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Non-Taiwanese living in Taiwan would benefit greatly from reading Yang Shuang-zi’s (楊?子) Taiwan Travelogue — and thanks to Lin King (金翎), they can read the translated version in English.

King won the US National Book Award for Translated Literature in 2024 and the International Booker Prize this year for her translated work.

Taiwan Travelogue navigates a story of colonialism, culture and exploration. Each chapter is titled after a Taiwanese dish or ingredient, reflecting the rich culinary tradition that many Taiwanese take great pride in.

However, the story should not only be read to enjoy the motif of cuisine or companionship of the characters. It is set in a period that still affects Taiwan today: Japanese colonization.

Taiwan underwent radical changes in the 20th century, from modernization under Japanese occupation to decades of cruel authoritarian martial law under the then-Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government, finally blossoming into a young, self-ruling democracy.

Under immense top-down institutional pressure to Japanize and Sinicize, the diversity of languages and cultures in Taiwan survived.

Discourse around Taiwan today is dominated by political factionalism, a potential China contingency and other clickbait topics. These topics are usually what foreign media focus on — and it does not represent daily life in Taiwan faithfully.

Taiwan Travelogue is a refreshing novel, allowing the reader to step back in time to experience Taiwan through the lens of a young Japanese writer and foodie set in the 1930s.

Without proper linguistic and historical knowledge, it is not an easy read, nor should it be.

The English-language version of Taiwan Travelogue uses the Romanization of three languages: Mandarin, Japanese and Tai-gi (Taiwanese, also known as Hoklo).

This creates a dynamic where Taipei is referred to as Taihoku and silver noodle vermicelli is called bi-thai-bak. At first glance, the reader might not recognize what is being referenced. Critics might say that the decision not to use the more recognizable names disenfranchises the reader and makes it less accessible.

In fact, King keeps the context and language as close as possible to the original.

Throughout the book, footnotes from Yang and King support the reader in comprehending the context. I found myself referencing the map provided exclusively in the English-language version as the characters travel around the nation.

It is a multifaceted novel to digest. It challenges the reader with unfamiliarity, and familiarizing oneself with the unfamiliar is a good thing.

This is especially true as a guest in a foreign country.

While Taiwan Travelogue was not necessarily written as an educational resource, it most certainly doubles as a lovely novel and means of learning in greater depth about Taiwanese culture. Taiwanese identity and history are complicated. In no way will this book explain Taiwan in its entirety, but it is a good start.