Books for Being in Unfamiliar Territory

Books for Being in Unfamiliar Territory I have (temporarily) undergone a relocation. I have many feelings about this, the vast majority of them extremely positive, but certain things simply require an adjustment period. I dont have a favorite bookstore here yet, and since going to the bookstore is sort of like therapy, Ill need to start auditioning some contenders pretty soon. I dont have a coffee place yet, since I am extremely finicky and need a place that isnt too hip, too expensive, too small, or tooStarbucks. And then there are the smaller things: trying to find certain appliances in a strange kitchen. Walking around town and wondering if people can tell by a glance  that Im lost. All of this is merely a wad of gum on my shoes as I begin a thrilling little summer adventure. However, the feelings of misplacement and displacement that Im experiencing in minute amounts are ones that fill some of my all-time favorite books. Whether youre missing home, escaping home, or call the whole world your home, here are some books Im turning to to help me chart my course: The Geography of Bliss: One Grumps Search for the Happiest Places in the World  by  Eric Weiner Ive read this book so many times, but it never fails to make me smile or to make me think. Weiner travels all around the world to countries that are statistically the happiest in search of what, exactly, the people are so happy about. What he discovers, of course, is that happiness can be defined in all sorts of different ways. Ultimately, its something you find within yourself (although his description of Iceland does sound like a lot of fun.) The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz Inarguably one of the best books of our generation, Diaz explores the heartbreak of displacement and diaspora and the complications of homecoming in this sprawling, legendary novel. It is a story that contains worlds upon worlds: the dystopian horrors of the Dominican Republic under Trujillo; the New Jersey neighborhoods that inspire Oscar to escape into science fiction universes; and the colorful inner  cartographies of people. Life is full of mystery, magic, and some really bad luck, but Diaz finds incredible beauty in the unknowable. White Teeth by Zadie Smith Another story of immigration. With incredible wit and dexterity, Smith grapples with the struggle of transplanting culture and identity. This book follows  Archie and Samad, veterans of WWII, as they and their families  navigate the changing cultural and racial landscape of London. This book is hilarious, but often thorny and challenging as well. With lines like homeland is one of the magical fantasy words like  unicorn  and  soul  and  infinity  that have now passed into language, Smith shows the ways that home can be a mottled concept, and can become something completely different right underneath your nose. The Faraway Nearby by Rebecca Solnit This book got me through the ultimate in homesickness: my freshman year of college. The title comes from Georgia OKeeffe, who used to sign her letters from the faraway nearby. To me, the faraway nearby is a place populated by my loved ones, who exist as a constant, chattering group at a cosmic dinner table within me, no matter how far the physical distance happens to be. These essays are dreamy and gorgeous and will make you appreciate the beauty of being somewhere new, even if that somewhere is only a fresh state of mind. Im A Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away  by Bill Bryson I go back and forth on Bill Bryson, just because his grumpy traveler routine can kind of get on my nerves (youre a travel writer! Be more excited!). But this book made me laugh. The Amazon description calls it a bemused love letter to a homeland and I agree. I also think theres something to travel writing about ones home: the truth is, its hard to really see all the detail unless you go away for a while. Even though Im excited to be away from my  home for a bit, Im also excited to see how its changed when I return. Never Can Say Goodbye:  Writers on Their Unshakable Love for New York  edited by Sari Botton Last summer, I lived at home and worked in D.C. while, it seemed, all of my friends were off in other states or other countries having grand, noteworthy adventures. So, every night before bed, Id read one of these essays and daydream about places like New York City. These essays are fun and full of passion. Often, its the territory you claim for yourself that ends up feeling the most like home, especially when youre young. Cities can exalt you one day and chew you up and spit you out the next. Sometimes thats exactly what you need. Emma  by Jane Austen Okay, maybe this ones just for me it happens to be my favorite novel of all time. But there are a lot of things about  Emma  that make it a good book to read in a new place: the  claustrophobic, gossipy town will make you itch to walk a street where youre totally unknown; Harriet Smiths naiveté might make you feel better about maybe not being as cosmopolitan as youd like. Above all, though, I brought a copy of Emma with me because Ive always related to Emma herself, and everyone knows that the hardest thing about a relocation is finding a kindred spirit.