One of our main blog themes centres around books that explore different cultures so this is a topic that we’re often drawn to (and means we have plenty of recommendations*).

*Many of which came from Minaal’s book club – be sure to check out her monthly picks if you want to diversify your reading.

We can promise plenty of armchair travel – we’ll visit 19 countries in fact, from India, China, and Iran, to Australia, Iceland, and Jamaica, plus a range of others in between. Get ready to add these best books about different cultures to your overflowing TBR.

Spotlight recommendation

For culturally diverse books, our number one recommendation is:

Genre: Multi-generational historical fiction | Vietnamese culture

Between Hương and her grandma, The Mountains Sing tells Vietnam’s history like you’ve never heard it before.

From the Land Reform and the Viet Nam War to civil upheaval and corruption, this book brings to light an unspoken past. A one-sided past that most of us have learned from American and western media.

There are some heavy topics explored and some harsh realities revealed, making it a book that everyone should read, just to get a glimpse of the Vietnam most of us have never known about.

Not only does this book uncover important historical events that we need to be aware of, but it’s also beautifully written and vividly presented.

Other culturally diverse books to broaden your reading

Genre: Literary fiction | Armenian culture

If you enjoy character-driven stories, remote settings and a touch of magical realism, then this book is one for you. Set in the Armenian mountains, Three Apples Fell From the Sky explores themes of culture, community, and resilience, as the villagers tirelessly fight to survive on their ancestors’ land.

If you’re looking for your next book club read, give this one a try as there is a lot to discuss and unpick.

Genre: Literary fiction | Indian and Sri Lankan culture

If you’re a fan of the writing style in Catcher in the Rye (i.e. lots of internal and meandering monologue), then add A Passage North to your TBR (especially if you’re also looking to tick Sri Lanka off your #ReadTheWorld list).

The story is narrated by Krishan who, having returned to Sri Lanka after spending many years in India, learns of the tragic death of his grandmother’s caretaker. He decides to make the long journey to the war-torn north of his home country, reminiscing on his life along the way.

This book is the definition of freeing – one thought sparks a memory for Krishan, which then goes off on a different tangent that he dissects and reflects on. It’s thought-provoking, especially around the theme of feeling present and immersing yourself in daily moments.

Genre: Historical fantasy fiction | Malaysian and Chinese culture

The Night Tiger is a mesmerizing story brimming with Chinese folklore, superstition, and fate, along with some severed body parts, namely thumbs.

Read full review.

Genre: Nonfiction | Australian culture

Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia is a collection of bite-sized anecdotes from Australians who recount stories and feelings related to their Aboriginal culture.

The stories are insightful, educational, and difficult to digest, especially those that recall the stolen generation. We highly recommend the audiobook, where you can listen to and absorb each story slowly.

Genre: Literary fiction | Soviet culture (set in Latvia)

On the surface, Soviet Milk is about an unnamed mother and her daughter who struggle to bond. But dig a little deeper and you’ll understand how the mother was deprived of her specialist career, exiled from her city, and mentally drained from having to live under communist rulings.

It’s a book about identity, endurance, and ultimately, change.

It’s one of those books you’ve never heard of so have low expectations, only to add it to your top ten books of the year after realising how much of a lasting impact the writing and story had on you.

Whether you’re looking for a translated novel, a book set in the Baltics, or just want to read something completely different, Soviet Milk is a highly recommended option.

Genre: Historical fiction | Iranian culture

The Stationery Shop is, at its core, a love story between Roya and Bahman, Iranian teenagers from very different backgrounds.

Set against the backdrop of Tehran in the midst of political upheaval, the two become separated when Bahman vanishes without a word. More than 60 years later, fate brings them together and questions that have haunted Roya’s life for decades can finally be answered.

Genre: Contemporary fiction | Indian culture

This sweeping family saga begins with an Indian couple who emigrate to America. Ashimi struggles to find her place, seeking out other Bengali families who remind her of home. Her son, Gogol, questions his identity, feeling neither Indian nor American, and mostly blaming it on his Russian name. As he grows up, he tries shedding the name in an effort to fit in, until his father finally reveals the true meaning behind the elusive Gogol.

The Namesake isn’t a book filled with fast-paced plot twists; instead, it’s a story about an ordinary family, trying to adapt to a new life, a new country, and new customs. It’s a story to savour and ponder, dissect and discuss how certain themes resonate with our lives today, even if we don’t share the same cultural identity.

Genre: Historical and gothic fiction | Icelandic culture

The Glass Woman is a mysterious tale of love and deception; when Jon’s new wife, Rosa arrives in his settlement, she is shunned by the community and haunted by the locked loft in Jon’s croft. As she tries to fit in, she hears strange things about her husband’s first wife, many of which lead her to suspect that Jon’s version of events are not as they seem.

Read full review.

Genre: Historical fiction | Cypriot and Sri Lankan culture

Songbirds is a powerful and insightful novel about a Sri Lankan domestic worker in Cyprus who vanishes from her employer’s home, thus uncovering a string of other disappearances of foreign women that have gone ignored.

Genre: Historical fiction with magical realism | Jamaican culture

It’s impossible to summarise Augustown as there’s so much to it that a brief overview just wouldn’t do it justice. In short, it is a very impactful novel that explores Jamaican history in vivid and entrancing prose that will keep you turning the pages at every opportunity.

Genre: Fantasy fiction | Japanese culture

In The Cat Who Saved Books Rintaro embarks on three important book-saving missions, along with his feline sidekick. Rintaro’s success will change his whole outlook on life and lead him towards a final mission, but one he must face alone. It’s a heartwarming tale with much food for thought that bookworms will appreciate.

Genre: Nonfiction memoir | South African culture

Born into a world built on racial identity, Trevor Noah with his white father and a black Xhosa mother (highly illegal at the time) struggled to find his place in both pre and post-Apartheid South Africa. This memoir provides snapshots from his life where he recalls his loneliness, his terror, and his unwavering respect for the fearless woman who raised him.

Noah has a unique way of injecting hilarity into stories that might otherwise be too tough to digest. He lightens the content without it losing impact and meaning. Even if you’re not a big reader of non-fiction, you should definitely make this the exception – you won’t regret it.

Genre: LGBTQ+ fiction | Nigerian culture

An Ordinary Wonder is a refreshing and diverse coming-of-age story, told from the eyes of Oto; a male pseudohermaphrodite who is shunned by their parents, especially their mother who believes Oto was spawned from the devil. Raised a boy, Oto struggles with their identity, truly believing that they are a girl but unable to express these feelings in fear of further neglect and even, potentially, death.

Even more cultural reads to dive into:

• Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsanea – contemporary fiction about the hidden lives of women in Saudi Arabia.
• Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden – cultural Japanese fiction that gives an introduction and insight into the Geisha lifestyle.
• The Pearl that Broke its Shell by Nadia Hashimi – cultural fiction set in Afghanistan about a brotherless girl who adopts the ancient custom of bacha posh, allowing her to dress and be treated as a son for extra freedoms.
• The Family Tree by Sairish Hussain – contemporary fiction about a British Muslim family, covering themes around family, culture, and identity.
• Interpretor of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri – a collection of nuanced short stories, that explore traditional Indian cultures across continents and generations.
• A Burning by Megha Majumdar – contemporary novel narrated by three interconnected characters, including Jivan, a Muslim girl who, after posting a rash comment on Facebook is arrested for terrorism and budding actress, Lovely, who plays a key part in Jivan’s story as her only alibi.
• The Beauty of Your Face by Sahar Mustafah – a raw and tender story that centres around a Muslim school shooting in America; however, while the shooting is a key part of the novel, it by no means defines it.
• A Single Swallow by Ling Zhang – historical fiction predominantly set in China about three men (a missionary, a gunner’s mate and a Chinese soldier) who meet up in the afterlife to share memories of war and a girl that each man loved in his own way.