A Recipe for Daphne by Nektaria Anastasiadou

A Recipe for Daphne was a really enjoyable book I finished recently. Set in Istanbul, among the Rum community (Greek Orthodox Christians who trace their heritage to the Byzantines), it follows the American-born Daphne, who is half-Rum and half-Turkish. On a visit to Istanbul, she finds herself drawn to Kosmas, an award-winning pastry chef. We … More A Recipe for Daphne by Nektaria Anastasiadou

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbary

I recently finished reading The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbary, translated from the French by Alison Anderson. It follows Renee, a concierge at a posh apartment inhabited by wealthy residents. Separated from the residents of the apartment by class, Renee is someone who tries to be inconspicuous, even though she is a lot … More The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbary

Recommendations: 3 Novels set in the Caucasus.

So I love reading books set in different parts of the world, and this year, I had ended up reading three great books set in the Caucasus region, a region we don’t otherwise come across that often while reading. The Caucasus region includes Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and parts of Russia, and these three books reflect … More Recommendations: 3 Novels set in the Caucasus.