The Tina Literary Supplement (#2)

While I was driving around the USA, I couldn't read much. At least, not without endangering everyone else on the road. But I did listen to a few great audiobooks, including Simon Schama's The American Future and History of Britain III, Ron Chernow's Alexander Hamilton, Rachel Maddow's Drift, Cormac McCarthys' All the Pretty Horses and Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett's Good Omens.

And while those audiobooks were brilliant, and saved my brain from atrophy, it is nice to once more be in a position to spend lots and lots of time waiting around. And therefore lots and lots of time reading. I'll spare you the details of all the pulpy romance novels that I'm still addicted to, and skip straight to the proper literature I've enjoyed since leaving for China in October.

When a Billion Chinese Jump, Jonathan Watts
As I've mentioned previously on this blog, this book is an absolutely brilliant look at China's environmental history, region by region. I keep re-reading it, it is that good!

The Secret Piano: From Mao's Labor Camps to Bach's Goldberg Variations, Zhu Xiao-Mei
The Cultural Revolution only ended 35 years ago, and the story of this talented pianist who managed to overcome the obstacles that it placed in her way was fascinating.

Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic, David Quammen
Scary but incredibly informative and readable tome explaining just how our relationship with animals, wildlife and the environment intertwines with new and deadly diseases.

Half the Sky, Nicholas Kristof & Sheryl WuDunn
A heartbreaking but hopeful look at women's lives around the planet, and how empowering women makes everyone's lives better.

1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus, Charles C. Mann
A well-researched look at the pre-European Americas, that hopefully dispels for once and for all the old canard that native cultures were "primitive" and the land was all wilderness.

Birdseye: The Adventures of a Curious Man, Mark Kurlansky
Birsdeye of fish finger fame was real, who knew? Kurlansky did, and gives an insightful portrait of the enthusiastic and eccentric man who became the father of modern frozen food.

Swamplandia!, Karen Russell
I never knew Florida could be portrayed magically and whimsically. But this fictional account of a family alligator wrestling troupe proved me wrong.

Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End, Manuel Loureiro
I'm a sucker for a good zombie book, and this blog turned novel from Spanish writer Loureiro did not disappoint. Two severed and semi-nibbled thumbs up.

The King of Kahel, Tierno Monénembo
Wonderfully written book based loosely on the real life of a Frenchman who attempted a one man colonization of the author's homeland in the 19th century. Definitely stranger than fiction.

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage, Alfred Lansing
All I really knew about Shackleton before reading this was that his abandoned whiskey supply was recently unearthed in Antarctica. Lansing's book filled in the rest very nicely!

The Greenhouse, Audur Ava Olafsdottir
Delightful novel following a young Icelandic gardener as he leaves home to pursue his dream of restoring a famous and neglected rose garden.

On the Cold Coasts, Vilborg Davidsdottir
Another Icelandic novel, this time set in the 15th century, focusing on one unmarried mother's personal journey while her country struggles against foreign and religious controls.

The Buddha in the Attic, Julie Otsuka
Wonderful novel, written in the plural voices, documenting the trials of Japanese so-called "picture brides" who were imported to the United States last century.

Thirst, Andrei Gelasimov
A Russian book that follows the fictional life of a young veteran, disfigured after a tank explosion.  Powerful stuff.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs
Gorgeous book using real vintage photos to paint a magical story about an orphanage of unique and gifted kids. I would love to read this again in hard copy.

Emperor Mollusk versus The Sinister Brain, A. Lee Martinez
Snarky sci-fi novel about an intelligent overlord from Neptune. It missed the mark a few times but was generally pretty good rib-tickling fun.

Breakfast of Champions: A Novel, Kurt Vonnegut
Another wonderful Vonnegut adventure, featuring Kilgore Trout and a mad midwestern car dealer. Thoroughly enjoyable as always.

The Gods of Gotham, Lyndsay Faye
This was recommended to me by a publisher I met in Pingyao, and it was great! A murder mystery set in 19th century New York; it made me want to learn how to speak "flash" immediately.

The Snow Child: A Novel, Eowyn Ivey
Another great recommendation, this novel plays off a Russian fairy-tale in early 20th century Alaska. Wonderfully evocative and poignant.

The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman
The hilarious and touching story of Nobody Owens, a boy who lives in a graveyard. Neil Gaiman is fast becoming one of my favorite authors.

Those are the books got me across China. Next on my reading list?

Vietnam: Rising Dragon, Bill Hayton
First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers, Loung Ung
River Of Time, Jon Swain
Burma/Myanmar: What Everyone Needs to Know, David I. Steinberg
The River of Lost Footsteps, Thant Myint-u
Everything Is Broken, Emma Larkin
Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions, Gloria Steinem
The Horse Boy: A Father's Quest to Heal His Son, Rupert Isaacson
Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, death and hope in a Mumbai undercity, Katharine Boo

Bring on the waiting around!