This month’s group article is a special one as it’s also the debut of some members of our new writing staff! We’re thrilled to be welcoming eight new writers to Sticky Rice from Peace Corps Thailand Group 135. You’ll be hearing more from them in the future, but for now enjoy their contributions to this month’s Sticky Rice Staff group article — a collaborative take on our newest ongoing series “What We’re Reading”.
Cloé Fortier-King, 134 YinD
One of my favorite features of Peace Corps life is the gift of time and solitude. And one of my favorite uses of this time is demolishing books on my trusty Kindle. Words make excellent companions, something my younger self knew from the first moment I found meaning in the squiggles on a page. Although I’ve made my way through quite a stack of books in my time as a volunteer, I’d actually like to recommend a few books I read in the years prior to arriving in Thailand. These are books that have shaped me in some way —and, I daresay, even influenced my decision to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer.
“Ishmael” by Daniel Quinn This intriguing work of philosophical fiction permanently altered my perspective of humanity, challenged my existing knowledge of history and religion, and contributed significantly to my interest in sociology during my undergraduate studies.
“The Moment of Lift” by Melinda Gates Through her own experiences in tech and philanthropic work, carefully presented data, and stories from women around the world, Gates explores the largest obstacles to gender equity and dispenses solutions to empowering women and girls globally. She emphasizes the role of positive mentorship and the ripple effect that just one person can have on a community—an idea that is well aligned with our role as a volunteer.
“Untamed” by Glennon Doyle All about authenticity and liberation from societal expectations, “Untamed” blends the genres of memoir and self-help. This book is thoughtful and nuanced and sparked reflections about myself and others that have become beloved parts of my cognitive repertoire.
One final honorable mention is the collection of short stories “Fruiting Bodies” by Kathryn Harlan, which traverses genres and features queer characters in tales of transformation in numerous forms. It too captures the human condition, though in a more abstract way than the previous three recommendations.
Happy reading!
Mack Devoto, 135 YinD
My most recent book recommendation would be “The Great Alone” by Kristen Hannah. Kristen Hannah is one of my favorite authors! Hannah is incredibly gifted in creating strong and resilient, yet uniquely vulnerable, female leads in her novels. Each main character that she introduces illustrates the complexities of humanity and womanhood.
In “The Great Alone”, Kristen Hannah creates a beautiful story about a young woman’s journey from adolescence into adulthood. Leni Allbright is a mere pre-teen in the 1970s, her father, a POW from the Vietnam war, makes the decision to move their family to America’s last frontier, Alaska. Leni and her mother agree to go with, in a desperate attempt at a fresh start, hoping the lingering trauma of the war won’t follow them to the vastness of Alaska. Unfortunately, this is not the case, as isolation and the harsh realities of a wilderness undiscovered catch up to them.
“The Great Alone” captures the alienating feeling of rurality, the intricacies of familial relationships, the fight for survival, and exposes the raw core of what it means to be human. I loved this book for many reasons. Kristen Hannah was able to evoke emotions that feel strikingly familiar to life in the Peace Corps. While I am not necessarily discovering a new wilderness, I am experiencing ruralism and isolation in an unprecedented way in my life, as I am sure many other volunteers are. Through Leni, “The Great Alone” was able to encapsulate many of the feelings that I, myself, have had since being at my permanent site.
Additionally, Hannah was able to capture the bond between a mother and daughter in a way that feels very candid and real — the harsh realities of love and what we are willing to do for the people we love, regardless of its consequences. It’s a heartbreakingly stunning story that left me reflective and grateful for my mother and the people I have in my life who have supported me on this journey of being a volunteer. If you are a fan of historical fiction, coming-of-age, and emotional novels, this book is certainly for you. I would also like to forewarn that this novel includes instances of abuse, violence, and loss.
Lastly, if any volunteers are interested in reading, please feel free to reach out to me, as I have a copy of the novel I am more than willing to share! Happy reading!
Kiera Hurley, 135 YinD
I recently finished reading “The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World”, written by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. These two spiritual leaders invite us into their conversations around joy, suffering, happiness, humor, fear, and illness in relation to their lives and the world as a whole. The book is set against the landscape of Dharamsala, India in 2016. At this time, the Dalai Lama was to celebrate his 80th birthday and Archbishop Tutu journeyed to India to join him and write this book. Both men have experienced great hardships in their lives requiring them to actively practice forgiveness and maintain a compassionate sense of self. The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu have a warm-hearted, silly friendship and have come together for a book that goes beyond the religions they practice and focuses on the fundamental elements of living a life of joy.
I found the book extremely approachable and easy to read as it’s written in a conversational style. A quote that I feel sums up my main takeaway from the book reads as follows:
“The more we turn toward others, the more joy we experience, and the more joy we experience, the more we can bring joy to others.”
I think this is an experience all volunteers encounter and is what brings us back to serving. It feels good to help people other than ourselves and this sense of joy brings a circle of positivity into the world. May we all have a little bit more concern for the well being of other human beings and remember our instinctive nature to care and look out for those in our big small world.
Teresa Derr, 134 YinD
I will be honest, this book is geared towards middle school/junior readers but I couldn’t submit something for a book recommendation article and not bring up my favorite author’s new book — which I genuinely enjoyed and sent to all my reading friends telling them to read it too.
Patricia C. Wrede is one of my favorite authors for her practical heroines, the way she subverts literary tropes (often while blatantly mentioning the trope), and the fun and unique worlds she creates. In the “Dark Lord’s Daughter”, she dismantles ‘Evil Overlord’ tropes by creating a protagonist (as the name suggests, a daughter of a deceased dark lord) who is raised in friendly Minnesota and whose mom and little brother get dragged into her fairytale adventure! I had a lot of fun watching the mom, especially, picking apart tropes and being a responsible adult which Kayla (the protagonist, not the editor-in-chief!) could go to for advice — and who sometimes gives bad advice, because the rules aren’t the same in Fantasyland!
It would be easy to say I related to the main characters, who were pulled from their familiar world into a completely new place and culture which they struggled to navigate — but honestly, I wasn’t thinking about that. I was just having a good time, laughing at the jokes, marveling at the world-building workarounds (such as laptops turning into flying monkey familiars who can debug spells), delighting in tropes being examined on page and then thrown out as impractical. It’s a quick read, no more than a couple hours, light-hearted, and humorous, if that’s at all up your alley!
If not, “Tress and the Emerald Sea” by Brandon Sanderson is the best fantasy book (by the best fantasy author) I’ve read this year, because it also has a practical heroine who lives in a fascinating world and her story is narrated by a guy who has a marvelous sense of humor (and bonus gorgeous illustrations). Can you tell what I like in books?
Bianca Palese, 134 TESS
I’ve read a lot of books over the duration of my service so far, so I’ll give out some accolades since it’s hard to only talk about one!
Book that restarted my love for reading: “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou. I read this memoir over mid-term break (October) last year and it made me feel all the things. I was reminded how much humanity a piece of paper can hold. An effortless read full of heart, I give this classic a 10/10.
Book you need to read right now: “Mornings in Jenin” by Susan Abulhawa. I am haunted by this novel and of my own ignorance before reading it. The daughter of Palestinian refugees herself, Abulhawa expertly crafts this tale of a family expelled from their home during the 1948 occupation of Palestine and the generations of trauma resulting from the enduring conflict. I don’t think I need to explain why this story is important right now.
Popular with kids: “Richard Scarry’s Seek and Find!” Okay so it’s not really reading, it’s a spot-the-object type situation, but this is my host niece’s (3 y/o) favorite book. We sit on the floor and read it together at least three times a week.
My favorite non-fiction: “Empire of Humanity: A History of Humanitarianism” by Michael Barnett. I’m not going to lie, this one took me a few months to get through. It’s very dense, packed with information detailing why governments and NGOs function the way they do in the modern age. But overall I found it very informative and I enjoyed reflecting on my own work while I read.
My fastest read: “Animal Farm” by George Orwell. I love reading the classics from this time period, and it’s barely more than 100 pages so I finished this one in a day!
My favorite book pre-Peace Corps: “Catch-22” by Joseph Heller. This has been my favorite novel since high school. It’s funny, potent, and extremely clever. If you saw one of the many attempts to make it into a movie/series and didn’t like it, I understand because all those movies are garbage. Go read the book.
Emily Hoffmeister, 135 YinD
“Once upon a time, I dreamt I was a butterfly, fluttering hither and thither, to all intents and purposes a butterfly. I was conscious only of my happiness as a butterfly, unaware that I was myself. Soon I awaked, and there I was, veritably myself again. Now I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly, dreaming I am a man.”
― “Zhuangzi”, The Butterfly as Companion
The “Zhuangzi” is a work of ancient Chinese philosophy, and is one of the foundational texts of Taoism. I first encountered this text thanks to a beloved professor, Wenqing Zhao. I took a course with Professor Zhao built around this book, and it was one of my favorite seminars. After reading this book I couldn’t help but find myself subconsciously applying it to the way I saw and thought about things. It reshaped my perspectives and allowed me to see connections I had missed before.
The “Zhuangzi” contains anecdotes, allegories, parables, and fables. So one does not have to read this book cover to cover, but can rather jump around the different passages. Some prominent themes include the mysteries of transformation, effortless action/disentanglement, harmony, limitations of human reasoning, and disillusioning dichotomies. This book is also quite funny as these topics are often approached with irreverence.
This is the sort of text where I feel I could read the same chapter every week for the rest of my life and take something new away. Mythical, narrative, humorous, poetic, and polysemic, the “Zhuangzi” will spark wonder and possibility for reframing.
K.D. Norris, 135 TESS
Describing “The Book Thief”, Markus Lusaka’s 2005 critical and commercial blockbuster, is a little like trying to describe the nature of God: impossible, and yet we continue to try.
I had never seen the 2013 movie, mostly because I knew it was a story set in Nazi Germany in the closing years of the war, and that story has been told a hundred times in a dozen ways. But scrounging the shelves in the Peace Corps Mothership’s volunteer lounge a couple months ago led me to the book, the memory of the praise of the book more than the movie, and the need to restock my reading list with anything. Anything.
Glad I did.
Back to that description thing: Let me just say that it is nothing like the story told a hundred times. I will try to summarize it by saying it is “Fahrenheit 451” only all-too real, meets “The Diary of Anne Frank” only less depressingly predictable. This is the journey of a young girl into young womanhood during a tender yet horrible time. She is a thief of books and a stealer of hearts.
In her story there are fanatic Germans and anti-Nazi Germans, kids being kids even in the time of war, a Jewish refugee who is a dreamer of dreams and a drawer of books, a woman who curses continually and a man with an accordion. All critical elements.
Oh, and did I mention that the narrator is the Grim Reaper? Or maybe that indescribable God? Either way, a busy time for a collector of souls.
Enough said. If you’ve seen the movie, the book has to be better. If you haven’t, forget the movie and go to the source material.
Peace.
Ps. Shameless plug: K.D. Norris’ debut novel is now available as an e-book from Schuler Books or Amazon: “The View from Gleninagh North”.
Lilly Hromadka, 135 TESS
And here it is – one of the most dreaded questions for a mood reader:
“What books do you recommend?”
It’s up there with “What’s your favorite book?” and “Who’s your favorite author?” on my “horrible questions that shouldn’t be asked” list. It’s like asking me to pick my favorite noodle in a bowl of ramen, or drop of wine in a glass of merlot. HA. Impossible. Oh no. Out of the hundreds of books I’ve read? The dozens of genres there are? The multitudes of authors?
Truthfully, I couldn’t pick. It depends on you. Do you want sad, comedic, gripping, horrifying, nostalgic, classic, light-hearted? Romance? Adventure? Fantasy? A fantasy adventure with romance? A book to make you scream and cry, that will make you throw it across the room, breathing hard with hatred while simultaneously aching and bleeding to run over and read just one more page?? (Actually, if you know of one like that, let me know please, it sounds amazing.)
What I mean to say is that there’s not one book overall that I think is worth recommending. At this point in my service, I’ve read over 50 books. Each one has served some purpose, answered some need, taken me away from reality for a while, or made me painfully aware of all the blessings and challenges I’m existing within. Books are an art form; each story is a language unique, one not everyone can understand. What resonates soul-deep with me might be trite, boring, dare I say, annoying for someone else to read.
My recommendation is always to try something new. Go for the pretty cover, even if the blurb on the back doesn’t sound all that interesting. Pick up the newest release from the author with the funny name, just because you’ll have to try to pronounce it when people ask what you’re reading. Join a book club and don’t hesitate to join the next read even if the book promises to be devastating and is 1000% outside of your comfort zone.
I’ve found some of the best books just by being brave, purposefully attempting something new, or even going solely on vibes. Books I wouldn’t have picked up otherwise. So, in the interest of encouraging you to do the same, I’ll leave you with a list of 8 books. One for each month of my service so far (although not necessarily read during service), and an extra one, the one that, in a way (as absolutely cliché as it is), started this entire journey.
January – “Lost Horizon” by James Hilton
February – “The Bear and The Nightingale” by Katherine Arden
March – “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
April – “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott
May – “One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
June – “My Brilliant Friend” by Elena Ferrante
July – “Sing, Unburied, Sing” by Jemyn Ward
My Catalyst – “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabth Gilbert
Be brave then, dear reader. Pick one.
Alyssa Strong, 135 TESS
I’ve always tried to be a reader yet miserably failed. But my cohort inspires me in many ways, and one thing they inspired me to do was pick up a book called “The Art of Living” by Thich Nhat Hanh. This book was passed around to multiple members of Group 135 during our pre-service training, and I was lucky enough to get my hands on it right before moving to site, which was the perfect time for a book to put my head in the right place.
I think we all have moments in our lives where we question what in the world we’re doing and need some clarity about the path we’re on. So if you’re looking for some reassurance for your doubts, answers to some of life’s deepest questions, advice on getting out of a happiness drought, or just some wisdom and direction, “The Art of Living” provides all of that and more.
For me, “The Art of Living” healed many lingering doubts I had about moving to the other side of the world, especially my fears about leaving my family for two years. It helped me to let go of thoughts that were holding me back from enjoying the present. It made me realize that I was in the right place. And it allowed me to go into service with a mindset that has gotten me through quite a few challenges. So if you need a book to find some peace with where you’re at in life, I think “The Art of Living” has a little bit of wisdom waiting for everyone. :)
Dito Montaña, 134 YinD
A few months ago I was walking through Chiang Mai when I stumbled across a small bookstore on the east side of the old city. Meandering through the cramped bookshelf aisles idly looking at the endless titles on each spine I came across this book, and even though I finished it a long time ago I think about it often.
“Say You’re One of Them” is a book written by Uwem Apkan, and it’s a collection of five stories told through the voices of children, each taking place in a different country in Africa. Although the stories are unrelated, each of the protagonists, with their own innocent and lyrical narrative voice, faces risks that are sure to alter the course of their life. Each story is compelling and emotional, beautifully woven together by the shared experiences and realities that at-risk children around the world face.
As far as storytelling goes, this book is up there with the best I’ve ever read. Intentional and thought provoking, whimsical yet deeply disturbing at the same time – you can’t help but feel for each of the kids as if they are someone you know personally. I hesitate to make direct comparisons but as I was reading this book I couldn’t help but think of my Thai students: bubbly wide-grinned rascals with infectious laughs, even as some of them face very real challenges in their lives. If you love good storytelling, I can’t recommend this book enough.
Kayla Kawalec, 134 YinD
One of the benefits of being the editor-in-chief is that I get to review everyone’s group article contributions and gather inspiration from them before writing my own. My fellow writers provided a wealth of book recommendations and I greatly enjoyed reading the reasons behind their choices and impassioned cases for their favorites. I gathered many titles to add to my own (forever growing) ‘To be Read’ list from them.
After reading their recommendations, I found that while I have fervent cases for my own favorites, I’d rather leave this one to my writers. Lilly captured a sentiment I share so I’m going to take another one of my editorial liberties and “borrow” her words, “Truthfully, I couldn’t pick. It depends on you…Be brave then, dear reader. Pick one.”
Sticky Rice 