I am unexpectedly on bed rest and then restricted activity for months due to pregnancy complications. I work professionally in books and am somehow pulling an absolute blank on what to read to keep my mind off worst case scenarios. As I work with books I'm looking for obscure and older titles–I would really love books not by USA-based authors. translations are highly welcomed! I'm also up for ARCs.
Nothing about pregnancy, child death, or maternal mortality please, lol.
I really love sub-Saharan African and Southern Asian literature. Would adore recs from there but am happy to go anywhere outside the USA!
by SwampyMesss
6 Comments
Listen to project hail mary audiobook its 16 whole
Hours and the narration is amazing
I’ve been loving Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche lately, Americanah is partially based in the US but from a Nigerian perspective. Half of a Yellow Sun is a lot darker, no pregnancy storylines directly but bad things do happen including to children.
Her books are long, and completely enveloping, you fully feel like you’re in her world, her writing is beautiful.
Have you read My Sister, the Serial Killer
by Oyinkan Braithwaite? It’s a dark comedic thriller set in Nigeria.
Try books by Frederik Backman – he takes care of your heart. See also Leif Enger
**Books by and about South Asians:**
1. The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri (fantasy)
2. A Touch of Blood by Sajni Patel (fantasy, coming of age)
3. Much Ado About Nada by Uzma Jalaluddin (romance, Persuasion retelling) – this author’s other romances are really good, too
4. You Can’t Be Serious by Kal Penn (memoir, recommend the audiobook)
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**Other books worth checking out:**
1. The Red Palace by June Hur (murder mystery in 18th century Korea)
2. I’ll Stop the World by Lauren Thoman (coming of age, mystery, bit of time travel)
3. The Night Eaters by Marjorie M. Liu (horror but not scary, funny, family dynamics)
4. The World Record Book of Racist Stories by Amber Ruffin (funny memoir, recommend the audiobook)
5. Chloe and the Kaishao Boys by Mae Coyiuto (coming of age, romance, Chinese-Filipino culture)
6. Give Me a Sign by Anna Sortino (coming of age, romance, deaf culture)
7. Throwback my Maurene Goo (coming of age, mother-daughter relationships, light and sweet, time travel)
8. Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong (mystery in 1930s Shanghai, spies and assassins, some fantasy, some romance)
I’m currently reading the Man Who Died Seven Times which is translated from Japanese