I remember reading Into the Wild while flying to Alaska on one of my first solo trips far from home. It really set the stage for my adventure! It made me want to take off and travel to discover myself the same way Christopher McCandless did (minus the tragic ending, of course).
So I was excited to come across this list of book and movie recommendations for various countries, including Chile, Germany, Finland, India, and more!
Here’s the list of recommendations by 22 different foreign ambassadors in Washington, DC.
1. Austria
Read: The Tobacconist by Robert Seethaler
Watch: The Third Man, 1949
2. Azerbaijan
Read: Ali and Nino by Kurban Said
Watch: The film adaptation of Ali and Nino
3. Bhutan
Read: Treasures of the Thunder Dragon: A Portrait of Bhutan by Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck
Watch: Travellers and Magicians, 2003
4. Canada
Read: With Faith and Goodwill: 150 years of Canada-U.S. Friendship, edited by Arthur Milnes
Watch: Any of the films from National Canadian Film Day’s Top 150 which the ambassador says “provides a list as diverse as the country itself.”
5. Chile
Read: La Casa de los Espíritus by Isabel Allende
Watch: No, 2012
6. Colombia
Read: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
Watch: Colombia Magia Salvaje, 2015
7. Denmark
Read: Smilla’s Sense of Snow by Peter Høeg
Watch: A Royal Affair, 2012
8. Estonia
Read: The Man Who Spoke Snakish by Andrus Kivirähk
Watch: Lotte and the Moonstone Secret, 2011
9. Finland
Read: Moomin books by Tove Jansson
Watch: Tale of a Forest, 2012
10. Germany
Read: Tschick (Why we took the car) by Wolfgang Herrndorf
Watch: Good Bye Lenin!, 2003
11. Greece
Read: Freedom and Death by Nikos Kazantzakis
Watch: Zorba the Greek, 1964
12. Iceland
Read: Independent People by Halldór Laxness
Watch: Sigur Rós: Heima, 2007
13. Ireland
Read: TransAtlantic by Colum McCann
Watch: Once, 2007
14. India
Read: Freedom at Midnight by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins
Watch: Monsoon Wedding, 2001
15. Jamaica
Read: Selected Poems by Louise Bennett
Watch: Cool Runnings, 1993
16. Malta
Read: In the Name of the Father (And of the Son) by Immanuel Mifsud
Watch: Limestone Cowboy, 2017
17. Netherlands
Read: The Embarrassment of Riches by Simon Schama
Watch: De Aanslag, 1986
18. New Zealand
Read: The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera
Watch: Hunt for the Wilderpeople, 2016
19. Norway
Read: The Harry Hole series by Jo Nesbø
Watch: Kon-Tiki, 2012
20. Slovenia
Read: I Saw Her That Night, by Drago Jančar
Watch: Valley of Peace, 1956
21. Sweden
Read: Nordic Ways by András Simonyi
Watch: A Man Called Ove, 2015
22. United Kingdom
Read: Atonement by Ian McEwan
Watch: Life of Brian, 1979
Have you read any of these books? What have been your favorite books to read before traveling to a certain destination?
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Hat Tip: Babbel