Hi there,
This page is dedicated to my personal challenge to read a book from every country in Asia.
As of this writing, Asia has 51 countries (49 recognized by UN). Each of them diverse and beautiful in its own way and I want to read all about them through fiction.
I am Filipino but I am ashamed to admit that much of my reading is American influenced. When I joined Bookstagram, I was introduced to Japanese literature and I was amazed at how unique those books were plot-wise. I was mind blown when I learned how other people in other parts of the world lived. I was fascinated how different yet similar my Filipino culture is to its neighbors. Thus, this idea of reading through Asia was born.
This idea is not new but is heavily inspired by Martha’s Map, Nicole’s Reading Through Africa, and Jack’s Asia video.
How this works
📚 Like all reading challenges of this type, I aim to read every book from all Asian countries. I will list all of the books from that country below. This challenge will have no definite timeline.
📚 The books listed here will not always be originally written in the country’s home language. My primary qualification is that the book must be set in the said country.
📚 If the book is set in two countries, I will put it in both countries.
📚 Because of diaspora, an Asian lit author need not to be born in Asia nor still resides in Asia to be included in this list. However, they must be of Asian descent. Additionally, many countries in Asia speak and write multiple languages, including English, and I didn’t want to discount an Asian writer who identifies as one just because they wrote and published in the English language.
📚 I will link the books I read wherever I mentioned them in this newsletter. Some books may not be linked because I don’t always post about a book I read.
📚 This page will also serve as a reference to anybody else wanting to read more about Asia.
📚 Current tally account will be posted here as well (6/51 countries).
📚 If you have any recommendations, please comment them down below. I would love to hear them!
Asian Countries Listed Alphabetically
A
Afghanistan
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Armenia
Azerbaijan
B
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Brunei
C
Cambodia
China
Cyprus
G
Georgia
H
Hong Kong
I
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Israel
J
Japan
After Dark by Haruki Murakami and translated by Jay Rubin
Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami and translated by Philip Gabriel
Kafka On The Shore by Haruki Murakami and translated by Philip Gabriel
Norweigan Wood by Haruki Murakami and translated by Jay Rubin
The Wind Up Bird Chronicles by Haruki Murakami and translated by Jay Rubin
Tokyo Euno Station by Miri Yu and translated by Morgan Giles
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi and translated Geoffrey Trousselot
Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura and translated by Philip Gabriel
The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai and translated by Jesse Kirkwood
Jordan
K
Kazakhstan
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
L
Laos
Lebanon
M
Malaysia
Maldives
Mongolia
Myanmar
N
Nepal
North Korea
O
Oman
P
Pakistan
Palestine
Philippines
El Filibusterismo by Jose Rizal
ABNKKBSNPLAKo!? by Bob Ong
And She Sang.. You Are My Sunshine by Melchor M. Morante
Bata Bata.. Pano Ka Ginawa? by Lualhalti Bautista
Handumanan by Karl M. Gaspar
Mga Lumadnong Sugilanon nga Mahinuklogon by Melchor M. Morante
Revelations by Karen Francisco
Stainless Longganisa by Bob Ong
The Kindness of Birds by Merlinda Bobis
Insurrecto by Gina Apostol
Tethered by Tracy Anne Ong
Q
Qatar
R
Russia
S
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
South Korea
Sri Lanka
Syria
T
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Turkey
Turkmenistan
U
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Uzbekistan
V
Vietnam
Y
Yemen