Read Around Asia Challenge
Read at least one book by an author from each country in Asia.
Best books from Asia (1406)
1071.
The Woman Who Had Two Navels and Tales of the Tropical Gothic by Nick Joaquin EN
Country: Asia / 
Philippines
Philippines
Description:
Celebrating the centennial of his birth, the first-ever U.S. publication of Philippine writer Nick Joaquin’s seminal works, with a foreword by PEN/Open Book Award–winner Gina Apostol A New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice Nick Joaquin is widely considered one of the greatest Filipino writers, but he has remained little-known outside his home country despite writing in English. Set amid the ruins of Manila devastated by World War II, his stories are steeped in the post-colonial anguish and hopes of his era and resonate with the ironic perspectives on colonial history of Gabriel García Már... continue
1072.
Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco EN
Country: Asia / Philippines
Philippines
Description:
Full of court intrigue, queer romance, and terrifying monsters—this gothic epic fantasy will appeal to fans of Samantha Shannon’s The Priory of the Orange Tree and the adult animated series Castlevania. Remy Pendergast is many things: the only son of the Duke of Valenbonne (though his father might wish otherwise), an elite bounty hunter of rogue vampires, and an outcast among his fellow Reapers. His mother was the subject of gossip even before she eloped with a vampire, giving rise to the rumors that Remy is half-vampire himself. Though the kingdom of Aluria barely tolerates him, Remy’s father... continue
1073.
Pearls of the Past by Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar EN
QatarDescription:
Happily ever after begins now for Abdulla and Sangita, the unlikely duo who met by chance in a London apartment. Married life holds more than they bargained for with the pressures of living amongst his extended family.Hind has made good on her aspirations to work in the foreign service in India as an independent woman. Except loneliness dogs her every step.And young Luluwa, once a teenager infatuated with her dead sister's husband, is growing up quickly. When a deep family secret comes to light, she will have to find a way to bring them together to overcome the dark forces.Readers will lose th... continue
1074.
The Corsair by Abdulaziz Al-Mahmoud EN
Description:
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
1075.
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.
1076.
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.
1077.
Calling Magic by Kummam Al-Maadeed EN
Description:
Tia, the most powerful young witch of her time, flees the Court of Wizards and the magicians determined to control her, seeking a new life in the prosperous city of Paiza. There, as the assistant to a flamboyant court magician, she finds friendship and comfort brewing potions, learning new spells and exploring the gadget-filled city. But the king of Paiza, with his captivating grey eyes and mysterious purple ring, holds an inexplicable sway over her. When Paiza comes under threat, will Tias identity and extraordinary powers remain hidden? An enchanting tale of magic and adventure, with Tia, as... continue
1078.
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
1079.
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
1080.
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