Philippine

Florante at Laura by Francisco Balagtas

Another famous masterpiece in Philippine literature,

Francisco Balagtas’ Florante at Laura is written in the
form of ‘awit’ where there are four lines per stanza and
12 syllables per line. Set in the fictional kingdom of
Albania, it tackles the story between Duke Florante and
Princess Laura, who’s also being pursued by Florante’s
enemy Count Adolfo. As a literary classic, this book has
become a favorite play not only among Filipino high
school students, but has been showcased in grand
theaters such as Gantimpala Theater and the Cultural
Center of the Philippines.
India
Mulk Raj Anand – The Private Life of an
Indian Prince

This book was published in 1953 and is

considered as one of the Anand’s finest works. The
story revolves around abolition of princely states in
India, focusing on the life of a King and his
fascination towards one of his mistresses. The
story has some real life incidents which are
beautifully converted into fiction.
Malaysia
The Gift of Rain

Set in Penang, 1939, this book presents a story of

betrayal, barbaric cruelty, steadfast courage and
enduring love.

The recipient of extraordinary acclaim from critics and

the bookselling community, Tan Twan Eng's debut novel
casts a powerful spell. Set during the tumult of World War
II, on the lush Malayan island of Penang, The Gift of Rain
tells a riveting and poignant tale about a young man
caught in the tangle of wartime loyalties and deceits.
North Korean
Dear Leader: My Escape from North
Korea, Jang Jin-Sun

Though it tackles incredibly difficult themes and situations,

Dear Leader: My Escape from North Korea reads almost like
a spy-novel thriller. That could be due to the fact that the
author, Jang Jin-Sun, is an incredibly gifted writer – even
claiming to have been the country’s State Poet Laureate. He
was a high-ranking official that had security clearance to
some of the most secure information in the regime. But a
turn of events has him running for his life and away from the
country that he himself had created propaganda to support.
He eventually escapes through China and writes Dear
Leader from safety in South Korea.
Vietnam
Crossing the River
Nguyen Huy Thiep, translated and edited by Dana Sachs, Nguyen Nguyet Cam

 "Crossing the River presents a wide range of Nguyen Huy Thiep's

short fiction, both realistic stories in contemporary settings and retellings of
folk myths that serve as contemporary parables. When Thiep's stories first
appeared in the 1980s, they set off a chain of debate, not only within
intellectual and political circles, but also within the society at large.
Typically, the struggles of his characters were about survival, not survival in
the context of war or revolution, but survival in the context of the emotional
and psychological strength it takes to live within the harsh confines of post-
war Vietnamese society. Thiep captured the emotional quality of
Vietnamese life in a way no other author had done, and his importance can
be recognized today by his enormous influence on younger writers." -
Amazon book introduction.
Laos
The White Nightjar

Which brings me to Laos. Yes, we have finally got here, albeit by a

somewhat tortuous route. This link, for example, clearly shows that
Laos does have modern novelists but, as far as I can determine, they
have not been translated into any Western European
language. Anatole-Roger Peltier, for example, has translated classic
Lao works into French and English (see The White Nightjar above) but
not modern literature. Outhine Bounyavong may well be Laos’ best-
known writer but only a collection of his stories has been published in
English. When the Sky Turns Upside Down is a collection of stories by
two Lao sisters. There is a Thai bookshop selling Lao books but they
tend to be books about the history and culture of Laos written by
foreigners. The same applies to Monument Books. In short, as far as I
can determine, there is no modern Lao novel available in a Western
European language. If this is incorrect, I would be grateful for any
further information. I look forward to some enterprising publisher
taking up the mantle and publishing a Lao novel in a Western European
language.
China

Water Margin
Published in the 14th century, Water Margin was the first of
the four classical novels to be released, and introduced the
vernacular form and style which the others would adhere to.
The title has been translated in a number of ways, including as
Outlaws of the Marsh, Tale of the Marshes, All Men Are
Brothers, Men of the Marshes, or The Marshes of Mount Liang,
and whilst doubts persist over the identity of the author, most
attribute it to Shi Nai’an, a writer from Suzhou. The novel is set
in the Song dynasty and depicts a group of outlaws who
eventually go on to serve the Emperor in battling foreign
invaders. It was based on the real life story of the outlaw Song
Jiang, who was defeated by the Emperor in the 12th century,
and whose gang of 36 outlaws came to populate folk tales
throughout China. These folk tales generated a mythology
around Song Jiang which led to various dramatic adaptations
and printed retellings. These precursors would all go on to
inform Water Margin, which condensed and synthesised the
various tales which had erupted around the Song Jiang story.
Some have attributed Water Margin’s success to its ironic
representation of common grievances against the ruling
classes. Its depiction of outlaw’s rebellion tapped into
resentments held by many during the Ming dynasty, and the
novel was indeed banned for a period for its potential for
promoting sedition.

Taiwan

Green Island
by Shawna Yang Ryan
A stunning story of love, betrayal, and family, set
against the backdrop of a changing Taiwan over the
course of the twentieth century.

February 28, 1947: Trapped inside the family home

amid an uprising that has rocked Taipei, Dr. Tsai
delivers his youngest daughter, the unnamed narrator
of Green Island, just after midnight as the city is
plunged into martial law. In the following weeks, as
the Chinese Nationalists act to crush the opposition,
Dr. Tsai becomes one of the many thousands of
people dragged away from their families and thrown
into prison. His return, after more than a decade, is
marked by alienation from his loved ones and
paranoia among his community — conflicts that loom
over the growing bond he forms with his youngest
daughter. Years later, this troubled past follows her to
the United States, where, as a mother and a wife, she
too is forced to decide between what is right and what
might save her family — the same choice she
witnessed her father make many years before.

As the novel sweeps across six decades and two

continents, the life of the narrator shadows the course
of Taiwan’s history from the end of Japanese colonial
rule to the decades under martial law and, finally, to
Taiwan’s transformation into a democracy. But, above
all, Green Island is a lush and lyrical story of a family
and a nation grappling with the nuances of complicity
and survival, raising the question: how far would you
be willing to go for the ones you love?
Singapore

The Descent Of Monsters

by J.Y. Yang

You are reading this because I am dead.

Something terrible happened at the Rewar Teng Institute of Experimental Methods.

When the Tensorate’s investigators arrived, they found a sea of blood and bones as
far as the eye could see. One of the institute’s experiments got loose, and its rage left
no survivors. The investigators returned to the capital with few clues and two
prisoners: the terrorist leader Sanao Akeha and a companion known only as Rider.

Investigator Chuwan faces a puzzle. What really happened at the institute? What
drew the Machinists there? What are her superiors trying to cover up? And why does
she feel as if her strange dreams are forcing her down a narrowing path she cannot
escape?
Bangladesh

A Golden Age
By Tahmima Anam

A Golden Age is the first novel of the Bangladesh-born writer Tahmima Anam. It tells the
story of the Bangladesh War of Independence through the eyes of one family. The novel was
awarded the prize for Best First Book in the Commonwealth Writers' Prize 2008.
Set against the backdrop of the Bangladesh War of Independence, A Golden Age is a
story of passion and revolution; of hope, faith, and unexpected heroism in the midst of chaos
and of one woman's heartbreaking struggle to keep her family safe.
Set against the backdrop of the Bangladesh War of Independence, A Golden Age is a story of
passion and revolution, of hope, faith and unexpected heroism. The first volume in a planned
trilogy.
As young widow Rehana Haque awakes one March morning, she might be forgiven for feeling
happy. Today she will throw a party for her son and daughter. In the garden of the house she
has built, her roses are blooming, her children are almost grown, and beyond their doorstep, the
city is buzzing with excitement after recent elections. Change is in the air.

But none of the guests at Rehana's party can foresee what will happen in the days and months
ahead. For this is 1971 in East Pakistan, a country on the brink of war. And this family's life is
about to change forever.

Set against the backdrop of the Bangladesh War of Independence, A Golden Age is a story of
passion and revolution, of hope, faith and unexpected heroism. In the chaos of this era,
everyone—from student protesters to the country's leaders, from rickshaw'wallahs to the army's
soldiers—must make choices. And as she struggles to keep her family safe, Rehana will be
forced to face a heartbreaking dilemma. This is the first volume of a planned trilogy.
Afghanistan

A Thousand Splendid Suns 

by Khaled Hosseini
Mariam lives in the small village of Gul Daman with her mother. She is the illegitimate
daughter of Jalil, a wealthy businessman who lives in the nearby city of Herat. After her
mother's suicide, she is sent to live with Jalil. Jalil and his wives quickly marry Mariam
off to a shoemaker named Rasheed, and the newlyweds move to Kabul, where Mariam
becomes pregnant. Sadly, Mariam miscarries. Rasheed is furious and becomes
abusive.
Across Kabul (and in a galaxy far, far away…) a girl named Laila is born on the same
night that the Soviets take control of Afghanistan. Her best friend (and love interest) is
Tariq, a neighborhood boy who lost a leg when he was a child. With the war worsening,
Tariq's family decides to leave for Pakistan, and he and Laila consummate their
relationship the night before he leaves. Laila's family decides to leave soon after, but
her parents are killed by a stray rocket as they're packing up the car.
Rasheed and Mariam care for Laila as she recovers. A man comes by and tells Laila
that he saw Tariq die in a hospital. Rasheed, being the dirt ball that he is, uses this as
an opportunity to ask Laila to marry him. Surprisingly, she says yes. It turns out that
she's pregnant with Tariq's child. Her plan is to convince Rasheed that the child is his,
and then escape to Pakistan after she's saved enough money.
Mariam resents Laila at first, but she eventually becomes close to Laila and her new
daughter, Aziza. Laila tells Mariam about her plan to escape, and Mariam decides to
join them. They eventually go through with the plan, but they're arrested before they can
leave and are sent home with Rasheed. He is so furious that he almost kills them.
Laila and Rasheed have a son named Zalmai. After Rasheed's shop burns to the
ground and the family goes broke, he forces Laila to send Aziza to a nearby orphanage.
One day, after visiting Aziza, Laila returns home to find a very surprising guest: it's
Tariq. It turns out the man who had come by all those years ago was hired by Rasheed
to trick Laila. Laila tells Tariq about Aziza, and he promises that he will meet her the
following day.
Rasheed starts to beat Laila that night when he finds out about Tariq. Mariam ends up
killing Rasheed to protect Laila. Mariam remains in Kabul to take the blame and is
executed by the Taliban. Laila, Tariq, and the kids move to Tariq's home in Murree,
where life is comfortable. After the U.S. invasion, however, Laila decides to return to
Kabul.
Before returning home, Laila stops in Herat, Mariam's hometown. She visits Mariam's
childhood home, and receives a box for the local Mullah's son that was meant for
Mariam. It's from her father Jalil. It contains a long letter, as well as her share of his
inheritance. Laila uses the money to renovate the orphanage in Kabul, and we learn at
the close of the book that she is pregnant with a new child.
Bahrain

If the countries of the Arabian Gulf conjure up for you images of oil, parched
deserts and outlandish architecture, Bahrain gently invites you to think again. The only
island state in the Arab world is blessed with a rich history and culture that provides an
intoxicating, solid backbone to the slick modern hotels, restaurants and attractions that
help make Bahrain the region’s most welcoming destination, as well as its most
distinctive. It’s no wonder that legend has it that this is the site of the Garden of Eden.

The story of the Kingdom of Bahrain reads like a who’s-who of Middle Eastern
history, awash with the evocative traces of everyone from the Sumerians and Greeks
through to the Portuguese and, of course, the British. Since declaring independence
from Britain in 1971 the proud, deeply cultural Bahrainis have not looked back, astutely
investing their fossil fuel wealth in a diverse range of industries and in developing this
state of 33 islands with discerning tourists in mind.
 Bhutan

The secluded Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan has managed

to retain its unique cultural and social identity, despite the
encroachments of globalisation and tourism; this identity is
rooted in Buddhism and takes inspiration from the
surrounding natural world. Lindsay Parnell explores the best
contemporary literature, yak songs and travel writing to
come out of Bhutan, and discovers differing approaches to
the history and culture of this mountainous kingdom.
Armenia

This work of historical fiction is remarkable in that it catalogs the

atrocities of the Armenian Genocide without making the story
overbearingly depressing. Personally, I sometimes struggle to get
through writing that pushes an issue nonstop, but Bohjalian manages to
write a riveting tale that spans multiple generations while
simultaneously examining the horrors conducted by the Ottoman
Empire. The characters are easy to relate to and the pacing is perfect. For
a young Armenian lad such as myself, there were also plenty of moments
where I let out a soft chuckle at Bohjalian’s lighthearted jokes about
Armenian stereotypes and cultural misconceptions. However, be
prepared for moments that will induce that horrified hollow gut feeling
as well. Bohjalian discusses the Genocide with candor, and certain
passages will leave you feeling haunted.
Russia

Archive photo

In the summer’s gaily singing,

Of the future isn’t thinking,
But the winter’s nearby.
Field was green, it’s now reddish,
Happy days already vanished,
And it happens no more,
That a leaf gives roof and store.
All has gone. In cold winters
Want and hunger wait afore.
Dragon-fly sings no more:
Who would like to sing yet more,
If the hungry belly hinders.
She is crawling in dismay
To the ant’s not far away:
“Dear crony, don’t leave me,
I’ll be strong, you may believe me!
But to manage winter storms
Give me food, a bit of warmth.”
“Oh, my dear, it’s very queer!
Did you work in summer here?” –
So Ant his answer forms.
“But in summer I was busy:
In the pleasant grass we’d had
Many plays and songs ahead;
Very often I was dizzy.”
“Ah, you mean:” – “I made a hit:
All the summer I was singing:”
“You were singing. Well done dealing!
Now dance a little bit!” 
Georgia

Sarginson (The Other Me) crafts an unusual, bittersweet coming-of-age novel

that’s also a fascinating mystery steeped in Cold War history. Ruby thought
she had left her lonely, emotionally desolate childhood in Norfolk, England,
behind when she married Todd, a dashing American fighter pilot. In 1957,
however, Todd receives a new posting at a U.S. airbase in England, close to
where Ruby grew up, and they move there with their 12-year-old twins, Hedy
and Christopher. Hedy is tomboyish and brave, often sticking up for her
fragile, dreamy brother, who avoids his painful scoliosis (and equally painful
back brace) by escaping into an imaginary science fiction universe. Life on
the base is lonely and claustrophobic—as Christopher claims to hear screams
and see mysterious lights, and as Todd’s behavior grows increasingly erratic,
the family arrives at a breaking point that leaves Hedy on her own,
contending with profound losses. Over the following 20 years, Hedy gradually
grasps—and then confronts—the lies and misperceptions that, she comes to
realize, characterized her childhood. Sarginson effectively interrogates the
power of storytelling to engender catharsis and healing but also to deceive
others and destroy relationships. Portions of the early sections are presented
from Ruby’s and Christopher’s points of view, but as the narrative develops,
it becomes Hedy’s story of reclaiming the truth and redefining the past. Set
against a historical backdrop that will surprise many readers, Sarginson’s
novel movingly captures the private and at times painful evolution of a
resilient and inventive protagonist.
Maldives

Lonely Planet Maldives (Travel Guide)

Lonely Planet Maldives (Travel Guide) is the most reliable travel guide book
to read and keep with you to travel to the Maldives. There are total 26 atolls
in the Maldives. From Lonely Planet Maldives you will get to know about
some popular atolls in the Maldives to explore.

This travel guidebook is also helpful for any traveler to know the customs,
culture, and history, and food habit of the Republic of Maldives. You can even
get many travel tips, information, and honest reviews from other local
travelers around in the Maldives.
North Korea

A Thousand Miles to Freedom: My Escape

from North Korea, Eunsun Kim, Sébastien
Falletti, translated by David Tian
After the starvation of her father and grandparents, Eunsun
Kim, on the brink of starvation herself, began plans to escape
North Korea with her mother and sister. This was a harrowing
adventure that would take nine years to complete. After
unspeakable horror and hardship, she now lives peacefully in
South Korea, having written A Thousand Miles to Freedom
about her childhood in, and escape from, North Korea. In the
conclusion of her memoir, Eunsun Kim writes, ‘Among my
ambitions for the future, there is one that I will never be able
to accomplish by myself. It’s my dream of one day seeing my
people in the north free from a dictatorship that has kept them
in fear, misery, and isolation from the rest of the world for
decades. For this dream to become a reality, the whole world
must open its eyes to the horrors currently taking place in
North Korea.’ A Thousand Miles to Freedom offers a
perspective that many in the western world can scarcely
imagine.