If there’s one thing that captures the heart and soul of Taiwanese culture, it’s the food—and believe me, this is a book that serves it up in style! As a self-confessed food lover (as you might have learned from the bio at the end of each post!), I’ve been eagerly waiting to share this post of Taiwan Travelogue: A Novel with you. It’s the one I’ve been most excited about because this story is as much a celebration of Taiwanese cuisine as it is a literary journey through history and culture.

Get ready for a feast of flavors and feelings in Taiwan Travelogue by Shuang-zi Yang, one of the longlisted titles for the National Book Award 2024 and the first novel by a Taiwanese author to ever receive this honor!  But don’t let the title fool you—this is no ordinary travel book; it’s a scrumptiousliterary banquet!

A Novel Like a Banquet

Think of this novel as a grand feast! From melon seeds, rice noodles, and barley soup, to sashimi, sukiyaki, salty cakes, and sweet bean ice, every chapter dishes out something delicious, mirroring the seasons of the year when Japanese writer Chizuko Aoyama travels to Taiwan in 1938. Spring, summer, autumn, and winter unfold on the page like courses at a banquet—each with a unique flavor, from the homely comfort of Taiwanese snacks to the exotic allure of Japanese dishes. 

Chizuko’s journey is a railway and culinary adventure like no other. Accompanied by her Taiwanese translator, Wang Chianhe, the novel takes us on a tour across Taiwan, revealing its food customs, the cultural differences between Taiwan and Japan, and a deepening friendship between two women who come from entirely different worlds. 

What’s most interesting, as a reader, is how the author uses the first-person perspective of a foreigner to describe her observations. For instance, she describes Aiyu jelly as “a translucent, light yellow snack,” capturing its essence in a fun and vivid way, or “some bowls had soft white lumps, others had translucent yellow ones, and some had small, round black beads,” which makes even native Taiwanese guess which refreshing summer desert it is.

A Meeting of Two Worlds

Set in the 13th year of the Showa era, the story begins when Chizuko Aoyama, a well-known Japanese writer, arrives in Taiwan for a lecture tour. Her semi-autobiographical novel, The Story of Youth, had recently been adapted into a movie, garnering a huge response in Taiwan and sparking her invitation. Chizuko, born into a wealthy family but raised in Nagasaki after her mother’s death, soon meets Wang Chianhe, her interpreter—a young woman from a prominent Taiwanese family who dreams of becoming a translator.

As they journey together, hopping between cities along the railway lines, they enjoy all sorts of culinary delights—street food, grocery stores, dagashi (駄菓子)* shops, tea houses, and even Western-style restaurants. Their shared moments are fleeting but precious, a brief interlude of freedom before their lives take them in different directions.

(*Japanese candy shop)

Cooking Up Culture

But this book is not just about food. With a delicate touch, Shuang-zi Yang sprinkles in themes of identity, independence, and the struggle faced by women who seek a professional life in a world that often denies them that choice. As Chizuko and Wang explore Taiwan, their friendship deepens, and Chizuko learns of Wang’s aspirations. Understanding the difficulty women face to achieve independence, especially without strong family support, Chizuko contemplates helping her new friend. But as war looms closer, the question becomes: can they find the futures they desire? 

Layers of Meaning

Written under the shared pen name “Shuang-zi* Yang” by twin sisters Yang Ruoci and Yang Ruohui, this novel is itself a reflection on collaboration and identity. Yang Ruoci crafts the narrative, while Yang Ruohui focuses on historical research and Japanese translation. This fascinating dynamic is a key clue to understanding the layers of meaning woven into the text.

(*Shuangzi means twins in Chinese)

A Translator Who Bridges Worlds

The English version of Taiwan Travelogue is brought to life by the talented translator Lin King. Born in the United States in 1993 and grew up in Taiwan, Lin King is a linguistic powerhouse who holds a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and a master’s degree from Columbia University. She has already made her mark by winning the PEN America Short Story Newcomer Award and has translated works into Chinese, Japanese, and English. Lin King’s notable translations include the English version of the graphic novel Son of Formosa, a biography of political victim Tsai Kuen-lin, and, of course, Taiwan Travelogue. In addition to her native Chinese and English, Lin has also studied Japanese, making her the perfect translator to capture the nuanced cultural exchanges in this novel. 

Why You Should Read It

With rich historical research, vibrant descriptions, and multidimensional characters, Taiwan Travelogue uses the metaphor of food to delve into the complexities of colonialism, cultural exchange, and gender. It’s a story of two women navigating a world that doesn’t always make room for them, finding brief moments of freedom in a shared love for good food and great conversation. 

So, if you’re hungry for a novel that serves up more than just a tale, Taiwan Travelogue is your perfect dish. Grab a seat at the table and savor every word—you won’t be disappointed!

いただきます (Itadakimasu)*, book adventurers!

(*Itadakimasu is a Japanese phrase said before eating, similar to “let’s dig in!”)

Taiwan Travelogue: A Novel

Written by Shuangzi Yang, #NameTheTranslator Lin King

2024, Graywolf Press

ISBN: 9781644453155 

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Annie. ‘東亞書房》美味、雜揉戰爭餘留的苦澀：楊双子《臺灣漫遊錄》日文版獲佳評’. Openbook閱讀誌, 23 June 2023, https://www.openbook.org.tw/article/p-67743.

Books.com.tw. ‘臺灣漫遊錄’. 博客來, https://www.books.com.tw/products/0010852315. Accessed 11 Sept. 2024.

Japan Centre Online. https://www.japancentre.com/en/recipe/10-sukiyaki-hot-pot. Accessed 11 Sept. 2024.

Taichung Tourism and Travel Bureau. ‘Taichung Tourism and Travel Bureau’. Taichung City Government Tourism and Travel Bureau, 29 Mar. 2019, https://travel.taichung.gov.tw/zh-tw/shop/consume/769.

‘Taiwan Travelogue’. National Book Foundation, https://www.nationalbook.org/books/taiwan-travelogue/. Accessed 11 Sept. 2024.

Tefa Bakery. ‘馳名鹹蛋糕’. 德發餅行, https://www.tefa-bakery.com/product/salty-cake-with-meat/. Accessed 11 Sept. 2024.

Wang, Baoer. ‘畫出平凡詩 萬小田替庶民作傳’. China Times, 13 Oct. 2019, https://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20191013002437-260405?chdtv.

自由時報電子報. 台灣第一人！楊双子《臺灣漫遊錄》未上市先入選 2024美國國家書卷獎翻譯獎 – 自由藝文網. 11 Sept. 2024, https://art.ltn.com.tw/article/breakingnews/4796623.

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Eleanor Duggan is a passionate children’s book reader, a storytelling enchantress, an aspiring globetrotter, a part-time book crafter, and an impassioned foodie who is a cooking disaster. She is more known as an international school teacher-librarian and the International Association of School Librarianship (IASL) Regional Director for East Asia. She is a Taiwanese with a Belgian soul and is currently enjoying her life as a citizen of the world with her daughter and their 2 one-of-a kind cats. You may find her via The Third Culture Librarian 

GLLI Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in posts on this site are the individual author’s and are not indicative of the views of Global Literature in Libraries Initiative.