Read Around Asia Challenge
Read at least one book by an author from each country in Asia.
Best books from Asia (1972)
1911.
How To Walk by Thich Nhat Hanh EN
VietnamDescription:
How to Walk is part of a charming series of books from Zen Master, Thich Nhat Hanh, exploring the essential foundations of mindful meditation and practise. Focussing on mindful walking, Nhat Hanh explains how this technique can diminish depression, recapture wonder and help us to express sincere gratitude.
1912.
Learning True Love : Practicing Buddhism in a Time of War by Sister Chan Khong EN
Description:
Learning True Love, the autobiography of Sister Chân Không, stands alongside the great spiritual autobiographies of our century. It tells the story of her spiritual and personal odyssey, both in her homeland and in exile. Its anecdotal style presents an intensely personal portrait of a woman with astonishing courage, offering us a perspective on the suffering of the Vietnamese people. This unique autobiography tells the gripping story of a woman who not only lived but made history, and whose life of single-minded dedication to humanity can serve as an inspiration for us all. Sister Chân Không ... continue
1913.
Living Buddha, Living Christ by Thich Nhất Hạnh EN
Description:
Explores, in lucid, meditative prose, the crossroads of compassion and holiness at which contemplative Christianity and Buddhism meet.
1914.
Going Home : Jesus and Buddha as Brothers by Thich Nhất Hạnh EN
Description:
They see where the Buddhist understanding of the nature of reality and the concept of God come together. Their conversation shows the deep connection between Jesus and Buddha."--BOOK JACKET.
1916.
The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong EN
Description:
The instant New York Times bestseller • Oprah’s Book Club Pick • Ocean Vuong returns with a bighearted novel about chosen family, unexpected friendship, and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive “Stunning . . . A heartfelt and powerful examination of those living on the fringes of society, and the unique challenges they face to survive and thrive.” —Oprah Winfrey “Magnificent . . . In writing this book, Vuong may have joined the ranks of an elite few great novelists.” —Leigh Haber, Los Angeles Times The hardest thing in the world is to live only once… One late summer evening in the... continue
1917.
Description:
Ru: In Vietnamese it means lullaby; in French it is a small stream, but also signifies a flow - of tears, blood, money. Kim Thúy's Ru is literature at its most crystalline: the flow of a life on the tides of unrest and on to more peaceful waters. In vignettes of exquisite clarity, sharp observation and sly wit, we are carried along on an unforgettable journey from a palatial residence in Saigon to a crowded and muddy Malaysian refugee camp, and onward to a new life in Quebec. There, the young girl feels the embrace of a new community, and revels in the chance to be part of the American Dream. ... continue
1918.
Description:
Mañ has three mothers: the one who gave birth to her in wartime, the nun who plucks her from a vegetable garden, and her beloved Maman, who becomes a spy to survive. Seeking security for her grown daughter, Maman finds Mañ a husband - a lonely Vietnamese restaurateur who lives in Montreal. Mañ is a mystery, yet she and her husband seem to drift along, respectfully and dutifully. But when she encounters a married chef in Paris, everything changes in an instant of fleeting touch, and Mañ discovers the all-encompassing obsession and ever-present dangers of a love affair.
1919.
A Banh Mi for Two by Trinity Nguyen EN
Description:
In this sweet sapphic romance about two foodies in love, Vivi meets Lan while studying abroad in Vietnam and they spend the semester unraveling their families' histories—and eating all the street food in Sài Gòn. In Sài Gòn, Lan is always trying to be the perfect daughter, dependable and willing to care for her widowed mother and their bánh mì stall. Her secret passion, however, is A Bánh Mì for Two, the food blog she started with her father, but has stopped updating since his passing. Meanwhile, Vietnamese American Vivi Huynh, has never been to Việt Nam. Her parents rarely even talk about the... continue
1920.
Simone by Viet Thanh Nguyen EN
Description:
From Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen and illustrator Minnie Phan comes an unforgettable story of a Vietnamese American girl whose life is transformed by a wildfire. When Simone is awakened by her mom as a wildfire threatens their home, it is the beginning of a life-changing journey. On their way to take shelter in a high school gym, the family passes firefighters from a prison unit battling the fire. Simone’s mom tells her that when she was a girl in Viet Nam, she was forced to evacuate her home after a flood. Joined by other children sheltering in the gym, Simone, a budding ar... continue