Book cover of Finding Katya: How I Quit Everything to Backpack the Former Soviet States

Book description

Finding Katya is the inspiring and compelling story of one woman who ditches everything to embark on an unconventional adventure through the former Soviet Union.

On her 35th birthday, Katie Aune was at a crossroads. Still reeling from a difficult breakup and longing to find more meaning in her life,…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Finding Katya as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I enjoyed this memoir, lived by a solo female traveler exploring the former Soviet states. Her journey, driven by a search for meaning after profound loss, was inspiring. Many people are unfamiliar with the "Five Stans," better known as the Silk Road.

This book brought the region to life, highlighting its rich history and culture while detailing the challenges of securing visas and navigating remote areas. Her perseverance and vivid storytelling kept me turning the pages, and I now plan to visit the region next year.

If you love Finding Katya...

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December on 5C4 by Adam Strassberg,

Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa stories–all reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!

On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argue…

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