Australia

Jasper Jones
Craig Silvey

In checking geographically large Australia off the list, my world map now seems a lot more filled in, although there are +100 countries still to go.

This book came highly recommended by my better half, who cited it as a favourite. Many thanks for the suggestion, as I did indeed enjoy this book set in a small Australian town in the 1960s. The book's protagonist, Charlie, is a bookish, quiet type who is suddenly visited one night by the town's outcast, a rebellious mixed-race teenage troublemaker, begging Charlie for help.

Growing up in a small Canadian town, I found there was a lot I could relate to in the books themes – although frequent references to cricket naturally left me baffled. Craig Silvey, the author, was really quite masterful in creating the feeling of small town tension, where everyone is in everyone's business, minds are narrow, and the urge to escape weighs heavy.

Although the narratives of the books are very different, I found it interesting that my choice for neighbouring New Zealand, Once Were Warriors, also touches on many of the same themes of racism, an oppressive society, and the outsider's struggle.

Thailand II

Jasmine Nights
S.P. Somtow

With so many countries to read through, it seems almost insanity to be doubling back on a country, especially so early on in my literary travels. But part of travelling is seeing where the journey takes you. In this case, I was in Thailand for work and happened to be absent-mindedly flipping through my guidebook, as I am wont to do while eating my meals. I happened to come to the "Books" section of the guide, which mentions S.P. Somtow as "the J.D. Salinger of Siam". That certainly piqued my interest. Later, during a bit of free time one evening, I happened to wander into a bookstore and saw Jasmine Nights on display. I knew I was fated to read this book.

Interestingly, both Jasmine Nights and Four Reigns, my first entry for Thailand, are set in the same world of minor aristocrats and the Thai élite living in estates in Bangkok of the past. Four Reigns happens over a lifetime, ending in 1946, with Jasmine Nights picking up a bit later in 1963 and happening over just a few weeks. With televisions and the Vietnam War, modernity is a bit more present in this conflict of East meets West. The conflict, however, is not one of events, or people, but, interestingly, an internal one to the protagonist, who, despite being Thai, speaks only in English and insists his aunts and relatives call him Justin.

A funny coming of age story that was definitely worth my detour back to Thailand.