Read Around Asia Challenge
Read at least one book by an author from each country in Asia.
Best books from Asia (1246)
951.
The Corsair by Abdulaziz Al-Mahmoud EN
QatarDescription:
It's the early part of the nineteenth century and the Arabian Peninsula and the waters surrounding it are ablaze. Piracy in the Gulf threatens global maritime trade routes while the Wahabbi strain of Islam is conquering followers town by town across the region. Britain, eager to reinforce its presence in the Middle East and protect the East India Company's ships, has a plan: send a man-of-war from England to quash the pirates while persuading Egypt to join an international alliance with Oman and Persia to fight the Wahabbis. At the center of it all lies a priceless Indian sword, a gift from th... continue
952.
The Girl Who Fell to Earth : A Memoir by Sophia Al-Maria EN
Description:
Award-winning filmmaker and writer Sophia Al-Maria’s The Girl Who Fell to Earth is a funny and wry coming-of-age memoir about growing up in between American and Gulf Arab cultures. With poignancy and humor, Al-Maria shares the struggles of being raised by an American mother and Bedouin father while shuttling between homes in the Pacific Northwest and the Middle East. Part family saga and part personal quest, The Girl Who Fell to Earth traces Al-Maria’s journey to make a place for herself in two different worlds.
953.
Crops : Anthology of Qatari short stories by Kalthm Jabr, Dalal Khalifa, et al. EN
Description:
This collection of Qatari short stories was edited by Dr. Amir Al-Azab and translated by Samar Hammood Alchichakli.
954.
Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsanea EN
Country: Asia / 
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
Description:
“Alsanea's wisdom and insight into the female experience seem surreal. She captures the core, universal truths of the complications in finding and holding a life partner. Her characters provide wisdom to each other that are astounding in their accuracy, and Alsanea thus speaks for countless women everywhere.” —Bookreporter.com When Rajaa Alsanea boldly chose to open up the hidden world of Saudi women—their private lives and their conflicts with the traditions of their culture—she caused a sensation across the Arab world. Now in English, Alsanea’s tale of the personal struggles of four young up... continue
955.
My Thousand and One Nights : A Novel of Mecca by Raja Alem EN
Country: Asia / Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
Description:
The distinguished Middle Eastern author Raja Alem grew up in Mecca at a time when the holy city was on the cusp of changing from medieval to modern. In this vanished Mecca, vividly brought to life again in My Thousand and One Nights, women hold center stage—especially Jummo, the wildly passionate daughter of the Water Carriers’ Sheik. This faraway time and setting become compellingly real as we follow the intimate drama of Jummo’s life, the tragic arc of her affair with her childhood sweetheart and her lifelong love for the mysterious Sidi Wadhana, a more-than-human emissary from the Netherwor... continue
956.
My Past Is a Foreign Country : A Muslim Feminist Finds Herself by Zeba Talkhani EN
Country: Asia / Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
Description:
'Brilliant and brutally honest, this memoir ropes you in with every page. The intimacy that Zeba evokes will remind you of your own sister opening her heart to you.' Meena Kandasamy, author of When I Hit You, shortlisted for The Women's Prize 28-year-old Zeba Talkhani charts her experiences growing up in Saudi Arabia amid patriarchal customs reminiscent of The Handmaid's Tale, and her journey to find freedom in India, Germany and the UK. Talkhani offers a fresh perspective on living as an outsider and examines her relationship with her mother and the challenges she faced when she experienced h... continue
957.
Daring to Drive : A Saudi Woman’s Awakening by Manal Sharif EN
Country: Asia / Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
Description:
A memoir by a Saudi Arabian woman who became the unexpected leader of a movement to support women's rights describes how fundamentalism influenced her radical religious beliefs until her education, a job, and legal contradictions changed her perspectives.
958.
The Others by Seba Al-Herz, Ṣabā Ḥirz EN
Country: Asia / Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
Description:
A daring literary debut from Saudi Arabia reveals the secret world of a sexually rebellious woman.
959.
Country: Asia / Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
Description:
Játim es un relato que mantiene una sólida conexión con el lugar, la ciudad santa de La Meca. Se sitúa en un periodo poco delimitado, que puede ser a comienzos del siglo XX. En cualquier caso, es antes de que el Reino de Arabia Saudí surgiera como tal después de haberse independizado de Turquía. Es una novela con apariencia realista cuyo entramado se teje entre la realidad, la magia, la memoria colectiva, las prácticas religiosas, el simbolismo y las ambigüedad. En Játim se manifiesta una bisexualidad que le permite atravesar todas las barreras establecidas para separar a los sexos: la calle, ... continue
960.
The Green Bicycle by Haifaa al Mansour EN
Country: Asia / Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
Description:
Dreamer. Rebel. Hero. Wadjda has one simple wish - to race her friend Abdullah on her very own bicycle. But in Saudi Arabia, it is considered improper for girls to ride bikes and her parents forbid her from having one. Sick of playing by the rules, Wadjda schemes different ways to make money and buy the bike herself. But freedom comes at a high price . . . Set against the shifting social attitudes of the Middle East, The Green Bicycle explores gender roles, conformity, and the importance of family, all with wit and irresistible heart.