My therapist has suggested I start reading more books from different cultures it doesn’t matter why lol. She said I might connect with Chinese lit is there any strong character driven novels that you’ve enjoyed? Or any foreign literature that opened your eyes to a way of life that is different from my urban Canadian life?
by samwheller
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A Hero Born by Jin Yong
If you’re looking specifically for Chinese literature, I think Wild Swans is the one I see most commonly read in English-speaking nations.A great generational story that really leaves an impact. If you enjoyed it, Pachinko does largely the same if you want to read about Koreans living in Japan
I just finished The lotus shoes by Jane Yang and it was really good imo! The mountain sings (my fav book ever!!!) + Dust child by Nguyen Phan Que Mai. The girl I left behind by Shusaku Endo. Human acts by Han Kang. Been on an asian litt kick this year lol
“Red Sorghum” by Mo Yan gives a look into what China was like during some terrible times. It is pretty harsh, but definitely will put you into that culture.
“Waiting” by Ha Jin is more of a character novel.
your therapist is nuts… Chinese lit isn’t that different really. Now, African literature… every book is from a different culture, and you’ll be able to tell, too.
Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart (and also Arrow of God) (Nigeria) (a legend)
Mongo Beti, The Poor Christ of Bomba (and also Cruel City) (Cameroon) (I actually liked Cruel City better, but the other one is more famous)
Paulina Chiziane, The First Wife (Mozambique) (absolutely hilarious)
David Diop, At Night All Blood is Black (France/Senegal) (pretty unforgettable)
NoViolet Bulawayo, Glory and also We Need New Names (Zimbabwe) (where I got my user name)
Doris Lessing, The Grass is Singing and also The Golden Notebook (she’s technically from Zimbabwe but she’s actually culturally British, so actually not much of a culture clash, sorry)
Kaouther Adimi, Our Riches (Algeria) (just a poem to Algeria, lovely and wonderful)
Buchi Emecheta, Second Class Citizen (Nigeria again), lots of melodrama if you like that
Nadine Gordimer, July’s People and also The Conservationist (South Africa) (from the late 80s, when South Africa was in the midst of its anti-apartheid struggle, and pretty interesting, I thought)
Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, Let’s Tell This Story Properly (Uganda) (related stories about the life of Ugandan ex-pats both in the UK and at home)
[The Fat Years](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fat_Years)