows Lindsay, a bank robber, after he escapes from prison and flees to Mumbai. Between the expats he meets, his tour guide turned best friend and his father-like mentor, Lindsay discovers a life worth living. Yet he is constantly looking over his shoulder, afraid to get too close. Slum life, opium dens, drug running, Indian mafia, and love interests make this book a page turner. But Roberts' eloquent writing style coupled with his non-cliche insights on the subtleties of life turn a compelling story into a best selling novel, on the top of my list. A must-read, especially for my fellow travelers out there!

The Motorcycle Diaries by Ernesto "Che" Guevara
Long before he led the Communist movement, Ernesto "Che" Guevara traveled South America on a motorcycle with his friend Alberto. This posthumously published memoir of his nine-month journey gives insight into some of the experiences which shaped his political views. Beyond reminding us of that all future leaders are at one time impressionable youths, his eloquent recount exemplifies the idea of life as a journey, with no proper destination. "...I finally felt myself lifted definitively away on the winds of adventure towards worlds I envisaged would be stranger than they were, into situations I imagined would be much more normal than they turned out to be."

 Little Princes by Conor Grennan 

My second favorite book on this list and the one I relate to most closely. At 29-years-old, Grennan decided to leave the US to travel for a year, starting with a two-month volunteer position at an orphanage in Nepal. His connection with the children is so strong, he finds himself compelled to return. Discovering these children are not orphans at all, he embarks on a journey to find their families and bring them back home. His descriptions of even the mundane make you feel as if you're working alongside, his humor keeps it light-hearted and his honesty feels as though he could be a close friend recounting his travels.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

In 1951, young Henrietta Lacks went to a clinic in Baltimore to be treated for what turned out to be cervical cancer. Unwittingly, a doctor took a sample from her uterus, which after her death became the first immoral cell line, known as HeLa. For years her family had no knowledge of HeLa, received no royalties and meanwhile lived in poverty without even health insurance. Skloot brings to life the woman behind the cells, and the impact this scientific discovery, which led to so many medical advances, had upon the Lacks family. 

My First Coup d'Etat by John Dramani Mahama 

Ghana remains close to my heart, so when my aunt gave me this book written by then Vice President John Mahama (he has since become President), I was pretty excited. He documents the so-called lost years of Africa, beginning from the first coup d'etat in Ghana, which ousted his father, a minister. He describes what it was like growing up in that time - the tension, the frustrations, the daily life, and stark differences within a single country as they fought to develop a national identity. 

What's up next on the list? I'm halfway through Into Thin Air also by Jon Krakauer, which documents his personal account of the well-known Mt. Everest disaster of spring 1996. I've been meaning to read First They Killed My Father, the true story of a young girl during the Khmer Rouge. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance has been sitting on my desk for a while, I need to get back into A Game of Thrones, and with A Casual Vacancy on my iPod I think I have couple of months covered :)

Any other suggestions? My current list has nearly 50 books on it, ranging from classics I never actually read in high school (sorry, Otsuka!) to just published novels. I discovered a list of books to read before their movies come out in the next year so that's a start. But I'm always looking for recommendations! With a hammock on my balcony, this Cambodian lifestyle is pretty conducive to quiet afternoons alone with a book.