Taiwan Travelogue

     Summer is just around the corner, and for many this seasonal transition tends to bring a vacation with it. Taking a trip is historically one of the best ways to unwind, whether you're kicking back on the beach or secluding yourself in some sort of cabin. A change of location can also bring with it a flood of new experiences & offers a change of pace from the potential tedium of daily life. 

    If a vacation isn't in the cards for you this summer, however, there are still plenty of books that can take you somewhere far away, such as Yang Shuang-Zi's Taiwan Travelogue. In it we follow Aoyama Chizuko, a young Japanese novelist, as she embarks on a year-long trip to Taiwan to give talks about her novel and its newly released film-adaptation. During her stay she is accompanied by Chizuru, an enigmatic interpreter and Taiwan native, who shows Aoyama around the island. 

    Vacationing isn't always fun and games, though, and I'm not just talking about drama with one's travel companions. Tourism as an industry can be incredibly taxing on a location and the people who call it home, whether that be through overcrowding, rising costs of living, or environmental degradation. Just look at Venice.

    Taiwan Travelogue explores the tension brought upon by unwanted guests, though in the novel its not so much tourism as colonial occupation that is breaking down the local culture & environment (though tourism still plays a part). Despite opposing Japan's occupation of Taiwan, Aoyama still takes a government sponsored vacation to Taiwan. To show her defiance, she spends her time writing articles about local Taiwanese cuisine, history, and culture thanks to all the insight she's able to glean from Chizuru.

    What really stands out about Taiwan Travelogue is its focus on the little details. Aoyama has something of a bottomless appetite, so she's constantly sampling the local fare while she tours the country.  From decadent banquets to simple rice dishes, every meal is described with such precision that you can almost taste it. Oftentimes I would put the book down to realize that my own stomach was grumbling.

    This eye for detail isn't just aimed at the food, though. From the history of the railroads to the inner workings of traditional family structures, Shuang-Zi wastes no opportunity to provide more background. This abundance of information never feels overwhelming, though. This is in part due to the context of the conversations being between a traveling writer and her interpreter, but also because much of the information is delivered through footnotes, allowing the reader to go as deep into it as they want.

     Everyone knows that a scenic vacation isn't complete without some drama, and Taiwan Travelogue has that on deck too. Our two travel companions may have become fast friends, but Aoyama can't help but notice that Chizuru pulls back from time to time, almost as if she were wearing some porcelain mask. I won't be spoiling anymore, but I can confirm that watching the two's relationship unfold is sweeter than the fresh pineapple juice that brings them together.

    As the world seems to be edging closer and closer to the brink, it's important to take things slow every now and then to acknowledge the things in life that bring you joy. Taiwan Travelogue serves the dual purpose of being a great book, for those of you who enjoy that kind of thing, and being a story about finding those nuggets of joy in what can otherwise be a dreadful situation.