Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Author Bio: Yaa Gyasi is a Ghanaian-American author whose debut novel Homegoing won widespread acclaim for its ambitious narrative tracing family legacies from Ghana to the U.S.
Book Review: A powerful multigenerational novel tracing the legacy of slavery through two Ghanaian sisters' bloodlines. Poetic, heartbreaking, and unforgettable.
Film Adaptation: Optioned by HBO for TV series (in development).
Best Month to Visit: September
Weather Note: Lush, cooler post-rainy season (21–29 °C)
NOTE: Destinations, timing, and books are subject to change.
Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
Author Bio: Haruki Murakami is one of Japan's most beloved contemporary authors, known for his lyrical and introspective writing blending the surreal with the everyday.
Book Review: A melancholic coming-of-age story of love and loss in 1960s Tokyo, Norwegian Wood captures emotional complexity with haunting simplicity.
Film Adaptation: Adapted into a Japanese film in 2010.
Best Month to Visit: April
Weather Note: Mild spring weather with cherry blossoms
NOTE: Destinations, timing, and books are subject to change.
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Author Bio: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was a French aviator and writer best known for The Little Prince, a timeless tale translated into over 300 languages.
Book Review: A poetic allegory exploring innocence, loneliness, and love, The Little Prince is a philosophical gem disguised as a children's book.
Film Adaptation: Adapted into numerous formats; most recently a Netflix animated film in 2015.
Best Month to Visit: May
Weather Note: Springtime bloom and comfortable (15–21 °C)
NOTE: Destinations, timing, and books are subject to change.
Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
Author Bio: Laura Esquivel is a Mexican novelist and screenwriter whose work blends food, magic, and emotion, making Like Water for Chocolate a modern classic.
Book Review: A delicious blend of food, folklore, and forbidden love, told through magical realism and Mexican recipes, it's a sensual, cultural delight.
Film Adaptation: Adapted into a hit 1992 Mexican film.
Best Month to Visit: November
Weather Note: Dry, pleasant; ideal for cultural experiences
NOTE: Destinations, timing, and books are subject to change.
The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera
Author Bio: Witi Ihimaera is New Zealand's first published Māori novelist, celebrated for his storytelling rooted in Māori identity and myth.
Book Review: A modern myth of a young Māori girl challenging tradition to fulfill her destiny. Heartfelt, empowering, and visually captivating.
Film Adaptation: Whale Rider (2002) was Oscar-nominated and widely acclaimed.
Best Month to Visit: February
Weather Note: Summer warmth, great ocean views, calm seas
NOTE: Destinations, timing, and books are subject to change.
Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing
Author Bio: Alfred Lansing was an American journalist who turned meticulous research and diaries into one of the greatest true survival stories.
Book Review: An astonishing account of the 1914 Shackleton expedition and survival against the odds—gripping, inspiring, and vividly written.
Film Adaptation: No direct film; featured widely in documentaries and studies.
Best Month to Visit: December
Weather Note: Milder Antarctic summer (~0 to –5 °C)
NOTE: Destinations, timing, and books are subject to change.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Author Bio: Paulo Coelho is a Brazilian author whose inspirational novel The Alchemist has sold over 150 million copies worldwide and is translated into 80+ languages.
Book Review: A spiritual fable about following your dreams and listening to your heart. Accessible, profound, and globally beloved.
Film Adaptation: Film rights sold multiple times; animated adaptation in development as of 2024.
Best Month to Visit: July
Weather Note: Winter dry season; 20–25 °C and low humidity
NOTE: Destinations, timing, and books are subject to change.
