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Trending Authors from Around the Globe
Explore the world with celebrated novels and nonfiction by international authors
Published on June 16, 2023
Counterfeit: A Novel
Kirstin ChenAva Wong reconnects with her college roommate, Winnie Fang, who’s now gorgeous and rich — all because of a counterfeit bag scheme. Ava soon teams up with Winnie, though the operation is risky. Singaporean author Chen (“Soy Sauce for Beginners”) pens a cunning con artist story with vastly different perspectives from Ava and Winnie. Come for the thrilling escapades, stay for the lush descriptions of designer accessories. There’s also a plot twist you’ll have to read to believe.
Young Mungo
Douglas StuartImmerse yourself in 1990s working-class Glasgow as Scottish author Stuart (“Shuggie Bain”) explores masculinity and the turmoil between Catholics and Protestants. Mungo, a Protestant teenager, only knows violence, yet he somehow retains his gentle heart. The discovery of his verboten friendship with James, a Catholic boy and kindred spirit, leads to a powerful ending in this novel that’s as beautifully written as it is tragic.
The Dawnhounds
Sascha StronachThis queer speculative fiction from New Zealand Maori author Stronach follows a bisexual policewoman living in the futuristic city of Hainak, which is ruled by heteronormative policies reminiscent of “The Handmaid’s Tale.” After being murdered by her colleagues, she’s resurrected with newfound powers, which she must use to protect Hainak from dangerous forces. This is a wholly unique and endlessly fascinating read, uniting magical realism, futuristic biotech, and noir with very real issues of discrimination — all with an air of optimism.
The Mountains Sing
Nguyễn Phan Quế MaiDescribing “The Mountains Sing” to NPR, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen (“The Sympathizer”) called it “the Vietnamese version of ‘The Grapes of Wrath.’” The first novel in English by Vietnamese poet Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, “The Mountains Sing” is a stirring masterpiece that reveals how trauma cascades through generations.
Beautiful World, Where Are You: A Novel
Sally RooneyDubbed the “first great millennial author” by The New York Times, Rooney (“Normal People”) immerses readers in the complexities of desire, friendship, and sex through the lives of Irish millennials grappling with a turbulent world. Told through emails between two bookish friends, “Beautiful World, Where Are You” is another absorbing, intimate novel from one of the best writers of her generation.
Patsy: A Novel
Nicole Dennis-BennIn Jamaican novelist Dennis-Benn’s Lambda Award winner, Patsy faces many tough choices: She decides to leave her daughter and her husband in Jamaica to look for a better life in America and her first love, Cicely. While she grabs the reins of her life, things don’t quite stay on course, and she’s left trying to navigate through her desired dreams and harsher reality.
My Brilliant Friend
Elena FerranteIf you haven’t been swept away by the Neapolitan Novels yet, the time is now. If you have, consider this your excuse to dive back into the no-guilt guilty-pleasure series that took the world by storm. There are few (if any) better novels in recent years about the delicate and precious complexities present in female friendships. An international sensation, “My Brilliant Friend” also became the first foreign-language show produced by HBO.
Convenience Store Woman: A Novel
Sayaka MurataNo trip to Japan is complete without a visit to their magical convenience stores — a far cry from the sad 7-Elevens in the U.S. Delightfully odd, this slim Japanese novel follows a woman who feels out of place everywhere, except when behind the counter of her convenience store. Murata’s (“Life Ceremony”) book is a surprisingly sweet read considering it’s about someone who’s probably a sociopath.
2666: A Novel
Roberto BolañoChilean author Bolaño’s masterpiece is truly an international novel, traversing countries, characters, and historical events to create a portrait of humanity that is at once terrible and beautiful to behold.
The White Tiger: A Novel
Aravind AdigaThis Man Booker Prize-winning novel captures the duality of India: A beautiful and plentiful country with seemingly insurmountable income inequality and corruption. The main character, Balram Halwai, is a hard-working and charming man trying to build a better life for himself. He’s also a murderer. Netflix’s adaptation of “The White Tiger” was a breakout hit in 2021.
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
Stuart TurtonWinner of the U.K.’s prestigious Costa First Novel Award in 2018, this book is “Unputdownable” according to the judges, who called it an “ingenious, intriguing and highly original mindbender of a murder mystery.”
The Animals in That Country: winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award
Laura Jean McKayPandemic-related reads are having a moment, and McKay’s inventive novel, which won the 2021 Victorian Prize for Literature, doesn’t disappoint. Set in an Australia gripped by a flu that allows you to talk to animals, the story centers on Jean, a foul-mouthed grandma who works at an outback wildlife park. When her son is overcome by flu-inflicted madness and heads south, Jean follows him, and finds herself in the middle of an animal apocalypse.
Empire of Wild: A Novel
Cherie DimalineAn enthralling literary thriller from Dimaline, who is a member of the Métis Nation of Ontario. Joan, a Métis woman in rural Canada, has been searching for her missing husband for months when a preacher who looks exactly like him shows up at a revival in a Walmart parking lot. But the preacher swears he’s never met Joan before. Convinced he’s under the thrall of the Rogarou, a mythical half-man, half-wolf, Joan sets off to track the beast and win back her husband. Fans of Neil Gaiman’s “American Gods” will find a lot to love in this gritty quest novel, where creatures of legend interact with everyday folks.
Girl, Woman, Other: A Novel (Booker Prize Winner)
Bernardine EvaristoEvaristo became the first Black woman to win the prestigious Booker Prize in 2019 for her brilliant novel, “Girl, Woman, Other.” Evaristo describes her book as “a readable experimental novel.” Each chapter follows a different character as their stories intertwine in an absorbing exploration of the lives of Black British women today.
The Piranhas: The Boy Bosses of Naples: A Novel
Roberto Saviano“The Godfather” meets “A Clockwork Orange,” according to Kirkus, in this chilling tale of a Neapolitan teenage street gang from Saviano, a writer best known for his exposé on an Italian organized crime syndicate more vicious than the Mafia (“Gomorrah”). When a ruthlessly ambitious teenager starts his own gang in the slums of Naples, his lust for power, and willingness to do absolutely anything to get it, hurtles him down a path of peril.
A Hero Born: The Definitive Edition
Jin YongHistorical fiction meets wuxia fantasy (wuxia is the martial arts hero genre of Chinese fiction) in this hugely popular epic, beloved by generations of Chinese readers (and recently published in English for the first time). Set in ancient China during the era of Ghengis Khan, “A Hero Born” features kingdoms clashing in bloody battles for power, kung fu as magic, and the fate of the masses resting in the hands of an unlikely hero. Don’t miss this first of 12 volumes by Jin Yong. According to the New Yorker, “his work, in the Chinese-speaking world, has a cultural currency roughly equal to that of ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Star Wars’ combined.”
Death Is Hard Work: A Novel
Khaled KhalifaRefusing to leave his war-torn country, Syrian writer Khalifa wrote his darkly funny Odyssean quest story while civil war raged around him. Khalifa uses that setting for his gripping novel following three estranged siblings forced to come together to bury their father. “Like the best absurd or picaresque novels in the Arab literary tradition, ‘Death is Hard Work’ is a tragic-comic exploration of the arbitrary logic of tyranny and its effects on memory, landscape, and identity across generations,” writes Electric Literature. Translated from Arabic into English by Leri Price, Khalifa’s book was a finalist for the National Book Award’s Translated Literature Award in 2019.
Queenie
Candice Carty-WilliamsSee London through the eyes of the titular Queenie, a 20-something Jamaican British woman. Smart and funny, this debut novel uses witty charm to fearlessly lay bare the messiness of race and dating, family and mental health, and the struggle to keep it together. Timely and lively, it’s “Bridget Jones” meets “Americanah.”
Oblivion: A Memoir
Hector AbadAfter paramilitaries murdered his dad in 1987 for speaking out against the government, Abad dedicated himself to spreading his father’s message of social justice and hope for a better Colombia. An eye-opening account of a brutal period in South America’s history, “Oblivion” is also a son’s loving tribute that will break your heart and restore your belief in the unbreakable bond of family at the same time.
Tram 83
Fiston Mwanza MujilaSet during Africa’s modern gold rush in an unnamed, war-torn mining town, two friends (a writer and a racketeer) reunite at the most notorious nightclub in town. Bursting with smugglers and gamblers, musicians and freedom fighters, the Tram 83 attracts disreputable profit-seekers from around the world. Edgy and atmospheric, Congolese author Mujila’s novel is a gritty gem.
The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree
Shokoofeh AzarBorn in Iran, Azar moved to Australia as a political refugee in 2011. Azar wrote “The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree” in Farsi, and it’s her first novel translated into English. In an interview with Sydney Morning Herald, Azar says her translator prefers to stay anonymous out of fear they would not be allowed to travel to Iran if their name was publicly associated with the book. Nominated for the 2020 International Booker Prize, two judges say it’s “a wild, humorous revisitation of Persian myths and fables, filled with brutal scenes of contemporary life. A ghostly portrait of a family caught in the abject violence of political unrest.”
Boy, Snow, Bird
Helen OyeyemiThis bewitching reinvention of “Snow White” may be set in the 1950s, but it speaks to our current cultural moment. Oyeyemi weaves fairy tales with the wonders (and horrors) of human psychology in this imaginative story of race, identity, and family secrets. Oyeyemi was born in Nigeria and raised in the U.K.
The Parisian
Isabella Hammad“The Parisian” is one of those books that reminds you how rare it is to encounter a straightforward novel, executed perfectly. The story of a Palestinian man as he travels between his home country and France, it’s filled with parallels to today that are hard to miss, but there’s too much artistry and beauty in this award-winning novel to read it as a simple political allegory. Born in London, author Hammad is of Palestinian descent.
A Horse Walks Into a Bar
David GrossmanThe 2017 winner of the Man Booker award, this Israeli novel explores black comedy pretty literally: A stand-up comic suffers a mental breakdown while on stage, resulting in a delightfully unique performance (and novel).
The Museum of Abandoned Secrets
Oksana ZabuzhkoThere’s no better time to read this twisty epic spanning Ukraine’s turbulent history by Zabuzhko, a Ukrainian author. When a journalist begins investigating the suspicious death of her artist friend, she uncovers dangerous information that unleashes secret police and shady, corrupt politicians.
Read Dangerously: The Subversive Power of Literature in Troubled Times
Azar NafisiIn “Read Dangerously,” author Nafisi (who was born and raised in Iran) writes, “I really believe that books might not save us from death, but they help us live.” Throughout history, fiction has served as a way to combat oppressive forces and help people believe in a better tomorrow. By evoking the wisdom found in the works of James Baldwin, Zora Neale Hurston, and Margaret Atwood, and coupling it with her expert analysis, Nafisi’s excellent collection about the power of fiction ignites a much-needed flicker of hope.
The Courage to Be Disliked: The Japanese Phenomenon That Shows You How to Change Your Life and Achieve Real Happiness
The Courage to Be Disliked: The Japanese Phenomenon That Shows You How to Change Your Life and Achieve Real Happiness
Ichiro KishimiA runaway hit in Japan that’s now spreading its wisdom to the rest of the world. Framed as a conversation between a young man and an older philosopher, this book sets you on the path to happiness by helping you accept yourself regardless of what others may think of you.
Why the Germans Do it Better: Notes from a Grown-Up Country
John KampfnerBritish author Kampfner’s book is lauded as one of the best of the past year, delving into how Germany rebuilt itself after WWII. “Why the Germans Do It Better” is for anyone who enjoys a good political debate, a fascinating history lesson, or simply thinks German cars and chocolates are the best.
21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act: Helping Canadians Make Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples a Reality
21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act: Helping Canadians Make Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples a Reality
Bob JosephRecent shocking discoveries of mass graves of hundreds of indigenous children at former Canadian residential schools unearthed the dark history of Canada’s Indian Act. The legislation introduced the boarding school system that took indigenous children away from their families in an attempt to assimilate them (a similar system existed in the United States). This important antiracist guide from Joseph, a member of the Gwawaenuk Nation, helps readers understand the history and devastating impact of the Indian Act on generations of indigenous people and provides a path toward reconciliation.
Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?
Julie SmithImproving and guarding our mental health should be at the top of everyone’s bucket list. Smith, a Brit, draws on her experience as a clinical psychologist to fuel her insight on holistic well-being. Whether you have anxiety and depression or you’re simply struggling to cope with life’s demands, this book is a pathway to resilience. Smith’s words are kind but firm — perfect for motivating us to prioritize our mental health.
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
Yuval Noah HarariExpand your mind with author Harari’s new classic. The Israeli author dives deep and waxes philosophical about many of the large problems that plague us today. Whether you agree with his take isn’t really the point; his well-considered, thoughtful arguments offer a distinct perspective that we don’t get from headlines or 30-second news clips.
Black Wave: Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the Forty-Year Rivalry That Unraveled Culture, Religion, and Collective Memory in the Middle East
Black Wave: Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the Forty-Year Rivalry That Unraveled Culture, Religion, and Collective Memory in the Middle East
Kim GhattasThis is THE definitive account of Middle Eastern politics over the past several decades. “Black Wave” focuses on how the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran began in earnest in 1979, and has led to increased extremism since. “The headlines from the Middle East make a little more sense through the lens [Dutch-Lebanese author] Ghattas provides,” according to Kirkus Reviews. “Black Wave” was also one of The New York Times’ top books of 2020.
The Book of Eels: Our Enduring Fascination with the Most Mysterious Creature in the Natural World
The Book of Eels: Our Enduring Fascination with the Most Mysterious Creature in the Natural World
Patrik SvenssonEels are elusive creatures that we know very little about. Swedish author Svensson intertwines personal narratives about fishing for eels with his father with chapters on what we know about eels (not a whole lot) and an analysis on how the media portrays eels. “The Book of Eels” is a wondrous, mysterious, captivating mix.
The Gene: An Intimate History
Siddhartha MukherjeeMukherjee is the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning “The Emperor of All Maladies,” a study of cancer that brought science from multiple disciplines into a readable and humane work of scholarship. “The Gene” achieves the same goal, making the study of genetics comprehensible to dilettantes and scientists alike.
The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper
Hallie RubenholdRubenhold won the 2019 Baillie Gifford Prize — the prestigious British award for the best nonfiction writing in English — for her true-crime history, “The Five.” Judges describe her book as “brilliantly written and brilliantly researched … And it is so relevant now in terms of how crimes, particularly sex crimes and crimes against women, can be reported and considered and talked about.”
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope
William KamkwambaThis heartwarming story is about so much more than the sustainability of the environment — it’s about modernizing and bringing together a community that others have written off. Malawian Kamkwamba’s quest to build a windmill for his small town in southeastern Africa will surely move you.
The 5AM Club: Own Your Morning. Elevate Your Life.
Robin SharmaLearn how to start your morning like a tech tycoon. Canadian author Sharma (“The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari”) shares practical strategies for establishing early morning habits to increase your productivity and decrease stress.