As a US citizen, the plethora of brilliant English fiction seems overwhelming. Even with ebooks coming into vogue, local book stores are brimming and bursting with new books. So why add the outside world to your reading list? Well, I can give you five reasons off the top of my head.
1. Journey to Ithaca. As Greek Author Constantine P. Cavafy describes in his famous poem "Ithaca", the goal is all about the journey. If you put reading international novels as a goal, you will easily discover many parts of the world you have never heard of - and you'll be all the richer for it.
2. Churn that exposure into knowledge. While reading one boo
k from Nigeria won't give you everything you know to be an expert - you can turn that context into a learning tool by reading up on the country beforehand. Or have a computer next to you so as to look up any known words or locations. Adding a bit of research with the reading will make the book more meaningful, and you'll learn a bit along the way.
3.Discover new perspectives range from local philosophy to ideals to history. Finding and reflecting the differences in culture and history enriches one's own ideas about how the world works. And while one doesn't have to agree, accept or understand another culture's ideas, that doesn't mean one can't learn how diverse the world is.
4. The possibility to recognize patterns among characters and plots. Although literature from Saudi Arabia and Tonga may be completely different, you may also find similarities in how people act. While jealousy may be brought on in different situations, and may be acted out differently, the emotion is still the same. Plots may also be similar - you may come across a rag-to-riches folk-tale that bares resemblance to Cinderella, only modified to fit the specific cultural expectations.
5. Enjoy the vast sea of stories. There are few things more satisfying than a good book. Reading international fiction will immerse you in new landscapes, new seas, to characters and places you'd never dream of. Whether it's political or historical or romance or any other genre, each country is bound to have its own treasures - classic and modern. And you're sure to find something you like, somewhere, on this huge rock we call earth.
Still that begs the question, how should you read international fiction. How can you get the most out of the experience? Check back next week to read 5 Tips for Reading International Fiction.
1. Journey to Ithaca. As Greek Author Constantine P. Cavafy describes in his famous poem "Ithaca", the goal is all about the journey. If you put reading international novels as a goal, you will easily discover many parts of the world you have never heard of - and you'll be all the richer for it.
2. Churn that exposure into knowledge. While reading one boo
k from Nigeria won't give you everything you know to be an expert - you can turn that context into a learning tool by reading up on the country beforehand. Or have a computer next to you so as to look up any known words or locations. Adding a bit of research with the reading will make the book more meaningful, and you'll learn a bit along the way.
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| Illustration from the famous tale of Layla and Majnun, popular in Southwest Asia. "Story of Mejnun - in wilderness" by Unknown - Rozat-ol-Anwar, Golestan Palace via Wikimedia Commons |
4. The possibility to recognize patterns among characters and plots. Although literature from Saudi Arabia and Tonga may be completely different, you may also find similarities in how people act. While jealousy may be brought on in different situations, and may be acted out differently, the emotion is still the same. Plots may also be similar - you may come across a rag-to-riches folk-tale that bares resemblance to Cinderella, only modified to fit the specific cultural expectations.
5. Enjoy the vast sea of stories. There are few things more satisfying than a good book. Reading international fiction will immerse you in new landscapes, new seas, to characters and places you'd never dream of. Whether it's political or historical or romance or any other genre, each country is bound to have its own treasures - classic and modern. And you're sure to find something you like, somewhere, on this huge rock we call earth.
Still that begs the question, how should you read international fiction. How can you get the most out of the experience? Check back next week to read 5 Tips for Reading International Fiction.
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