India

Movies

• Have a look at a Bollywood movie or two- lots of hype and glam but you will also get some idea of the intracity of family relationships
• Gandhi- his presence is still very much an influence to life here

Books

There are available many wonderful novels written by Indians in English, these are some I have read and enjoyed. The Indian 

use of English is a joy in itself, a real flair for developing a rich imagery- I feel India’s long history of poetry shines through 

somehow. [Fiona]

• Rupa Bajwa- The Sari Shop- poignant story of a young man’s journey to improve himself.
• Vikram Chandra- Red Earth, Pouring Rain- this man can write! A good story, a bit of history and wonderful insights into Indian culture.
• Sacred Games
• A Suitable Boy
• Gayatri Devi –A Princess Remembers- memoirs of the Maharani of Jaipur.

William Dalrymple- a British writer who lives in India, anything he writes is worth a Read.

• City of the Djinns- a year in Delhi- great insight into the history of Delhi.
• White Mughals
•  The Age of Kali

Guruchandran Das

• A Fine Family
• India Unbound – very readable works even this one which is on the economic changes India has been going through in the last 25 years that have set the stage for her to emerge on the International stage.
• Madhyr Jaffrey- Climbing the Mango Trees- autobiography a of a well known food writer, excellent read 
• Clive James- Silver City- in India anything is possible but there are no safety nets. An evocative story of escaping the slums to luxury only to fall…
• Sarah Macdonald – Holy Cow- Australian author's experiences in India, entertaining

Gita Mehta

• A River Sutra- highly recommend any of her work
• Raj
• Karma Cola
• Reshma Rula- Something Black in the Lentil Soup- a story showcasing the Indian way events just seem to unfold.
• Kushwant Singh- Delhi- a novel that encompasses the history of Delhi- a bit out there but excellent, an insightful and well known journalist, look for his other works as well
• Bamber Gasgoigne.The Great Moghuls- Well written account of these fascinating rulers. Much of the wonderful architecture we will experience was built by them. History
• Charmaine O’Brien The Flavours of Delhi- a food lover’s guide. A great guide with good recipes of Delhi, and its history of influences- yum! Cooking
• Lizzie Collingham Curry- A Tale of Cooks and Conquerors. Great read- history and how it impacted on the wonderful cuisine of India Cooking
• Amulya Malladi Serving Crazy with Curry insightful novel about the human heart; cooking was one woman's way to understanding it.
• Rama Mehta Inside the Haveli Insightful novel to understand traditional life inside a Haveli and purdah- compassionately written.

• Roy Moxham The Great Hedge of India as he writes, " When I first started my research for the Customs Hedge, I had been looking for a harmless pieces of English eccentricity. It had been a shock to find the great hedge was in reality a monstrosity: a terrible instrument of British oppression." Unbelievable the lengths and the toll it costs in human lives and suffering one group of people will go to fleece another group of people.History
• Renuka Devi Chioudhrani- Pumpkin Fritters and other Classic Recepies from a Bengali Kitchen Cooking
• Vijayan Kannampilly The Essential Kerala Cookbook Cooking
• Vir Sanghvi- Rude Food-Collectd Food Writings of Vir Sanghvi- daytime insightful political columnist, evening gourmet, with amusing and insightful comments on the Indian culinary scene. Cooking
• Monisha Bharadwaj The Indian Kitchen- excellent reference to the ingredients found in an Indian Kitchen and very tasty recipes to try the ingredients out. [quite possibly the "must have" reference for your shelves] Cooking

• Like Water for Chocolate  by Laura Esquivel and her other work - ssssoooo good
• Sea Monsters - Chloe Aidjis , contemporary
• Solito: A Memoir is a memoir by Javier Zamora. The memoir tells a story of a nine-year-old boy on his journey from a small town in El Salvador to the United States to reunite with his parents.... this is something that happens still.
• One Hundred Years of Solitude Gabriel García Márquez a classic written by Columbian  writer
• The cartoon Coco was often mentioned

Türkiye

• Orhan Pamuk– his observation of people and his language and story telling are so very beautiful. His book “The Museum of Innocence,” along with the museum he created in Istanbul, offers a heart-warming experience.

• Elif Shalik is an exciting woman’s voice coming out of Türkiye

• Ghost Empire by Richard Fidler- great read and good background information to underlying influences of The Silk Road

• The Tales of Nasiruddin who is sometimes judge, sometimes trickster and sometimes figure of fun who may once have been real, a 13th-century Turkish mystic. The Wise Fool, these tales are beloved from Morocco through Türkiye to Uzbekistan and onto parts of India.

• One Thousand and One Nights- a vast collection of folk tales compiled in the Arabic language during the Islamic Golden Age. Each version of the book has various tales included the foundation though is Scheherazade who is married off to a king who kills his bride the morning after their wedding. On the night of their marriage, Scheherazade begins to tell the king a tale, but does not end it. The king, curious about how the story ends, is thus forced to postpone her execution in order to hear the conclusion. The next night, as soon as she finishes the tale, she begins another one, and the king, eager to hear the conclusion of that tale as well, postpones her execution once again. This goes on for one thousand and one nights, hence the name.

Central Asia – culturally closely related to the Middle East

The Silk Road was a pathway of trade goods and information and education that stretched all the way from Europe to China. 

The biggest, most active part of this Road was Central Asia and the Medieval Islamic World. 

The establishment of The House of Wisdom in Bagdad in late 8th Century established traditions of scholarship and information sharing that saw the collection and protection of ancient works from Greece and the known world. Whist Europe was in the Dark Ages the light shone in the Medieval Islamic World.

Places of learning like the House of Wisdom prospered for 800 years until the expulsion of the Moors by the Catholic Kings in Granada in the 15th century.  During this period scientific development, art, architecture, and much more grew and prospered.

Over the years many writers have fed my fascination with this area and its history, here a few that might interest you.

• Orhan Pamuk My Name is Red. Wow.

• People of the Book– Geraldine Brooks. Well written and a great insight into the life of a medieval manuscript

• Islam Quintet- Tariq Ali. Story of a family after the fall of Granada.

• Samarkand– Amin Maalouf [all of his writing]

• Ghost Empire by Richard Fidler- great read and good background information to underlying influences of The Silk Road

• The Book Of Roads And Kingdoms by Richard Fidler 

• A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Travelling, but commonly known as The Rihla, by Ibn Battuta- what an inspiring traveller. This was written Near the end of his life, he dictated an account of his journeys,

Travel Writing

• A Carpet Ride to Khiva: Seven Years on the Silk Road. Christopher Alexander We visit this project in Khiva

• Shadow of the Silk Road by Colin Thubron

History

• The Great Game- Peter Hopkirk. Colonial powers, England and Russia vying for Central Asia

• Inside Central Asia:A Political and Cultural History of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Iran by Dilip Hiro

• Central Asia: A New History from the Imperial Conquests to the Present by Abeed Khalid [waiting for this one to arrive- looks good]

Contemporary Uzbek writers

• The Railway by Hamid Ismailov, 

• The Day Lasts More Than a Hundred Years by Chingiz Aitmatov -the author is Kyrgyz, he writes in Russian, the book is set in an imaginary part of Kazakhstan…. But I think I passed that railway station in Uzbekistan. I feel the book gives a feel of the Stans area and life

• Jamila by Chingiz Aitmatov

Syria 

• Ibn Battutah The Travels of Ibn Battutah edited by Tim Mackintosh-Smith. In 1325 Moroccan Muslin scholar Ibn Battutah set out to see the world. It took him 29 years to do so, this yarn of his adventures is witty, full of insight into the medieval world and gossip. My hero- what a traveller!

• Agatha Christie Come, Tell Me How You Live: An Archaeological Memoir- It is little known that Agatha Christie's husband Max Mellor was an inspired archaeologist who spent some considerable time in Syria as did Christie in often inhospitable conditions.

• Ross Burns -Monuments Of Syria: A Historical Guide. This book is a must for anyone is interested in archaeological sites and the wonderful monuments and ancient sites still in existence in Syria. Burns was a diplomat in Syria and fell in love with the place

• Damascus: A History

Amin Malouf 

• Samarkand. Amin Maalouf writes in French and has won the prestigious Prix Goncourt and even in translation his books are wonderful tales of a past and glorious history . Samarkand follows the very eventful life of Omar Kayyam ( lived around 1207 and reputed to have been a tentmaker by trade) author of the Rubayyait which he was ordered to write in a blank book as punishment for intrigue against the sultan. 

• Balthasar's Odyssey Another kind of journey in pursuit of a rare and old book "The Hundredth Name" through Syrian and Turkish lands to London and back.

• The Crusades through Arab Eyes

• Shelagh Weir Embroidery From Palestine (fabric Folios)

William Dalrymple 

• From The Holy Mountain: A Journey In The Shadow Of Byzantium Early Christianity in the Middle East- fascinating...visiting some of the areas he talks of...you have to wonder how did they survive living as hermits in the desert like mountains?

• In Xanudu: a quest 

• Jane Johnson- Court of Lions
• Amin Malouf Leo the African.A tale when the three people of the book [Christian, Jew and Muslim] lived in harmony and that world crumbling and one man's journey through it.
• Annie Hawes A Handful of Honey- One woman's experiences in this region- great read- Fiona
• Dean King Skeletons on the Zahara-Story of survivors of an 1815 ship wreck, great for a feel of the harshness of life in the desert.NOTE we will NOT be travelling under these conditions.
• Ibn Battutah The Travels of Ibn Battutah edited by Tim Mackintosh-Smith. In 1325 Moroccan Muslin scholar Ibn Battutah set out to see the world. It took him 29 years to do so, this yarn of his adventures is witty, full of insight into the medieval world and gossip. My hero- what a traveller!
• Washington Irving Tales of the Alhambra essential reading before visiting Granada- sets the scene for the stories and myths surrounding this magical place.
•  The Little Prince So wise and such a poignant story, what might be possible in the sands of the Sahara.
• Elias Canetti The Voices of Marrakesh Poignant observations of life in Marrakesh observed during a visit in the 60's. His observations on bargaining in the market are educational.

Research never sleeps....

• Arresting God in Kathmandu: Stories by SAMRAT UPADHYAY
• The Royal Ghosts  by SAMRAT UPADHYAY
• Mad Country - SAMRAT UPADHYAY life is crazy sometimes
• Palpasa Cafe by Narayan Wagle - alove story set during the time of the Civil War
• The Wayward Daughter: A Kathmandu Story by Shradha Ghale It is a coming of age story of a girl in 1990s Kathmandu during the Nepalese civil war.
• Karnali Blues by Buddhisagar powerful story telling
• Kathmandu by Thomas Bell - history and informed opinions

There are a lot of contemporary Romanian writers, unfortunately not a lot of translations into English for the linguistically challenged.

• Movie- Queen Marie

Romanian Writers

• Life Begins on Friday by Ioana Parvulescu- enjoyable story set in Bucharest of 1857
• The Days Of The King by Filip Florian. Quirky, whimsical story set against the arrival of Carol I to the Romanian throne
• Blinding by Mircea Cartarescu this story is a bit of a trip

Stories situated in Romania

• The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. The plot blends the history and folklore of Vlad Țepeș and his fictional equivalent Count Dracula. Kostova’s father told her stories about Dracula when she was a child. She based her first novel on these stories.
• Dracula by Bram Stoker. This is the most popular book based on vampire legends. It went on to become the basis for an entire genre of literature and film.
• The House of the Vampire by George Sylvester Viereck scary story

Travel

• The Gypsy in Me by Ted Simon Exploring Eastern Europe after the breakup of the USSR
• Along the Enchanted Way by William Blacker. A memoir set in Rural Romania full of local traditions and interactions with the Roma People

Romania in Folklore

Collected on this site are Romanian Folklore and legends Romania and her wild forests and remote rural communities sure had a lot of scary stories.

Youtube guides to Romania’s history

Good summary of Romania’s history.  

A bit quick but catches all the main points of Romania’s history. 

• The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen - look this guy up he is an interesting person
• Camilla Gibb - The Beauty of Humanity Movement - such a beaytiful read
• Francois Jadov- Under the Sign of the Blue Dragon. Beautiful journal of her travels in Vietnam- very inspiring to visit the place as well as a working method.
• Bobby Chinn Wild, Wild East- Recipes and Stories from Vietnam yum! Cooking
• Veitnam Cultural Traveller Publication- The Cuisine of Viet Nam- Nourishing a Culture Very interesting collection of essays looking at the cuisine of Vietnam as it has developed over the course of the history of the country, a country which is rich in natural resoureces and one which foriegn invades have come and left their mark over the millenium only to be sent packing by that unique force that is "Vietnamese". Cooking and history
• Pham Xanh Ho Chi Minh Ho Chi Minh is the father of modern Vietnam, the inspiration for their independence from foreign powers and pride in their identity, Very much a revered person to this day.
• Carol Howland Dragons on the Roof- A year in Vietnam a collection of anectdates of her year in Vietnam, very insightful for a feel of the culture and a liberal sprinkling of Vietnamese history. Greatpreparation for a visit to the country to help you understand its wealth of history and people.
• Through Vietnam's Eyes A selection of short stories from Viet Nam News Sunday edition. Very enjoyable
• Vu Trong Phung Dumb Luck Vietnamese Classic orginally appearing in serial form in the 1930's following the exploits of 'Red Hiared Xuan'
• Andrew X Pham Catfish and Mandala Born in the 60's just after the American war, Pham was raised in America this is the story of a young man learning more about his adoptedhomeland and the land of his birth.

• Maya Aneglou's Autobiography powerful story, her time in Ghana just after Independence is so insightful
• Marilyn Heward Mills Cloth Girl. loved this book, so insightful of Ga customs. Ga are the people who live around Accra.
• Bruce Chatwin. The Viceroy of Ouidah. Interesting fiction 
• Ayesha Harruna Attah The Hundred Wells of Salaga 
• Yaa Gyasi Home Going. Two Ghanaian sisters in the 18th century who lead parallel, yet divergent lives. One stays in Ghana and becomes a wealthy slave trader’s wife; one is sold into slavery and sent to America.
• Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond Powder Necklace– living in London and Ghana….
• Ben Okri The Famished Road  set somewhere in Africa- interesting storytelling….  The novel employs a unique narrative style. It incorporates the spirit world with the “real” world in what some have classified as animalist realism.
• Camilla Gibbs– Sweetness in the Belly – set in Morocco, Ethiopia, London…. well written and insight into problems in various countries
• Helon Habila Oil on Water. The novel explores themes of both the ecological and political consequences of oil conflicts  and petrodollars in the delta
• Manu Herbstein Ama: A Story of the Atlantic Slave Trade. The story combines well researched fact of the slave trade in a well written story.
• The movie Chevalier– based on true story of a black musician at the time of Mozart. This amazing musician was wiped from history due to the colour of his skin.
• the Movie Woman King set in the Kingdom of Dahmony during Slave times- powerful

Ethiopia

• Dinaw Mengestu – The Beautiful Things that Heaven Bears. Set in Ethiopia against the background of the Revolution and then moving as a refugee to the USA.
• Josh Little Catherine’s Gift: Stories of Hope. Story of Dr Catherine Hamlin in Ethiopia fighting to improve women’s health