Taiwan Book Recommendations
My list of some of the best reads to understand modern Taiwan.
Taiwan Travelogue
Set in Taiwan in 1938, during Japanese colonial rule, the novel follows Japanese writer Aoyama Chizuko on a lecture tour and her growing relationship with her Taiwanese interpreter, Chizuru. As the two women travel around the island and explore its food and culture, their friendship—and possible romance—is complicated by the unequal power relationship between colonizer and colonized. Through food, language, translation, and their relationship, the novel explores colonialism, identity, cultural exchange, and the difficulty of truly understanding another person across political and cultural divides. It is also deliberately structured as a fictional “translated” travelogue, making questions of who gets to tell Taiwan's story central to the book.
Ghost Nation: The Story of Taiwan and Its Struggle for Survival
This book explores Taiwan’s complex and often precarious history, from its Indigenous and colonial past through the Chinese Civil War and the island’s emergence as a modern democracy. It focuses particularly on Taiwan’s uncertain international status and its ongoing struggle to preserve its autonomy and identity in the shadow of China.
Made in Taiwan: Recipes and Stories from the Island Nation
Made in Taiwan is both a cookbook and a portrait of Taiwanese culture. Clarissa Wei introduces readers to Taiwan through its food, sharing recipes alongside stories about the island’s history, regional traditions, markets, ingredients, and the influences—Chinese, Indigenous, Japanese, and others—that have shaped Taiwanese cuisine.