non-fiction
Book reviews
Books
Book review- Around the World in 80 Trains – A 45,000-Mile Adventure
Monisha Rajesh travels the world in 80 trains in an impressive, intrepid inter-continental journey, criss-crossing Europe and Asia twice, and going around North America solely by train. Having done the same in India a few years ago (and also written a book about that), Rajesh is an accomplished pro at train travel. With her fiance […]
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Book review- Why the Dutch are Different
I always enjoy reading books about entire countries and Why the Dutch are Different- A Journey into the Hidden Heart of the Netherlands was certainly very enjoyable. Usually, when most people think of the Netherlands, windmills, dikes, and the red light and marijuana delights of Amsterdam usually come to mind. In reality, the country is so […]
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Book review- Elephant Complex-Travels in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a fascinating little gem of a country blessed with a seemingly perfect combination of ancient and colonial historical sites, diverse culture, wildlife, beautiful mountain scenery, and beaches. But the country also has its demons, having endured a savage 30-year civil war that ended in a mass massacre in 2011. John Gimlette […]
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Book review- Engel’s England
If you want to learn more about England beyond just touristy and famous places, Engel’s England is a book you should try. This massive book (over 500 pages) covers the entirety of England as author Matthew Engel visited all 39 historic counties as well as London itself. However, let me first make it clear that […]
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Book review- Land of the Dawn-Lit Mountains
Nestled deep in the northeastern corner of India lies Arunanchal Pradesh, the “land of the dawn-lit mountains,” and one of the least explored parts of the country. As such, Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent decided to go on a motorcycle journey into the state where she ventured into jungles and mountains, stayed with remote tribes and experienced some […]
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Book review- Saladin
I’ve always been fascinated by Saladin, the great military leader of the Muslim Arabs or Saracens who fought and won victories against Western Crusaders in the 12th century. He is famous for capturing Jerusalem from the Crusaders, but he was also lauded for his integrity. I was eager to read more about Saladin and John […]
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Book review- The Epic City
Up until the 1970s, Calcutta used to be India’s wealthiest and largest city. Since then, Calcutta (now Kolkatta) has experienced a steady decline as it has relinquished its economic crown to the likes of Bombay, Bangalore and New Delhi. But despite this, Calcutta is still a proud city that has a legacy of producing literary […]
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