Books Set in Asia: Northern Countries

by Melissa Fu

Setting: CHINA, TAIWAN, USA

This novel follows three generations of a Chinese family as they search for a place to call home. In China in 1938, Meilin is a young wife with a bright future. But when the Japanese army approaches, she is forced to flee with her 4-year-old son Renshu. With nothing but an illustrated scroll that depicts ancient fables, As Meilin travels from rural China to Shanghai to Taiwan, these fables are interwoven into the novel.

Years later, Renshu has settled in the US under the name Henry Dao. Despite his daughter Lily's desire to understand her heritage, he refuses to share any information about his childhood. He believes that the only way to keep his family safe is to shield them from their history.

The Book Girls Say... While only about half of this book is set in Asia, readers say that they learned a great deal about China and Taiwan through the pages of this novel, which convinced us that we must add it to this list. This novel has been compared to epics like Pachinko (set in Korea and Japan, on this list) and The Mountains Sing (set in Vietnam, from our Southern Asia list) - both of which have been extremely popular with our readers, so we have a good feeling that you'll love Peach Blossom Spring!

by Lisa See

Setting: CHINA

The Akha people live in a remote mountain village of China, where for generations their lives have revolved around farming tea. Yi-lan is one of the few educated girls in the village, and everything begins to change for her when a stranger arrives at the village gate driving a jeep - the first automobile any of them have ever seen. Little by little, Li-yan begins to reject the customs of her village.

When Li-yan becomes pregnant out of wedlock, local tradition calls for her to give her child over to be killed. Instead, she flees to a nearby city where she leaves her baby at an orphanage. She then remains in the city and puts her experience and education to use by pursuing a career in the tea business outside of the fields.

Li-yan's daughter is adopted by loving American parents and is raised in a life of privilege in California. As she grows, she continues to wonder about her origins, and back in China the mother she never knew longs for her as well. The two remain connected across the continents by their family heritage of tea.

The Book Girls Say... Many readers have assumed that Lisa See would write a sequel to this modern historical fiction, but the author has stated in numerous interviews that no sequel is planned. Nonetheless, reviews consider this among the best fiction set in China, and it proved extremely popular among Book Girls' Guide readers during last year's Book Voyage Challenge.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
96% Would Recommend to a Friend  

by Soon Wiley

Setting: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA

This brand new release (publication date April 26, 2022) is a moving and suspenseful drama that provides a good look into contemporary Korean culture.

Min was born and raised in California by an American father and a Korean mother. Growing up, he always felt "too Korean" to fit in. When he takes a job working in Seoul, he looks forward to exploring his Korean heritage.

There he meets and begins dating Yu-jin, a happy, confident, and ambitious young woman who will soon graduate from university and embark on the future she's been dreaming of.

When Seoul police inform Min that Yu-jin has committed suicide, he's certain that can't be true, and he's determined to find out the truth. He soon learns that Yu-jin's life was much more complicated that she let on to him. Her father is a powerful government official, and she had a fraught friendship with her destructive roommate, So-ra.

This story is told in alternating chapters from both Min and Yu-lin's perspectives, As Min begins to doubt everything he thought he knew about Yu-jin, he is also forced to confront his own do a lot of soul-searching regarding his own bi-cultural identify.

The Book Girls Say... Early reviewers describe this book as an atmospheric read with vivid imagery that will transport you to heart of modern-day Seoul.

by Min Jin Lee

Setting: JAPAN AND KOREA

In the early 1900s, teenage Sunja meets a wealthy man near her seaside home in Korea and becomes pregnant, only to discover that the man is married. He attempts to buy her off, but she instead accepts another man's offer and follows him to Japan, where they are discriminated against both for being Korean and Christian.

Sunja's decision to leave her home, and reject her son's powerful father, sets the stage for this epic novel that follows four generations of a poor Korean immigrant family in 20th-century Japan. It is a history of one family and a political history of the relationship between Japanese and Koreans throughout the 1900s.

The Book Girls Say... This book is a bit slow to start and it can take some time to become familiar with all of the characters, but the investment pays off for most readers!

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
92% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Ana Johns

Setting: JAPAN

Japan, 1957. Naoko is a seventeen-year-old girl whose family has prearranged a marriage for her that will secure their family's status. But Naoko wants to marry for love, and she's fallen for an American sailor. When her family finds out that she is pregnant with the sailor's child, she is cast out in disgrace and forced to make an unimaginable choice.

In present-day America, Tori finds a letter that contains a shocking revelation. In her quest to learn the truth, she travels to a remote seaside village in Japan.

Drawing upon the experiences of the author's father, this historical fiction is is based on the true stories of a little-known era in Japanese and American history. Although this is a dual timeline novel, the historical story takes center stage.

The Book Girls Say... This book is described as a mesmerizing and emotional read that will captivate your heart and transport you back in time to post-war Japan.

by Hazel Gaynor

Setting: CHINA

If you love WWII historical fiction, then of all the books set in China, this novel may be the one for you! Inspired by true events, this novel will introduce you to an aspect of the war that you've likely never learned about before - the Japanese Army's internment of teachers and children in China.

Teacher Elspeth Kent accepted a teaching position at a missionary school in northern China to escape an unhappy life back in England, but in December of 1941 she is eager to return home to help with the war effort. But before she's able to leave China, the Japanese Army declares war on Britain and America, Japanese forces take control of the school. Separated from their parents, the students turn to their teachers, including Ms. Kent, to seek comfort and safety. When the school community is sent to a distant internment camp, new dangers await them.

The Book Girls Say... While this book is not classified as a YA, half of the story is told from the perspective of a young schoolgirl, and as a result, some of the difficulties of war are told with a softer tone than in other WWII novels. This book may be a good pick if you are looking for a title that will still give you all the feels (keep your tissues handy), without being quite as heavy other WWII reads.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
96% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Hyeonseo Lee

Setting: NORTH KOREA

This North Korean book is the memoir of Hyeonseo Lee, who shares the harsh realities of growing up under the secretive and brutal communist regime. She was raised to believe that her home country was "the best on the planet," but the famine of the 1990s began to open her eyes. Her home was located near the Chinese border, which gave her small glimpses of the outside world that most of her fellow citizens never saw. That, combined with the poverty and starvation they suffered for years, allowed her to realize that she and her family had been brainwashing by her government.

At age seventeen, Lee decided to escape North Korea. She details her terrifying struggle to avoid capture by the ruthless dictatorship. It then took more than a decade for her to reunite with her family and help guide them to freedom as well.

The Book Girls Say... The audiobook of The Girl With Seven Names is read by the author, which makes this a great choice to listen to. If you've already read this memoir, and you're interested in another memoir that reflects on life in North Korea from a different perspective, consider A River of Darkness (which is currently available free with Kindle Unlimited). Unlike Hyeonseo, who was born and raised under the totalitarian regime, Ishikawa was born in Japan and lived freely for many years before moving to North Korea at the age of thirteen. His father - a Korean national - relocated the family on the promise of job opportunities, better education, and a higher station in life. However, what they experienced was not the utopia they expected. Ishikawa paints a very vivid portrait of his thirty-six years trapped inside North Korea from the perspective one someone who understands what life is like on the outside.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Barbara Demick

Setting: NORTH KOREA

Award-winning journalist Barbara Demick has written one of the best books on North Korea that takes us deep inside the secretive country to shed light on what life is like under a repressive totalitarian regime. Her reporting follows six average North Korean citizens over the course of a fifteen-year period that covers the death of Kim Il-sung, the rise to power of Kim Jong-il, and the famine that killed one-fifth of the North Korean population.

Life looks very different in a country that is not connected to the Internet, where radios and tvs are limited to one government-controlled station, and where you can be punished for showing affection, yet in some ways the human experience is also the same.

Unlike many other books about life in North Korea, Demick's work allows us to see these six North Koreans through the everyday experiences of falling in love and raising families. However, we also see them struggling for survival, and one by one they experience moments when they realize that their government has betrayed them.

The Book Girls Say... This book was published in 2009, and therefore reflects life in North Korea under the rule of Kim Jong-il, who passed away in 2011 and was then replaced by his son Kim Jong-un.

Also keep in mind that the book is written by a journalist, and therefore stories are told from a matter-of-fact perspective, making this one a bit less enjoyable in audiobook format compared to The Girl with Seven Names, which is a memoir read by the author herself.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
87% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Weina Dai Randel

Setting: SHANGHAI, CHINA

Set in 1940 in Japanese-occupied Shanghai, this book will take you deep into the impoverished streets of the city to the electrifying jazz clubs. Aiyi Shao is a young heiress and the owner of a formerly glamorous nightclub called. Ernest Reismann is a Jewish refugee from Germany who is penniless and searching for shelter in a city that is not welcoming to strangers.

When Aiyi hires Ernest to play piano at her club, her act of defiance causes a stir throughout the city, catapulting Ernest to instant fame and making Aiyi's club once again a hotspot in Shanghai.

Brought together by music, Aiyi and Ernest find that the passion they share goes beyond Jazz, but their differences will continue to drive them apart.

This dual timeline historical fiction novel is both a love story and a story of Chinese survival during wartime occupation.

The Book Girls Say... As we've traveled the globe via the Book Voyage Challenge, we've discovered so many stories about WWII beyond those set in Europe. Prior to discovering this book, we were not aware that Shanghai was a safe harbor for European Jews during the early years of the war (nearly 20,000 Jews settled in Shanghai from 1938 to 1941), nor that the living conditions for these refugees drastically declined over the course of the war years under Japanese occupation. The author includes a list of further reading at the end of the book if you are interested in learning even more about life in Shanghai during WWII.

The Kindle and audiobook versions of this book are currently available free with Kindle Unlimited.

by Quan Barry

Setting: MONGOLIA

Set in modern-day Mongolia, a Buddhist monk and his identical twin brother (who has renounced his monastic life in favor of western ways) set out on a quest to find the next great lama. As they travel across the beautiful and varied landscape, from the Gobi Desert to the ancient capital of Chinggis Khan, the brothers - who can hear each others thoughts - contemplate questions of the immortal soul, as well as more earthly matters, such of love, sex, and brotherhood.

Through this novel, the author includes a lot of details about Mongolia's geography, culture, and history, and also also provides readers a education of Buddhism. It provides a "stunningly far-flung examination of our individual struggle to retain faith and discover meaning in a fast-changing world, and a paean to Buddhist acceptance of what simply is."

The Book Girls Say... If you've read Quan Barry's 2020 novel, We Ride Upon Sticks (about a field hockey team in the 1980s), you'll find this to be a very different type of novel. Some early reviewers of this new release say they found the writing style a bit strange at first, but most grew to love it and describe this novel as unique and mesmerizing. The book is written in very short sections (some just 1 to 4 pages) which makes it easy to pick up and put down again despite the profound subject matter.

by Jackie Copleton

Setting: JAPAN

Amaterasu Takahashi lost her daughter and grandson in 1945 when the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Nagasaki. So imagine her disbelief when, 40 years later, a man knocks on the door of her Philadelphia home, claiming to be her grandson. He is badly scarred and has in his possession a collection of sealed private letters.

Ama now finds herself face to face with the painful memories from the years before WWII - memories of her the daughter she tried too hard to protect and the love affair that drove them apart, and memories of her own younger years pouring sake at a hostess bar where Ama first learned that a soft heart was a dangerous thing.

Along with the memories, Ama must confront the painful family secrets that she tried to leave behind when she fled Japan all those years ago.

The Book Girls Say... Although this book starts in the United States, it's very much a story about Japan, and one that will fully immerse you in the Japanese culture.

The audiobook version is currently free with Audible Plus. Although, you may prefer the printed copy in order to see and better understand the Japanese words used throughout.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
93% Would Recommend to a Friend

by William Andrews

Setting: SOUTH KOREA

When Anna's adopted mother passes away, she decides to travel to Korea to track down her birth mother. At the orphanage, she's devasted to learn that her birth mother is also already gone.

Then, a stranger hands Anna a package containing an antique comb and an address. She's lead to the home of Hong Jae-hee, who shares her family history, which includes the Japanese occupation of Korea during WW2. Jae-hee was one of the 200,000 Korean women forced to serve Japanese soldiers as "comfort women".

While this challenging story is fiction, it's based on the true events of little-known comfort women. The treatment of these women was horrific, and their stories must be shared instead of buried.

The Book Girls Say... After adopting a daughter from Korea, the author was inspired to research more about the countries history. He learned so much that this book is the first in a three-part series. In addition to providing lots of information about the lives and struggles of comfort women, this novel also provides historical context for how Korea came to be two separate countries.

If you prefer audiobooks, keep in mind that the audio version this one is exclusive to Audible, so you won't find in via Libby or any other library apps.

The Kindle and audiobook versions are currently free with Kindle Unlimited.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
100% Would Recommend to a Friend  

by Emily Itami

Setting: TOKYO, JAPAN

At the age of sixteen, Mizuki's father sent her to NYC for a year of study at an American high school. When she returns home, she finds it hard to accept the cultural constraints of life in her rural Japanese province and she begins to struggle in school.

Years later, Mizuki is a housewife and a mother of two living in a beautiful Tokyo high-rise apartment. It's everything she is supposed to want, but her husband works long hours and as she deals with the highs and lows of raising children alone, she finds herself wondering if she ever consciously chose this life.

One night, Mizuki meets Kiyoshi, a successful restauranteur. With him, she rediscovers freedom, friendship, and the neon, electric pulse of Tokyo that she has always loved. Soon she finds herself leading a double life and she'll be forced to choose one.

The Book Girls Say... Author Emily Itami grew up in Tokyo before moving to London, and she paints a vivid picture of modern life in Tokyo, filled with bright lights and noisy details. As one reviewer puts it, "Itami captures the magic of Tokyo and makes it part of the couple’s relationship, complete with cherry blossoms, tiny bars, and excellent food,"

Having been raised in Japan also allows Itami to carefully examine the line between insider and outsider in Japanese culture. At just over 200 pages, this is a very short book, but the writing style is direct, provocative, and darkly funny and readers say that the story is not missing anything for its length.

by Kirsty Manning

Setting: CHINA

In the late 1930s, China welcomed Jewish Europeans trying to flee Hilter. In this book, one of those refugees, Romy, meets a local, Li, and the young girls develop a quick friendship. You'll feel like you're in Shanghai as the girls explore the city together. Unfortunately, the realities of World War II begin to overshadow their friendship.

You'll also meet Alexandra, a British girl who visits her grandparents, Romy and Wilhelm, in Australia in 2016. As she learns about her family history, she's compelled to visit Shanghai herself, determined to understand more.

Family secrets, friendship, and courage fill the pages of this split-timeline book. It also shares the little-known history of Jewish refugees who fled to Shanghai and the effects of Japanese control of China during the way.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
100% Would Recommend to a Friend  

by Sarah Kuhn

Setting: KYOTO, JAPAN

Kimi is a high school student who aspires to attend art school. Her mother is a well-known painter who wants Kimi to follow in her fine art footsteps, but Kimi has become much more drawn to fashion design - a field that her mother strongly disapproves of.

After an explosive fight with her mom, Kimi receives a letter from her estranged Japanese grandparents inviting her to visit them in Kyoto for spring break. Even though she's never met them, she sees it as the perfect opportunity to escape her troubles at home.

When she arrives in Japan, the cultural customs and language and completely familiar to her - as are her grandparents. Soon she discovers that inspiration is everywhere - from Kyoto's outdoor markets, art installations, and the cherry blossom festival. She meets a young man named Akira - an aspiring med student - who helps to show her even more of the city.

As the week goes on, Kimi gets to know her grandparents and leans so much more about both her mother back in America, herself, and her art.

The Book Girls Say... This sweet YA novel will completely immerse you in the sights, sounds, scents, and tastes of Kyoto, Japan and have you planning a trip there yourself. When you need a break from books about heavier topics, this light-hearted book about self discovery and young romance is a delightful pick. Angela loved this book, and highly recommends it for fans of Jenna Evans Welch's Love & Gelato, Love & Luck, and Love & Olives. You'll want to plan a trip to Kyoto as soon as you turn the final page.

*This book was published in the US under the title Apples are from Kazakhstan, but it is currently easier to obtain under its UK title, In Search of Kazakhstan. Check both titles if using your local library.

by Christopher Robbins

Setting: KAZAKHSTAN

Despite being the 9th largest country in the world (by square miles), little is known about life in Kazakhstan. In this travel memoir, Christopher Robbins explores the hugely varied landscape, mixing in humor and history along the way. With topics ranging from apple orchards to gulags (labor camps), this book is the perfect primer on the country.

The Book Girls Say... This book focuses heavily on the the history of the region, without as much travel narrative and interaction with locals as you find in some travel memoirs.

There is also some criticism that the book highlights the positive aspects of then-President Nursultan Ábishuly Nazarbayev without giving the full picture, so additional research may be needed before forming a full opinion of him.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Ged Gillmore

Setting: KAZAKHSTAN, KYRGYZSTAN, TAJIKISTAN, TURKMENISTAN, and UZBEKISTAN

Do you enjoy offbeat travel memoirs and dry British wit? Stans by me will take you along author Ged Gillmore's trip through Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

He documents the landscapes and ancient traditions he encounters at each stop along the way. You'll feel like you've visited Central Asia by the time you're done reading, and may even add one or more of his destinations to your bucket list.

His travel companions from his bus tour are fascinating characters on their own and add another level to his stories.

The Book Girls Say... Our readers describe this travel memoir as both humorous and informative. You'll likely find yourself wishing this book included a map, as well as photos of many of the gorgeous sights he visits, so we suggest you keep the internet hand to pull up maps and images as you read.

This book is only available in eBook form.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐½
90% Would Recommend to a Friend  

by Erika Fatland

Setting: TURKMENISTAN, KAZAKHSTAN, TAJIKISTAN, KYRGYZSTAN, and UZBEKISTAN

While Stans By Me is a witty travelogue of a group travel tour, Sovietistan is a journalistic travel memoir of the same countries by Erika Fatland, a social anthropologist. Her journey is focused on discovering how the Soviet roots of the Stans have influenced the countries well after they became free in 1991.

As you read, you'll get a good sense of what it's like to live in these countries today through her meetings with locals. Each encounter helps explain the countries' complexity and what their citizens have endured, whether they're fighting for human rights or victims of bride snatching.

Book Girls Say... Although this book is on the longer side (at nearly 500 pages) our readers loved this read and recommend it for those interested in travel, history, and geography.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Lisa See

Setting: SOUTH KOREA

Korea's Jeju Island has a fascinating real-life history of female deep-sea free divers called Haenyeo, who collect seaweed, clams, and abalone. Inspired by this history, this novel tells the story of Mi-ja and Young-sook - two best friends who come from very different backgrounds despite both growing up on the island of Jeju. As soon as they are old enough, they take their place as "baby divers" in the village's all-female diving operation, which is led by Young-sook's mom. This is the beginning of a life of excitement and responsibility for the two friends, but also a life filled with danger.

The Island of Sea Women takes place over many decades, beginning in the 1930s, throughout WWII and the Korean War, and all the way up to the era of cell phones.

Over the years, the residents of Jeju are caught between warring empires, which often makes it difficult for Mi-ja and Young-soon to ignore their differences - especially when Mi-ja's father becomes a Japanese collaborator. As the years go on, forces beyond their control will drive their friendship to a breaking point.

The Book Girls Say... Before picking up this book, be aware that this is a very heavy read that includes some prolonged scenes of graphic violence. Despite being heart-wrenching, most readers find it to be a worthwhile story that is ultimately about strength and forgiveness.

If you are interested in a very different style of novel based on the Haenyeo (female divers) of Jeju, consider The Mermaid from Jeju. Set in the aftermath of World War II while Japan is withdrawing from the peninsula and the United States is establishing troops in the region, this story follows Junja, who has followed in her family's footsteps to become a successful haenyeo and is allowed to take her first trip into the mountains to trade their harvest. Unfortunately, when she returns home, she finds her mother dying after a treacherous dive. She'll be forced to learn to navigate the world without her mother, despite memories of her at every turn. Her loss is amplified by the tumultuous political situation throughout this enchanting story set leading up to the Korean War.

by Barbara Demick

Setting: TIBET

In this 2020 release, award-winning journalist Barbara Demick's reporting allows us to explore one of the most hidden corners of the world. The Tibetan town of Ngaba is perched at eleven thousand in elevation, and it's one of the first places whether the Tibetans and Chinese communists first encountered one another in the 1930s.

During the Chinese Civil War, the hungry and Red Army took refuge in Ngaba where they looted monasteries and ate religious statues made from flour and water (which to Tibetans was as if they were eating the Buddha).

In this book, which spans several decades and also looks back at Tibetan history, Demick follows the private lives of wide array of Tibetans citizens - including a princess, a nomad, a poet, a schoolgirl, an upwardly mobile entrepreneur. Through their eyes, we learn about life in Tibet during the 21st century, and we see each of them face the same dilemma: whether to hold onto their Buddhist teachings of nonviolence or to join the Chinese.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
100% Would Recommend to a Friend 

by Sayaka Murata

Setting: JAPAN

Translated from the original Japanese, Convenience Store Woman is a heartwarming tale of Keiko. She never felt like she fit in, at home or at school. But at 18, she begins working at Smile Mart. The store's procedure manual helps guide all her interactions and even her clothing. She loves feeling "normal" at the store and works there for 18 years - about 17 years longer than the average Smile Mart employee. At age 36, she feels societal pressure to make big changes - like finding a husband and getting a "proper" job.

The author based this contemporary novel on her own experience working at the convenience store chain, which explains how she was able to so perfectly capture the atmosphere of this store that is a familiar part of life in Japan. From a Western perspective, we might picture grabbing an occasional drink, candy bar, or a not-so-great hot dog at the gas station, but convenience stores in Japan are completely different. Not only do they provide a wide variety of freshly-made food that people rely on daily, but Japan’s convenience stores are also a central part of everyday life.

This short novella (just 163 pages) is a very quick read that provides a sharp social commentary on conformity and was a huge hit in Japan before being translated into English. This books is darkly comic and offbeat - both in story and structure.

The Book Girl’s Say... Not every book on our lists ends up being loved by all, and that’s okay. This book proved to be quite controversial among Book Girls' Guide readers during last year's Book Voyage Challenge - some loved the book, while others strongly disliked it. Especially given it's very short length, we’d urge you to still give this character-driven book a chance, especially if you’re drawn to quirky characters (we think fans of Eleanor Oliphant will enjoy this book). it makes a quick and easy add-on to any other books you’re thinking of reading for Northern Asia.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐½
77% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Jung Chang

Setting: CHINA

Wild Swans is a bestselling non-fiction classic that has been translated into more than 30 languages around the world. Author Jung Change sheds light on Mao's impact on China as seen through the lives and experiences of three generations of her family, covering most of the 20th century. We meet her grandmother - a warlord's concubine, and her mother - an idealistic young Communist. We learn about her parents' experiences as members of the Communist elite during the Cultural Revolution. And we also hear Change's own extraordinary story.

This memoir provides a window into the female experience in modern communist China that is at times violent, moving, and ultimately uplifting.

The Book Girls Say... This memoir is long and dense (more than 550 pages), so save this read for when you're in the mood to really dig deep on the past century of Chinese history.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
92% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Shion Miura

Setting: JAPAN

Kohei has always loved words and devoted his career to creating dictionaries. As he nears retirement, he begins looking for a protégé that he can train to take his place. Kohei finds a kindred spirit in Mitsuya from the company's sales department. Mitsuya is assigned the monumental task of completing The Great Passage - a comprehensive 2,900-page tome of the Japanese language. Along the way, he'll find both friendship and romance, and he'll discover the way that words connect us all.

Translated from Japanese, this novel also provides insights into Japanese culture and relationships. Through the character's many meals out together, you'll also learn about the important role that food plays in Japanese culture.

The Book Girls Say... As a work originally published in Japan, the style of this book may feel a bit unusual to American readers. But if you're looking for a book that will give you an authentic reading experience while teaching you a lot about the subtleties and nuances of the Japanese language, this book is worthy of your consideration.

The Kindle and audiobook versions are currently free with Kindle Unlimited.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐½
73% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Lara Prior-Palmer

Setting: MONGOLIA

This memoir covers Lara's experience competing in the Mongol Derby, a horse race that covers 1000 kilometers (621 miles) across Mongolia on wild ponies.

Most riders in the derby train do extensive training for the rigorous event, but at nineteen, Lara jumped in without understanding the difficulties she would face. Each morning, she had a fresh horse to cover mountains, dunes, woodlands, and wetlands. You'll get an excellent feel for the diversity of Mongolia's ecosystem while sitting on the edge of your chair, waiting to see what Lara has to overcome each day.

The Book Girls Say... This Mongolia book, which tells a story of perseverance and the ability of underdogs to turn into champions, has been compared to Wild by Cheryl Strayed.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐½
75% Would Recommend to a Friend  

by Richard Mason

Setting: HONG KONG

First published in 1957, The World of Suzie Wong was a contemporary novel at the time. Since the original release, it's inspired a film, ballet, and even a song.

You'll be transported back in time and dropped off in Wanchai, Hong Kong, where an ex-pat artist, Robert, lives in a hotel where all the other rooms are rented by the hour. When he meets Suzie, he befriends the feisty prostitute trying to make it in post-war Hong Kong.

The Book Girls Say... Many reviews wonder if the book came from the author's own journals as it feels like it was written by someone with a true love of the region and its people. However, keep in mind that the book was written in the 1950's and includes some culturally insensitive language.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Lesley M M Blume

Setting: JAPAN

Named a New York Times “Notable Book of 2020,” and released on the 75th anniversary of the US dropping the nuclear bomb that decimated Hiroshima, Fallout is an engrossing non-fiction detective story, as well as an important piece of hidden history that shows how one heroic scoop saved—and can still save—the world.

Immediately after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the US government began a secret propaganda and information suppression campaign to hide the truth about the devastating effects of nuclear weapons. Occupation forces closed the two cities to Allied reporters, preventing leaks about the horrific long-term effects of radiation which killed thousands during the months after the blast. 

For nearly a year the cover-up worked - until New Yorker journalist John Hersey got into Hiroshima and managed to report the truth to the world. Even his fellow reporters didn’t know about his work until it was published in the magazine in August of 1946. 

In Fallout, Blume reveals how Hershey courageously uncovered and reported on one one of the deadliest cover-ups of the 20th century. His revelations about the true effects of the atom bomb provided one of the greatest deterrents to ever using the weapons again, thereby potentially saving millions of lives. 

The Book Girls Say... Our readers report that the audiobook is a bit monotone, so we don't recommend listening to this one.

by Galsan Tschinag

Setting: MONGOLIA

Do you want something very different to read? This unique pick from the mountains of northern Mongolia might be for you.

The first and only member of the Tuvans to use written language to tell stories, Galsan Tschinag chronicles their traditions in this fascinating, bittersweet novel about a shepherd boy's coming of age.

The Book Girls Say... Because this short book (just 209 pages) is NOT plot-driven, but instead reads more like a collection of stories, it has mixed reviews but could be a fascinating look into a culture that hasn't been shared before.

by Arthur Golden

Setting: JAPAN

Nitta is a young girl taken from her Japanese fishing village at the age of 9 and sold into slavery to a renowned geisha house. The city of Kyoto in the 1930s is a world in which appearances are paramount, where a girl's virginity is auctioned to the highest bidder, where women are trained to attract the most powerful men, and where love is scorned as an illusion.

The Book Girls Say... Memoirs of a Geisha is one of the best-selling books set in Japan of the last few decades, but keep in mind that this is a novel written by an American author that never gained the same level of popularity in Japan. Our list also contains some of the recent, best fiction set in Japan, written by Japanese authors and translated into English.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
96% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Shawna Yang Ryan

Setting: TAIWAN

Green Island blends the story of Taiwan with the story of the Tsai family. The narrator is born in 1947 on the night of the 228 massacre (also called the February 28 massacre), just as the country enters martial law. Her father is soon thrown in prison as Chinese Nationalists try to stop any resistance to their takeover.

A decade later, he returns after suffering brutal and inhuman conditions. His family and community alienate him and worry he is putting his younger daughter at risk as their relationship grows. Later as a mother, she's also forced to decide between what is right and what can save her family.

This heavy book covers six decades of post-war Taiwan, from the end of Japanese rule through Chinese martial law (1947-1990) and eventually into democracy.

The book shifts in time and perspective, so if you prefer linear stories, this might not be for you.