One of the most inspiring things about books is their way of transporting you to a place and time you might not otherwise be able to experience. We’re highlighting 9 of our favorite international writers who will take you on a journey of a lifetime, entangle fact and fiction.
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The God of Small Things
Author: Arundhati Roy, India
Setting: India
Genre: Historical Fiction
The debut book of Arundhati Roy, “The God of Small Things” takes place in Kerala, India. It touches on complex family and cultural dynamics as well as “love laws” and forbidden love. It’s poignant, poetic, and portraying the ripple effect of the small decisions. Roy weaves the story together for readers through her non-sequential narrative, leading them to a deep pool to ponder beside.
The Book Thief
Author: Markus Zusak, Australia
Setting: Germany
Genre: Historical Fiction
Set in Nazi Germany and narrated by Death, this book is for those who don’t need a happy ending. Zusak toys with the idea of goodness and evil in this heartwrenching story about little Germany girl and her love for words. Those who appreciate good prose will also enjoy Zusak’s brilliant use of imagery.
Reading Lolita in Tehran
Author: Azar Nafisi, Iran
Setting: Iran
Genre: Memoir
This memoir steps into the living room of Azar Nafisi, an educator who teaches her young Iranian students the hope and beauty to be found in literature. As they study literary classics, the women also learn to see each other despite their different backgrounds.
One Hundred Years of Solitude
Author: Gabriel García Márquez, Colombia
Setting: Colombia
Genre: Magical Realism
This book shows the beauty of magical realism in the Latin American community. You can go on a fantastical journey into a beautiful, secluded village, where one family strives to create a place of utopia only to find that history plays out in cycles.
I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban
Author: Malala Yousafzai
Setting: Pakistan
Genre: Nonfiction Memoir
Malala Yousafzai, youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate, tells her story of refusing to be silenced. Shot in the head by the Taliban and miraculously surviving, Yousafzai is a representation of the power of hope and courage.
The Kite Runner
Author: Khaled Hosseini, Afghanistan
Setting: Afghanistan
Genre: Fiction
A tragic novel of two young boys in Kabul, The Kite Runner tells us what we already know: a life can unravel from one decision. The conflict between truth and lies, family and friendship will captivate you throughout this book.
Thirteen Months of Sunrise
Author: Rania Mamoun, Sudan
Setting: Sudan
Genre: Short Story Collection
A collection of short stories translated from Arabic, “Thirteen Months of Sunrise” gives readers a taste of Sudanese life through Mamoun’s poetic words. Her stories are sensual and melancholic, showing true Sudanese humanity.
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
Author: Haruki Murakami, Japan
Setting: Japan
Genre: Magical Realism
Looking to be caught in the world of magical realism again? Toru Okada, the main character of “The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle,” starts out looking for his cat, and then his wife, in Tokyo and discovers a whole other world tinged with the aftermath of World War II. The non-linear narrative of Murakami makes this book all the more mesmerizing.
Magdalena
Author: Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, Philippines
Setting: Philippines
Genre: Fiction
In Magdalena, Brainard tells the story of three different generations of Filipino women. Brainard leans over to readers and whispers about family secrets, forbidden love, cultural influences of the war in the Philippines.
Was there a book on this that you’ve read before? Did you add a few new books to your goodreads list? Let us know what you’re reading by tagging us on social media, and drop your book lists in the comments below.
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