books and travel
I packed a small bag and a tote when I traveled to Prague, Czech Republic. In addition to my Kindle, I carried a paperback—I try to include a paperback on my trips. It was a novel I’d read 10 years ago, but I had started my Reading Prague Challenge, where I read four books from Prague…
I had a reading affair in Old Town Prague with The Unbearable Lightness of Being. We spent some time together in my hotel room, the hotel library, a restaurant, and in the middle of the crowded Old Town Square. I didn’t expect a second read of the novel (ten years later) to take such a…
If reading is a form of escape, then travel is a way to enhance your imagination and deepen your experiences with the world. I spent a serene day walking into a world that could be a novel. Malá Strana Prague is an area also known as Lesser Town, or Little Side. Lesser Town was once…
Whenever you hear about Franz Kafka, the esteemed writer from Prague, the book you will hear mentioned is often The Metamorphosis. It is a book that bridges generations. I was recently in Prague, when a teenager in our tour group praised this book so highly. She and I—and our semi-retired tour guide—were able to get…
If we look closely, will we find that some material things we fight so hard to keep, are just garbage? In Love and Garbage, the second book of our August Reading Challenge, our protagonist, a writer and street-sweeper, wrestles with similar thoughts daily. During the Reading Europe Challenge, we are Reading Prague in August. Join…
Let’s journey with Haňťa, an alcoholic book lover who struggles at work, love, and life. Haňťa is anyone who has been dismissed or ignored at work. He is someone who deals with addiction. He is a flawed person who feels invisible and small. During the Reading Europe Challenge, we are Reading Prague in August. Join us…
I’ve been reading Europe for years. This year, I decided to add a Reading Europe Challenge to Reading Around the World for curious readers and travelers who, like me, want to learn about a country through its literature. Years ago, I was convinced to travel to the countryside of France, and to Paris, because of…