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Good morning,
And welcome to the Cultural Reads Newsletter with worldwide book, music, and movie recommendations.
In today’s newsletter: Surviving Syrian Prison, Bahian Culture, Vietnam War, Madonna in a Fur Coat, Psychedelic Cumbia & Travel Tips for 55+.
Did you know that the biggest black population outside of Africa is in Salvador da Bahia in Brazil?
Bahia is also the birthplace of Capoeira, incredible Brazilian singers like Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil, and famous authors like Jorge Amado.
Here is why you need to know about Bahia!
Vietnam was one of the first wars with broad media attention.
The conflict took almost 20 years, with 58,000 deaths on the American side and between 1-3 million on the Vietnamese side.
What happened exactly?
In this post, you’ll find the 10 best books about the Vietnam War from both sides.
Are you looking for a romantic novel to sweep you away?
Then you should check out Madonna in a Fur Coat by one of the best Turkish authors.
A shy young man leaves his home in rural Turkey to learn a trade in 1920s Berlin. When he comes across an astonishing female self-portrait in an art gallery, he decides to find the woman who will haunt him for the rest of his life.
What’s it like to spend 3 years in the Syrian prison?
Find out through the story of Omar Alshogre on the Sarde podcast, who was arrested for criticizing the regime.
My friend Jenny created a handy guide, 5 Steps to Packing Your Carry-on Bag for Travelers 55+, to help you prepare for your next trip.
She leads tours in Cuba and Colombia, so she’s well-practiced at living out of her carry-on.
You might like it! Click on this link to grab the guide.
PS: I’m not sure how long Jenny will have this available. Grab it now before it’s gone.
Who would have thought that mixing cumbia music and psychedelic rock was a good idea?
Some bands, like Los Destellos, did, creating a new genre during the 60s and 70s.
Are you interested in learning more? Check out this Spotify playlist and this YouTube mix.
