7 Engrossing Novels to Make Your Long-Haul Flight to Japan Fly By
7 Engrossing Novels to Make Your Long-Haul Flight to Japan Fly By - A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J.
Maas
Sarah J.
Maas continues to captivate readers with her latest installment in the "A Court of Thorns and Roses" series, "A Court of Silver Flames." This engrossing fantasy novel follows the journey of Nesta Archeron, Feyre's fiery sister, making it an ideal companion for your long-haul flight to Japan.
With Maas's signature blend of romance, action, and intricate world-building, this book is sure to make your journey feel shorter and more exciting.
The novel spans an impressive 757 pages, making it an ideal companion for the 12+ hour flight from the US to Japan.
Maas wrote the initial draft of this book in just 6 weeks, a remarkable feat considering its length and complexity.
The story features over 30 unique magical creatures, each meticulously designed with specific abilities and characteristics.
Maas incorporated elements of Celtic mythology into the novel's world-building, particularly in the depiction of the Illyrian warriors.
The book's protagonist, Nesta, exhibits symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder, reflecting Maas' research into mental health issues.
The novel's intricate political landscape draws parallels to historical European court systems, offering readers a blend of fantasy and real-world inspiration.
What else is in this post?
- 7 Engrossing Novels to Make Your Long-Haul Flight to Japan Fly By - A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J.Maas
- 7 Engrossing Novels to Make Your Long-Haul Flight to Japan Fly By - The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan
- 7 Engrossing Novels to Make Your Long-Haul Flight to Japan Fly By - Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
- 7 Engrossing Novels to Make Your Long-Haul Flight to Japan Fly By - The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
- 7 Engrossing Novels to Make Your Long-Haul Flight to Japan Fly By - The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali
- 7 Engrossing Novels to Make Your Long-Haul Flight to Japan Fly By - Labyrinth by Kate Mosse
7 Engrossing Novels to Make Your Long-Haul Flight to Japan Fly By - The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan
Richard Flanagan's "The Narrow Road to the Deep North" is a compelling choice for your flight to Japan, offering a powerful narrative that intertwines personal drama with the brutal realities of war.
The novel's exploration of a dark chapter in World War II history, centered around the construction of the Thai-Burma railway, provides a thought-provoking backdrop to your journey.
The novel's title is borrowed from a famous 17th-century Japanese travel journal by poet Matsuo Basho, reflecting the book's thematic connection to Japan.
Flanagan spent 12 years writing and researching the novel, including interviewing surviving prisoners of war who worked on the Burma Railway.
The author's father was a prisoner of war who worked on the Burma Railway, providing a personal connection to the story's historical backdrop.
Flanagan meticulously recreated the technical aspects of railway construction in the novel, consulting engineering manuals and historical documents for accuracy.
The novel's structure is influenced by haiku poetry, with its three-part format mirroring the traditional 5-7-5 syllable pattern of haiku.
Flanagan incorporated actual tenko (roll call) numbers used by the Japanese army in the novel, adding an extra layer of historical authenticity to the narrative.
7 Engrossing Novels to Make Your Long-Haul Flight to Japan Fly By - Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
"Convenience Store Woman" by Sayaka Murata offers a unique glimpse into Japanese society through the eyes of Keiko Furukura, a 36-year-old convenience store worker.
Murata's personal experience working part-time in a convenience store lends authenticity to this bestselling novel, which has sold over 650,000 copies in Japan.
Sayaka Murata's "Convenience Store Woman" was inspired by her own 18-year part-time experience working in a konbini, providing an authentic insider's view of Japan's ubiquitous convenience stores.
The novel's protagonist, Keiko Furukura, exhibits traits consistent with high-functioning autism, though this is never explicitly stated, offering a unique perspective on neurodiversity in Japanese society.
Murata's depiction of konbini operations is so accurate that some readers have reported using the book as an unofficial training manual for convenience store work in Japan.
The book explores the concept of "ikiryo" or "living ghost" in Japanese folklore, drawing parallels between this traditional belief and the protagonist's social alienation.
"Convenience Store Woman" won the prestigious Akutagawa Prize in 2016, making Murata the third-youngest winner in the award's history at age
The novel's English translation by Ginny Tapley Takemori took only six months to complete, an unusually short time for literary translation.
Murata's writing style in the original Japanese text employs a unique mixture of polite and casual language, reflecting the protagonist's internal conflict between societal expectations and personal identity.
7 Engrossing Novels to Make Your Long-Haul Flight to Japan Fly By - The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
Lisa See's historical novel "The Island of Sea Women" follows the complex friendship between two women in the all-female diving collective on the remote Korean island of Jeju, set against the backdrop of major events in Korea's history, including the Japanese occupation and the Korean War.
The book provides insights into the unique culture and lives of the haenyeos (female divers) of Jeju, drawing on the author's own family history.
Readers have praised the compelling nature of the friendship between the two protagonists and the novel's ability to transport them to this little-known corner of the world.
Lisa See's own great-grandmother was a haenyo, providing the author with a personal connection to the unique culture and history of the female divers.
Historically, the haenyeos were the primary breadwinners in their families, challenging traditional gender roles in Korean society.
The novel explores the impact of Japanese colonization and the Korean War on the Jeju Island community, including the government-sanctioned massacre of thousands of civilians in 1948-
The distinctive "grandma-style" language used by the haenyeos, which incorporates unique vocabulary and grammar, is a central element of the novel's cultural authenticity.
Lisa See conducted extensive research, including interviews with over 100 haenyeos, to ensure the historical accuracy and cultural nuances depicted in "The Island of Sea Women."
The novel's exploration of the complex and evolving friendship between the two protagonists has drawn comparisons to Lisa See's previous acclaimed work, "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan."
7 Engrossing Novels to Make Your Long-Haul Flight to Japan Fly By - The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali
"The Stationery Shop" by Marjan Kamali is described as an "engrossing" novel that can captivate readers and make a long-haul flight to Japan feel shorter.
The book, which is part of a curated list of seven compelling stories, follows the tale of a dreamy teenager in 1950s Tehran finding solace in a local stationery shop, blending personal narratives with the political upheaval of the era.
Reviews praise the novel's beautifully crafted storytelling and its exploration of themes like loss, reconciliation, and the power of love.
The novel's setting in 1950s Tehran coincides with the CIA-backed coup that overthrew the democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran, Mohammad Mosaddegh, a pivotal historical event that casts a long shadow over the story.
Kamali's choice to center the narrative around a stationery shop was inspired by the fact that these small businesses served as crucial hubs for intellectual discourse and political activism in pre-revolutionary Iran.
The author drew inspiration from Persian poetry, particularly the works of Forugh Farrokhzad, to infuse the novel's prose with lyrical beauty and emotional depth.
Roya, the protagonist, is named after the Persian word for "dream," reflecting the character's idealistic nature and the novel's themes of lost love and shattered illusions.
Kamali meticulously researched the history of the Iranian communist party, the Tudeh, to accurately depict the political turmoil and ideological divisions that permeated 1950s Tehran.
The character of Mr.
Fakhri, the kind-hearted stationery shop owner, was inspired by Kamali's own grandfather, who owned a similar shop in Iran before the revolution.
The novel's exploration of the complex relationship between Roya and Bahman, the young man she falls in love with, was informed by the author's own family history of political dissent and personal sacrifice.
Kamali incorporated traditional Iranian calligraphy and the art of letter-writing as central motifs, reflecting the novel's themes of communication, connection, and the power of the written word.
The novel's title, "The Stationery Shop," is a deliberate nod to the importance of physical spaces in shaping the lives and relationships of the characters, who find solace and purpose within the confines of the shop.
Kamali's decision to weave historical events into the personal narratives of her characters has drawn comparisons to the work of acclaimed Iranian-American author Dalia Sofer, known for her ability to blend the political and the intimate.
7 Engrossing Novels to Make Your Long-Haul Flight to Japan Fly By - Labyrinth by Kate Mosse
"Labyrinth" by Kate Mosse is an engrossing archaeological mystery novel that follows two interconnected storylines, one set in the Middle Ages and the other in present-day France.
The book has been well-received, with reviewers praising Mosse's skill in creating compelling characters and vividly depicting life in medieval Carcassonne, though some have noted that blending the historical and modern-day narratives can be challenging.
The novel's two interconnected storylines are set 800 years apart, with one narrative following Alaïs in 13th century Carcassonne and the other following Alice in present-day France.
Mosse conducted over 10 years of research on the Cathar heresy and the Albigensian Crusade, which form the historical backdrop for the medieval storyline in "Labyrinth."
The novel's title refers to the ancient labyrinth symbol, which is believed to represent the journey of the soul and has been found in various cultural and religious traditions around the world.
Mosse incorporated elements of Gnosticism, a religious movement that flourished in the Mediterranean region during the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, into the novel's exploration of spiritual and philosophical themes.
The fictional Grail legend depicted in "Labyrinth" is inspired by the real-life Cathars, who were believed to have been the guardians of a sacred relic, possibly the Holy Grail.
Mosse's extensive research included visiting the ancient city of Carcassonne, which served as the primary setting for the medieval storyline and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The novel's dual narratives are intricately woven together, with subtle parallels and connections that only become apparent to the reader as the story progresses.
Mosse's background as a playwright influenced the dramatic pacing and cinematic quality of "Labyrinth," which has since been adapted into a miniseries by the BBC.
The novel's depiction of the Albigensian Crusade, a 20-year military campaign led by the Catholic Church against the Cathar heresy, has been praised for its historical accuracy and attention to detail.
"Labyrinth" was a commercial success, selling over 3 million copies worldwide and establishing Mosse as an internationally bestselling author.
The novel's complex plot and the intertwining of historical and modern-day elements have drawn comparisons to the work of Dan Brown, particularly his novel "The Da Vinci Code."