Taiwan Travelogue: A Novel
4.4 | 220 ratings
Price: 15.15
Last update: 04-03-2026
Product details
- Publisher : Graywolf Press
- Publication date : November 12, 2024
- Language : English
- Print length : 320 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1644453150
- ISBN-13 : 978-1644453155
- Item Weight : 14.1 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.45 x 0.85 x 8.25 inches
- Best Sellers Rank:#4,138 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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- Customer Reviews:4.44.4 out of 5 stars(220)
Top reviews from the United States
- Julian SchroederIs Friendship even Possible?Taiwan Travelogue is the evolution of friendship between a young successful Japanese writer, Aoyama-san, and her translator, Chi Chan, as the two women travel around Taiwan for Aoyama-san's travelogue report back to Japan. Set in 1937, Japan is the imperial power in Asia with Taiwan its colony. Each chapter title, and part of the content, revolves around a special Taiwanese food (rendered in the local language and with an English translation) that also illuminates an aspect of the two women's lives or relationship. Each woman responds to the immense talent of her counterpart. Japan and Taiwan share similar cultures. But subtle distinctions between these two cultures, differences in class (Chi Chan is second daughter of a concubine mother), and assumptions about imperial priviledge lead to blind spots in each woman. Is friendship even possible? Conversations carefully and subtly evolve as each woman tries to bridge this gap, never completely successful in terms of the relationship or in terms of each woman herself. This work is filled with carefully drawn insights about friendship (or relationships), culture, food, class and imperial priviledge.
- Amazon CustomerChallenging but rewardingAnyone who loves Taiwan or wants to learn more of its history will find this book delightful, though challenging. Juggling pre WWII history (set in 1938) is the least of the challenges. Here “Mainland” means Japan, while Islander means Taiwanese. But so much other vocabulary, some in Japanese, some in Mandarin, and some in local Taiwanese. And the food names—endless gluttony is one main theme, local sights and customs fading before the explosion of delicacies native to the island, but sometimes having traveled round the world before landing there and receiving a new twist (e.g.curry)! A trilingual map on an opening page is of great help with geography. But what really propels the whole story is the complex developing cross cultural relationship between two young women, only one of whom is the narrator. DO NOT jump to the afterwords at the end—read it straight through for the most sophisticated and subtle understanding not only of then but also of ourselves, now.
- SGGreat book to learn more about Taiwan history and foodReally interesting book that is fiction but written as if it’s non-fiction (even the forward is fiction, so don’t get confused). It explores the relationship between colonizer and colonized on an individual level, as well as lots of detailed descriptions of Taiwanese food.
- Bob Rexcellent readgood read.
- Anmei SuTaiwan under Japanese occupationI lived in Taiwan so I was very entertained by the descriptions of historical places and the food. The Japanese colonization of Taiwan is a period of time that is mostly forgotten so that was intriguing to learn about. The characters develop a layered friendship but are separated by the culture and language of the colonizers and the colonized.
- Avery Hlight up the confusion in many Taiwanese's mind. A must-read novelBeautifully written, sad, bitter, sweet novel. As a Taiwanese, somtimes it's easily to forget what is our root, what represents us. This novel truly presented the culture of Taiwan, the food, the scenert, the confusion in the Islanders' mind. It's definately a must-read novel you most certainly cannot miss. ''For something small that I can do for you- so long as it's within my ability.'' So beautiful and heartbreaking.
- Grace M WuAward winning book!Excellent book! Must have!
- Sabrina ChuehTrue story with outstanding translations!One of my favorite books…based on a true story! I cried after reading their offsprings’s notes in the end!