My book The Rooster House is available in Chinese (traditional characters), titled 公雞之家 and published by Faces. I will be in Taiwan in July for a few events, including a seminar about Ukraine. I will share more details soon. In the meantime, I wanted to ask my friends and readers about your Taiwan recommendations. I’ve been to Taipei and Hsinchu twice, but this time I will also take a week to explore more of the country. Any food recommendations are more than welcome too.
On this note, if you have any recommendations for books about Taiwan or by Taiwanese writers, I would be most grateful.
Photography by Bois de Jasmin
20 Comments
Hilde: Hello Victoria
Is your book translated in Dutch?
I would like to buy your book for a gift to an older lady.
But she has never learned foreign languages. As myself she is Dutch speaking. She understands a bit English but she will not be able to read and understand your book completely.
Otherwise I will have to buy it in English and read it myself to tell her your story.
Best regards
Hilde June 28, 2024 at 10:01am
Victoria: Yes, it was translated in Dutch already. You can find the whole list here: https://boisdejasmin.com/book-victoria-belim
and here is the edition itself:
https://www.singeluitgeverijen.nl/de-arbeiderspers/boek/rode-sirenes/
Hope that your friend enjoys it. June 28, 2024 at 10:15am
Luka B: I’m so thrilled to know that you are going to Taiwan!
I’m Taiwanese Canadian living in Panama right now but will go to Taiwan in mid July to the end of August. Do you have events to meet your readers?
Taiwan is the paradise for food, but it depends on your personal preferences. Any food restrictions? (vegetarian? Kosher?….)
Also will you be exploreing some local perfume brands? I would love to read your opinion about them!
Enjoy your trip! June 28, 2024 at 10:49am
Victoria: There will be an event to meet my readers, so I really look forward to them. It will be on July 23rd, and I will post more details soon.
I eat absolutely everything and I like to try new things. In other words, I have no restrictions. June 28, 2024 at 11:20am
Victoria: I hope so. I don’t know much about Taiwanese perfume or beauty brands, so if anyone has recommendations, I’m happy to take notes. June 28, 2024 at 11:20am
Luka B: Sorry for the late reply. I’m preparing for my trip to Taiwan as well! Taiwanese are proud of their food, particularly the street food that you can get almost any time if the day. As a Taiwanese living overseas more than half of my life, food that I can’t replicate aboard is the quick stirred fry dishes, vegetarian dishes, the variety of soy products and fresh produce from local markets that you can actually smell the freshness. July 8, 2024 at 11:19am
Sandra Huang: Taiwanese is famous for street food ,
There are various night market to explore , ask for pork chop over rice , rice triangle wrap with bamboo leaf , mat ball soup, toass noddles , hot pot , shaved ice , beef noodles soup , pop corn chicken. Boba tea ……
If u have car go to tai Lu ge
https://collectingexp.com/exploring-the-grand-canyon-of-taiwan/
Or Taipei for hot spring June 28, 2024 at 3:27pm
Victoria: Thank you very much! My mouth is already watering. June 29, 2024 at 3:27am
Sandra h: Try the perfume
Formosa beau tea June 28, 2024 at 3:28pm
Victoria: Thank you! June 29, 2024 at 3:27am
Sandra Huang: Taiwanese is famous for street food ,
There are various night market to explore , ask for pork chop over rice , rice triangle wrap with bamboo leaf , mat ball soup, toass noddles , hot pot , shave ice , beef noodles soup ,
If u have car go to tai Lu ge
https://collectingexp.com/exploring-the-grand-canyon-of-taiwan/ June 28, 2024 at 3:31pm
Victoria: I’m making a list! June 29, 2024 at 3:28am
Zazie: Congratulations for your Chinese edition!
I don’t have any recommendations about Taiwan, but cannot recommend your book to your Taiwanese readers warmly enough: so interesting, moving, captivating… it still haunts me after many weeks of turning its last page.
You’re an amazing writer, Victoria. June 29, 2024 at 6:10am
Victoria: Thank you very much for your kind words! It means so much to me. June 29, 2024 at 9:45am
OnWingsofSaffron: Great news, dear Victoria!
I finished reading your book sometime last winter, and it still resonates in me.
I am thrilled for you that your book has been translated into Chinese! Will it be legible for Mainland Chinese? If so, I hope it may make its way there.
Best wishes June 29, 2024 at 10:07am
Victoria: Thank you very much!
My husband’s colleagues from the mainland read it, and while some characters were a struggle, they said that could follow it without difficulties. June 29, 2024 at 10:11am
Lori: I JUST came back from Taiwan after a week of stretching my stomach to the limits!
My favorite foods hands down were mango milk shaved ice and papaya milk. Papaya milk you can probably find in most night markets, look for stands that add a lot of papaya (honestly the more the better), but if you let it sit for too long before drinking it turns bitter and icky. One thing you absolutely have to have (even if you’ve already had) is sliced fresh guava coated in sour plum powder.
盐酥鸡 is also really a good savory street food option! The name says chicken but its really just fried stuff, highly suggest adding radish cakes and blood-rice-cakes. Sesame oil chicken noodles (麻油鸡面) was also one of my faves!
Taiwanese convenience stores (7 11 especially) also have a lot of interesting snacks, although I have no idea what they are in English. The riceballs were surprisingly good.
If you’re into makeup, cosmed is like asian ver. discount Sephora and stuff there is typically pretty discounted.
Hope you have fun!! July 1, 2024 at 5:47am
Victoria: Thank you very much for these wonderful recommendations, Lori! So helpful. July 2, 2024 at 10:16am
Nose Prose: Not sure if you tried it the last times you were there, but stinky tofu is great. There are different kinds, deep fried, boiled, or steamed, and they are usually topped with pickled cabbage with carrots, chili peppers, and garlic. Easy to find at street stands. July 2, 2024 at 5:02pm
Victoria: I didn’t manage to try it on my last trip, but I really want to sample it this time. July 3, 2024 at 4:54am