5 Must-Read Books By Asian Authors

By Melody Chi on January 29, 2015

Image via Az on flickr.com

These are a handful of, in my opinion, the best novels written by Asian authors. The books are in no particular order, so the only problem you should have is deciding which to read first.

1. “So Far From the Bamboo Grove” by Yoko Kawashima Watkins

This novel was one of my favorites growing up, and I still consider it a great book by a masterful Asian author. I don’t think that’s just nostalgia speaking.

This autobiographical novel details one Japanese family’s perilous flight from Korea back to Japan during World War II, when Korea invaded Japan. The protagonist, the youngest daughter in the family, grows up before your eyes as she has to support her family members and her own spirit, even after arriving to relative safety.

Don’t get me wrong: this book can be a tough read at times just because of the subject matter, which touches on war violence, horrific deaths and grief over both of these.

However, it’s also a very uplifting story. Each family member goes through their own individual struggles, but the family pulls together out of love and devotion to one another.

There’s also a sequel: “My Brother, My Sister, and I.”

2. “The Reluctant Fundamentalist” by Mohsin Hamid

You might find it strange that I include a book by a Pakistani author on this list, but South Asian authors are also classified under “Asian” in my mind.

Okay, moving on. This book was one that I was introduced to in college, but don’t let that deter you. I actually found this book to be captivating!

This novel begins right before the September 11 attacks in New York happen and continues afterward. The protagonist provides a glimpse into how it feels to be a young Pakistani man in the fearful, anti-Middle Eastern environment of post-9/11 America.

There’s more to it than just that, of course, but I don’t want to spoil anything.

As a side note, I also love the title because it’s actually a play on words. The protagonist works for a consultancy firm that tells him to focus on “the fundamentals” of business, but there is also the question of whether he is becoming a religious fundamentalist as the book goes on.

All I can say is don’t let the seemingly heavy subject matter drive you away, either. The book is written in teasing, lighthearted prose that doesn’t shove conclusions in your face, but rather lets you draw your own conclusions that are sometimes funny, creepy, or both.

Anyway, just trust me, this is one read you don’t want to miss!

3. “Never Let Me Go” by Kazuo Ishiguro

I have to admit, this book wasn’t my cup of tea, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t well-written and completely worthy of its many accolades.

“Never Let Me Go” is a new kind of clone story that moves away from the standard clone-rebellion narratives. Instead, Kathy (the main protagonist) and her friends grow up at Hailsham, a British boarding school, knowing that they’re essentially going to be used as live organ donors when they reach young adulthood.

And I don’t really think I’m spoiling anything when I say that none of the clones in the book ever choose to rail against their fates in a huge uprising, and this is heartbreaking yet strangely fits the novel’s wistful feeling.

The book addresses the common cloning questions of what it means to be alive and have a soul, yet in a non-traditional way. And while there is debate over whether this novel should technically be classified as science fiction or not, both fans of sci-fi and those who don’t prefer it can like this story.

4. “Half of a Yellow Sun” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Side note: this might be moving into what is sometimes classified as Afro-Eurasia, but this novel is so good that I felt it deserved to be on this list of books by authors of color.

Okay, I don’t know why most of the novels on this list are depressing at some point or another along the story (maybe because the best stories are ones with the full range of emotion invoked?), but this one is definitely no exception.

“Half of a Yellow Sun” is a fictional account of a real event: the fight for the Republic of Biafra’s independence from Nigeria.

“Where the heck is Biafra?” you may inquire. Well, I’m glad you asked. Biafra was an African state within Nigeria that existed as a separate state from only 1967-1970, after which they rejoined Nigeria.

Quick fact of the day: the devastating civil war in Biafra/Nigeria, which was made worse by the fact that several aid-giving countries’ medical forces had to pull out, actually prompted the formation of Doctors Without Borders, the international humanitarian organization.

Anyway, back to the story. The book focuses on one unconventional Biafran family and how they struggle to survive the war, as well as how they change and learn about what’s truly important in life along the way.

Even more than No. 1 on this list, however, this book deals with mortality, war violence (including sexual violence that some might find extremely difficult to read), and other potentially objectionable content. If you can stomach all of that, though, this read can change your life.

5. “Native Speaker” by Chang-Rae Lee

You’ll be happy to know that this book is probably the least emotionally scarring of all of the books on this list. It focuses on a fictional Korean-American man named Henry Park, who is used as a vehicle to bring up a lot of the issues that Asian Americans commonly experience, such as how to balance both their American and Asian heritages.

Now, this book might sound boring, but there’s more: Henry is actually a spy.

I caught your attention, I see! Okay, so he’s not exactly James Bond, but his job in the story is still to spy on a prominent Korean-American politician. This becomes complicated when Park (and the reader, to be honest) starts to genuinely like his target as a person.

Now, I won’t spoil anything else for you, but like the other books on this list, you definitely shouldn’t give this one a pass.

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