Traveling the World in 8 Books

Hello everybody and welcome back to another post from The CW Torch! Since it’s Summer; the perfect time for country backroad road trips, and European backpacking travels, I thought it would be a fun idea to recommend books from all around the world. I got this idea from Booktuber HaileyInBookland, here is her original video if you are interested in watching! 

Around the World in 8 Books

The eight books that I am recommending are either written by author’s from the respective continent/country, or books set in the respective continent/country. With most of them being books that I want to read in the near future! So, without further ado, let’s Travel Around the World in Eight Books! 

With our first stop in North America, Canada… 

The Home for Unwanted Girls by Joanna Goodman

Synopsis: This is a Historical Fiction, following a young unwed mother who is forcibly separated from her daughter at birth and the lengths to which they go to find each other. In 1950s, Quebec, French and English tolerate each other with precarious civility— much like Maggie Hughes’ parents. Maggie’s English-Speaking father has ambitions for his daughter that don't include marriage to the poor French boy on the next farm over. But Maggie’s heart is captured by Gabriel Phenix. When she becomes pregnant at fifteen, her parents force her to give baby Elodie up for adoption and get her life ‘back on track.’ Elodie is raised in Quebec’s impoverished orphanage system. It’s precarious enough existence that takes a tragic turn when Elodie, along with thousands of other orphans in Quebec, is declared mentally ill as the result of a new law that provides more funding to psychiatric hospitals than to orphanages. Bright and determined Elodie withstands abysmal treatment at the nuns’ hands, finally earning her freedom at seventeen, when she is thrust into an alien, often unnerving world. Maggie married to a businessman eager to start a family, cannot forget the daughter she was forced to abandon, and a chance to reconnect with Gabriel spurs a wrenching choice. As time passes, the stories of Maggie and Elodie intertwine but never touch, until Maggie realizes she must takes what she wants from life and go in search of her long-lost daughter, finally reclaiming the truth that has been denied them both. Why I Want to Read: I’ve been meaning to get more into Historical Fiction, and this one immediately peaked my interest. I’ve never really read anything set in Canada before, and have been wanting to learn more about this country, since they are our Northern Neighbors. This history of the orphanage systems in Quebec of the 1950s, sounds really heartbreaking and intriguing, mixed with a little bit of mystery. The more I talk about it, the more I really want to get right into it! Next stop, we’re traveling all the way down the coast to Northern California’s rugged backcountry in… Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett

Synopsis: Ever since last year’s homecoming dance, best friends-turned-best enemies Zorie and Lennon have made an art of avoiding each other. It doesn’t hurt that their families are the modern day, Californian version of the Montagues and Capulets. But when a group camping trip goes south, Zorie and Lennon find themselves stranded in the wilderness. Alone. Together. What could go wrong? With no one but each other for company, Zorie and Lennon have no choice but to hash out their issues via witty jabs and insults as they try to make their way to safety. But fighting each other while also fighting off the forces of nature makes getting out of the woods in one piece less and less likely. And as the two travel deeper into Northern California’s rugged backcountry, secrets and hidden feelings surface. But can Zorie and Lennon’s rekindled connection survive out in the real world? Or was it just a result of fresh forest air and the magic of twinkling stars? Why I Want to Read: To  quite honest, I was initially attracted by the cover of this gorgeous book, as I don’t tend to read that many contemporary novels. If I ever read a contemporary novel, it is usually an Adult Contemporary if anything. But when I read the synopsis, I was immediately hooked, since it is set in my backyard of Northern California. I am extremely interested to see where Zorie and Lennon are going camping, and to see if it’s depicted well. I am more interested in the setting, rather than the actual plot, because the plot seems like your typical YA contemporary. None the less, I am still very interested in picking up this book sometime soon. Still traveling down South, to South America in… The Silence of the Rain (Inspector Espinosa #1) by Luis Alfredo Garcia-Roza

Synopsis: In a parking garage in the center of Rio de Janeiro, young executive Ricardo Carvalho climbs into his car, takes a few drags of his cigarette and shoots him dead. Handsome, rich and married to a beautiful wife, Ricardo seemed to have everything to live for. So why did he take his own life? But when the police arrive at the scene, Carvallo’s death looks like a straight-forward case of robbery gone horribly wrong, since the victim’s gun and briefcase are nowhere to be found. And so Inspector Espinosa is called to investigate. Not your typical detective, the world-weary Espinosa has the mind of a philosopher, the heart of a romantic, and enough experience to realize that things are not always as they seem. Why I Want to Read: I don’t read many books set in South America, but since getting back into reading, I’ve been wanting to expand my horizons. When looking at books written by Latin American authors or set in South America, this book immediately caught my eye. It was the title that really drew me in, as I was instantly interested in finding out more about the book. I’ve been getting more into Adult thrillers as well, and this plot-line just seemed very mysterious and rich in setting. Now it’s time to cross the Atlantic Ocean, and set our sails to Africa! Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Synopsis: They killed my mother. They took our magic. They tried to bury us. Now we rise. Zelie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orisha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames. Tiders beckoned waves, and Zelie’s reaper mother summoned forth souls. But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, magi were killed, leaving Zelie without a mother and her people without hope. Now Zelie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zelie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good. Danger lurks in Orisha, where snow leaponaries prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zelie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy. Why I Want to Read: I felt like I had to include this book for the continent of Africa, because not only is it inspired by African Nations, but it is also written by a Nigerian-born author. Children of Blood and Bone was definitely the most hyped up YA Fantasy book for 2018, and still is one of the most hyped books of 2018. When it first came out, I immediately had to go get it, because it sounded like something I would immediately fall in love with. However, I haven’t had the time or have been in the mood for such an intense fantasy, to actually pick it up. But, hopefully I will soon, because I want to be on the same boat as other people! Continuing through the Indian Ocean to Australia, in… The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera

Synopsis: Eight-year-old Kahu, a member of the Maori tribe of Whangara, New Zealand, fights to prove her love, her leadership, and her destiny. Her people claim descent from Kahutia Te Rangi, the legendary ‘whale rider.’ In every generation since Kahutia, a male heir has inherited the title of chief. But no there is no male heir, and the aging chief is desperate to find a successor. Kahu is his only great-grandchild— and Maori tradition has no use for a girl. But when hundreds of whales beach themselves and threaten the future of the Maori tribe, Kahu will do anything to save them - even the impossible. Why I Want to Read: I actually had no idea this was a book first, until I looked up books set in Australia/New Zealand. The Whale Rider is one of my favorite movies of all-time, and now that I know it’s a book, I definitely want to read it sometime soon. Especially, since this is the perfect setting for a summer read. I’ve always been interested in the Maori culture, and have always wanted to travel to Australia/New Zealand. So, this would be the perfect book to do some research on these beautiful countries. Now traveling up the Pacific Ocean to the largest continent in the world, Asia, in… A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

Synopsis: A story set against the volatile events of Afghanistan’s last thirty years— from the Soviet invasion to the Taliban to post-Taliban rebuilding— that puts the violence, fear, hope, and faith of this country in intimate, human terms. It is a tale of two generations of characters brought jarringly together by the tragic sweep of war, where personal lives— the struggle to survive, raise a family, find happiness— are inextricable from the history playing out around them. A Thousand Splendid Suns is the breathtaking sequel of the award winning novel, The Kite Runner. Why I Want to Read: While there were certain things that bothered me with The Kite Runner, I was still very interested in continuing on with the series. Mainly, because I wanted to learn more about Afghan history, from the perspective of an Afghan-born person. I feel as an American, we are told a lot about the wars of the Middle East, from an outsiders perspective. When we should really be focusing on all-sides of the equation, and I felt like The Kite Runner series was one of the first books to show a different story from that side of the equation. While there were so many parts of Asia to chose books from, I decided on A Thousand Splendid Suns, because I feel that the Middle East doesn’t get a whole lot of representation here in America. Mainly, because of our long and brutal history with the Middle East. But, regardless of our history with them, I still feel that it is important to learn more about the Afghan culture, as well as the Middle East. Now traveling through the continent of Europe, to the beautiful country of Italy in… A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway

Synopsis: A classic and unforgettable story of an American ambulance driver on the Italian front and his passion for a beautiful English nurse. Set against the looming horrors of the battlefield— weary, demoralized men marching in the rain, during the German attack on Caporetto, the profound struggle between loyalty and desertion— this gripping, semi-autobiographical work captures the harsh realities of war and the pain of lovers caught in inexorable sweep. Why I Want to Read: Once again, there were a ton of countries to chose from in Europe, but I settled on Italy, because it hits close to home. Not only did I live in Italy for four months, but I also have Italian roots in me, and thought it would be wrong of me not to include a book set in Italy. I also decided to go with a classic, with A Farewell to Arms. Since, I’ve recently been very interested in learning more about World War II, since my Great Grandmother and Great Grandpa were both Navy veterans in World War II. There were many books I could've chosen for this country and continent, but I settled on this classic, since it hits so close to home. So much so, that I’m extremely surprised, I haven’t read this book yet. Lastly, we make our way to our final destination of Antarctica! Blood and Ice by Robert Masello

Synopsis: Journalist Michael Wilde— his world recently shattered by tragedy— hopes that a monthlong assignment to the South Pole will give him a new lease on life. Here, in the most inhospitable place on earth, he is simply looking to find solace… until, on a routine dive in to the polar sea, he unexpectedly finds something else entirely: a young man and woman, bound with chains and sealed forever in a block of ice. Beside them a chest filled with a strange, and sinister, cargo. Now, in a bleak but breathtaking world of shimmering icebergs, deep blue crevasses, and never-ending sun, Wilde must unravel the mystery of this doomed couple. Why I Want to Read: I honestly, didn’t know of any books set in Antarctica, but when I did some research, this book immediately caught my attention. I was really interested in the story, that has some history behind it, but was also mixed with a bit of fantasy. Set in the cold and desolate continent of Antarctica. This book also has a mixture of elements that I love, a lush and dark setting, mixed with a bit of mystery! I don’t know when I’ll actually be picking up this book, but it sounded really intriguing none the less! I hope you all had a wonderful time exploring all the continents with me, and traveling around the world in eight books! I hope I was able to provide you with some new reads to add to your Summer TBR, as I did for myself! I think it’s extremely important to read books with places and genres, that you are unfamiliar with. Which is why this post was so much fun for me to write, because I found some books I never thought I would ever pick up! I hope you all enjoyed this post, and I will see you all soon for a new one! TTFN and Happy Reading, Chynna Williams @TheCWTorch Social Media Platforms: Twitter- @chynnaw16 Instagram- @bigleaguephoto