I love to read books from different countries; they help me broaden my knowledge and understanding of different cultures and I also find it really comforting to confirm that, underneath all the variety in the world, we are universally driven by the same dreams and struggle with the same fears.
This forum has a wealth of cultural diversity and I thought it would be interesting to share our top favourite books from our country. They can be classics but I would also love contemporary ones.
I will start with a selection of 3 but happy to add more if you anyone is interested.
Although most people will know it, I have to mention the all time acclaimed Don Quixote of La Mancha, by Cervantes. It is the most translated book in Spanish.
The frozen heart, by Almudena Grandes. She died recently and was not able to complete her series of novels about the Spanish civil war. Itâs fiction but they have lots of real historical references.The frozen heart is not part of the series but I chose it because itâs probably more interesting for someone not familiar enough with that part of Spanish history.
Retrospective, by Juan Gabriel Vasquez. Heâs a Colombian writer. This book is also a novel but itâs an amazing true story. Starting in Spain, moving to Colombia and then Maoâs China. The facts are fascinating and thereâs plenty of food for thought regarding beliefs, parenthood and human relations.
I am looking forward to contributions from everywhere.
Hi @Newpetlover, this is such a lovely thread! Since youâre looking for contributions from everywhere, Iâve pulled together a selection of quintessential Australian books across a few genresâmixing classics and contemporary reads.
Fiction / Literary Classics
My Brilliant Career â A classic coming-of-age novel exploring a young womanâs independence in late 19th-century rural Australia.
Cloudstreet â A modern Australian classic capturing the lives of two working-class families in Perth over two decades. Full of warmth, humour, and heartache.
Historical / Social
The Secret River â Historical fiction about early colonial settlers and their interactions with Aboriginal Australians. A thought-provoking look at identity, belonging, and the moral conflicts of history.
Crime / Mystery
The Dry â A gripping modern thriller set in drought-stricken rural Victoria, blending suspense with a strong sense of place and community.
Contemporary / Diverse Voices
Carpentaria â A powerful Aboriginal narrative weaving myth, politics, and contemporary life in northern Australia. Winner of the Miles Franklin Award.
The Yield â Explores language, culture, and reconciliation through a story connecting past and present in the Wiradjuri community.
Children / Young Adult
Tomorrow, When the War Began â A YA series about resilience, friendship, and survival, beloved across generations in Australia.
Yep â âThe Dryâ is a novel by Jane Harper (her 2016 mystery set in rural Australia) and it was adapted into an Australian movie that came out around the end of 2020 / start of 2021. The film stars Eric Bana as Aaron Falk and follows the bookâs crime story.
If you loved The Lost Man, lots of folks enjoy The Dry too â and the movie keeps that Aussie outback mystery vibe going.
My country is the U.S., so most folks probably have access to our books. Iâll share some below that I particularly liked.
I like a lot of Indian and Japanese books as well, which I read translated to English. Plus, ones from China, but few have been translated for wide distribution. I have decades-old ones I bought abroad that are split, so thereâs one side in Chinese and the other in English, but Iâve never seen such sold in the West.
Good topic. Although I live in US I was born in India.
My recommendations: (published in English and in no specific order)
A Fine Balance, Rohinton Mistry. Fictional book set in an unnamed Indian City during The Emergency of 1975 which follows four strangers as they navigate poverty and political turmoil. Read with a box of tissues handy.
The God of Small Things, Arunduthi Roy. Fictional story of two twin girls after the arrival of their British cousin, set in 1960âs Kerela.
Midnightâs Children, Salman Rushdie. A boy is born at the strike of midnight on the day of independence. The magical story follows the boy as the country navigates through independence and partition.
The White Tiger, Aravind Adiga. A story about the underprivileged class in an increasingly modernizing India.
On a different note, when I travel I love to pick up cookbooks and have a nice collection going. I love one I recently picked up from Charleston, South Carolina.
Thanks so much. They all look promising. I think the only Australian book that I have read is The Slap, by Christos Tsiolkas. I learnt about it on the BBC world book club but your list is exactly what I was looking for.
When I go travelling I try only to read books by native authors or books set in the countries Iâm travelling in as itâs such a great way of learning about the history, politics and culture etc of the countries. Of the many authors I read while travelling in Australia I particularly enjoyed Geraldine Brooks (Australian-American) and have read them all. I discovered Alan Duffâs work in New Zealand. Heâs a MÄori and his most famous book is âOnce Were Warriorsâ, part one of a trilogy and made into a film. Not an easy read nor viewing.
I read all those books mentioned by @Felinelover while travelling in India years ago and loved them.
I spent 3 months travelling/housesitting in Ireland last year which has some fabulous authors such as Maggie OâFarrell (I love all her books, âHamnetâ being the most talked about atm), Claire Keegan, Sebastian Barry and Colm Toibin to name a few.
While travelling in Chile in November/December I read two of Isabel Allendeâs books, âThe House of the Spiritsâ and âThe Japanese Loverâ.
I always thought Maggie OâFarrell was British, she comes across as very British too. Just checked and found out she was born in Northern Ireland, so there is my answerâŚ
I donât read that many German books but for something funny, try the Miss Merkel series by David Safier. Cozy crime with former German chancellor Angela Merkel chasing murderers.
Irish authors that havenât been mentioned are Donal Ryan (gives great insight into life in Ireland) , Sheila OâFlanagan (writes about strong women), Sally Rooney (celebrated but a bit pretentious lately), and many others.
I think the most recent book I have read by an Irish writer is
Emma DonoghueâsThe wonder.
The Wonder explores 19th-century rural Ireland with great passion: the profound faith, prayer, superstition, ritual, corruption and collective madness of it all. ⌠Donoghue is a superb stylist â her prose is stirring and tender, her period setting alive.â â
Once were warriors is still one of my fave movies no matter how brutal it is. Alan Duffâs next book in the series âOne night out stealingâ is worth a read.
Witi Ihimaera-Whale Rider
A few on my NZ to read list: Kerry Hulme-Bone People, Janet Frame-An Angel at my table, Maurice Gee-Under the mountain
âOnce Were Warriorsâ had a big impact on me and, yes, it was brutal.
When in NZ, I discovered the Convict Girls fiction series by Deborah Challinor which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Some of my favourite Australian authors are Markus Zusak for his wonderful novel âThe Book Thiefâ; Chris Hammer (Martin Scarsden series of novels); Jane Harper (âThe Dryâ and many others); Kate Grenville (âThe Secret Riverâ and others); Kate Morton and Geraldine Brooks.
Thanks for your contribution. I find A hope in the unseenespecially appealing. I guess it reads like novel. Whatâs the time frame on which the story takes place?
, this is such a lovely thread! Since youâre looking for contributions from everywhere, Iâve pulled together a selection of quintessential Australian books across a few genresâmixing classics and contemporary reads.
â âThe Dryâ is a novel by Jane Harper (her 2016 mystery set in rural Australia) and it was adapted into an Australian movie that came out around the end of 2020 / start of 2021. The film stars Eric Bana as Aaron Falk and follows the bookâs crime story.
