In this novel by the Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie; Ifemelu and Obinze are young and in love when they depart military-ruled Nigeria for the West.

Ifemelu heads for America, where despite her academic success, she is forced to grapple with what it means to be black for the first time.

Obinze had hoped to join her, but with post-9/11 America closed to him, he instead plunges into a dangerous, undocumented life in London.

Published in 2013, "And the Mountains Echoed" is a captivating novel that delves into the complexities of family relationships. The story follows Abdullah and Pari, who are separated at a young age, and explores the profound impact that this separation has on their lives.

Through Hosseini's beautiful and lyrical prose, the reader is transported across countries and generations, witnessing the joys and sorrows of a family that is both united and divided by love. The novel explores themes of identity, family, and the power of human connection. With its rich and vivid characters, evocative setting, and powerful storytelling, "And The Mountains Echoed" is considered by many to be a masterpiece of contemporary literature and is sure to leave readers spellbound and deeply moved.

A city is hit by an epidemic of "white blindness", and one eyewitness to this nightmare guides seven strangers through the barren streets.

A magnificent parable of loss and disorientation, Blindness has swept the reading public with its powerful portrayal of our worst appetites and weaknesses—and humanity's ultimately exhilarating spirit.

Trevor Noah's compelling narrative explores his journey of coming into the world as a mixed-race child in a society where his very existence was a crime. Through his witty, insightful, and often poignant storytelling, Noah offers readers a glimpse into the complex web of racial, cultural, and societal dynamics that shaped his early life.

With humor, vulnerability, and a keen sense of observation, "Born a Crime" not only chronicles Noah's personal challenges and triumphs but also serves as a thought-provoking exploration of identity, resilience, and the power of laughter in the face of adversity.

"O wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,
That has such people in't."
— William Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act V, Scene I, ll. 203–206

British author Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World is a darkly satiric vision of a "utopian" future—where humans are genetically bred and pharmaceutically anesthetized to passively serve a ruling order.

A powerful work of speculative fiction that has enthralled and terrified readers for generations.

The first Arabic-language novel to win the Man Booker International Prize in 2019, "Celestial Bodies" tells the story of three sisters, Mayya, Asma, and Khawla, who live in a small village in Oman in the early 20th century.

The novel follows the sisters as they navigate the complexities of Omani society and culture, including the effects of colonialism, slavery, and the changing social and economic landscape of the country.

One of the supreme masterpieces of world literature, Crime and Punishment catapulted Dostoyevsky to the forefront of Russian writers and into the ranks of the world's greatest novelists.

Drawing upon experiences from his own prison days, the author recounts in feverish, compelling tones the story of Raskolnikov, an impoverished student tormented by his own nihilism, and the struggle between good and evil.

Infused with forceful religious, social, and philosophical elements, the novel was an immediate success.

A novel that blends magical realism with a contemporary exploration of migration, love, and survival. The story centers on a young couple who find themselves in a city on the brink of war. As violence escalates, mysterious doors begin to appear, offering people an escape to unknown places.

Hamid's lyrical writing delves into the complexities of displacement, human connection, and the search for belonging in an increasingly fractured world. goes here

"Fight Club’s estranged narrator leaves his lackluster job when he comes under the thrall of Tyler Durden, an enigmatic young man who holds secret after-hours boxing matches in the basements of bars.

American author Chuck Palahniuk showed himself to be his generation’s most visionary satirist in this, his first book; a gloriously original work that exposes the darkness at the core of our modern world."

"From the rubble-strewn streets of US-occupied Baghdad, Hadi collects body parts from the dead, which he stitches together to form a corpse.

He claims he does it to force the government to recognize the parts as real people, and give them a proper burial, until a wave of eerie murders sweeps across the city, and reports stream in of a horrendous-looking, flesh-eating monster that cannot be killed..."

A prizewinning novel by "Baghdad's new literary star" (The New York Times), Frankenstein in Baghdad captures with white-knuckle horror and black humor the surreal reality of contemporary Iraq.

A satirical novel set in an imaginary African country, "Glory" explores themes of power, corruption, and revolution. Through a cast of animal characters, Bulawayo delivers a sharp critique of dictatorship and the struggle for freedom, drawing parallels to real-world political upheavals.

With humor and insight, the novel examines the complexities of governance, societal change, and the hope for a better future, all while offering a poignant reflection on the human condition.

A powerful and sweeping novel that traces the parallel paths of two half-sisters and their descendants across three hundred years. Beginning in 18th century Ghana, “Homegoing” spans continents and generations, revealing the lasting impact of the transatlantic slave trade on their families.

Gyasi's richly crafted narrative explores themes of heritage, identity, and the enduring effects of history, offering a poignant and insightful look into the interconnectedness of human lives.

The House of the Spirits by Chilean-American author Isabel Allende brings to life the triumphs and tragedies of three generations of the Trueba family. The patriarch Esteban is a volatile, proud man whose voracious pursuit of political power is tempered only by his love for his delicate wife Clara, a woman with a mystical connection to the spirit world. When their daughter Blanca embarks on a forbidden love affair in defiance of her implacable father, the result is an unexpected gift to Esteban: his adored granddaughter Alba, a beautiful and strong-willed child who will lead her family and her country into a revolutionary future.

One of the most important novels of the twentieth century, The House of the Spirits is an enthralling saga that spans decades and lives, twining the personal and the political into an epic novel of love, magic, and fate.

Set against the backdrop of the Osage Indian Nation's oil-rich lands, David Grann's gripping narrative transports readers to a haunting and little-known chapter of American history. With meticulous research and vivid storytelling, Grann unveils a chilling tale of greed, betrayal, and murder that unfolded in the early 20th century.

With a Martin Scorsese film adaptation set for release next month, 'Killers of the Flower Moon' is a riveting exploration of a forgotten tragedy and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

Set in a near-future society, the novel explores themes of love, friendship, and the complexities of human relationships through the eyes of Klara - an 'artificial friend' with exceptional observational abilities and a unique perspective on the world.

As Klara navigates her existence alongside humans, she grapples with questions of identity, purpose, and the nature of consciousness. Ishiguro's masterful storytelling invites readers into a thought-provoking journey that challenges conventional notions of humanity and connection.

''This novel is [...] revolutionary in daring to suggest that vows of love made under a presumption of immortality - youthful idiocy, to some -may yet be honored, much later in life when we ought to know better, in the face of the undeniable."

Published in 1985, the novel narrates the story of a fleeting young love and its ramifications throughout half a century of the two main characters’ lives.

Meet Ove. He’s a curmudgeon, the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him the bitter neighbor from hell, but must Ove be bitter just because he doesn’t walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time?

Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove’s mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents’ association to their very foundations.

Men in the Sun is a short story by Palestinian author Ghassan Kanafani. The story follows three Palestinian refugees seeking to travel from the refugee camps in Iraq, where they cannot find work, to Kuwait where they hope to find work as laborers in the oil boom of the 1950s.

In a captivating exploration of parallel narratives that bridges time and space, Minor Detail manages to connect the lives of two Palestinian women separated by decades yet connected by shared experiences.

After recounting the true story of a young Bedouin-Palestinian girl's encounter with Israeli soldiers in 1949, the novel follows a modern-day woman in Ramallah as she tries to investigate this ‘minor detail’ of history.

Minor Detail cuts to the heart of the Palestinian experience of dispossession, life under occupation, and the persistent difficulty of piecing together a narrative in the face of ongoing erasure and disempowerment.

A profoundly moving and thought-provoking novel that captures the essence of the Palestinian experience.

Spanning several generations, the story follows the Abulheja family as they navigate the harsh realities of occupation, displacement, and war after being uprooted from their village during the creation of Israel in 1948.

Through the eyes of its main character, Amal, a resilient young girl who embodies hope amidst despair, Abulhawa sheds light on the multifaceted experiences of Palestinians and the lasting impact of political upheaval on individual lives.

A seminal work in Filipino literature, shedding light on the social injustices and colonial oppression in the Philippines during the Spanish rule. The novel follows the story of Crisostomo Ibarra, a young man who returns to the Philippines after studying in Europe, and his efforts to foster reform and progress in his homeland.

Through vivid characters and poignant storytelling, Rizal delves into themes of love, patriotism, and the struggle for justice, offering a profound critique of the societal issues of his time.

"When he hears her favourite Beatles song, Toru Watanabe recalls his first love Naoko. Immediately he is transported back almost twenty years to his student days in Tokyo, adrift in a world of uneasy friendships, passion, loss and desire - to a time when an impetuous young woman called Midori marches into his life and he has to choose between the future and the past."

A magnificent blending of the music, the mood, and the ethos that was the sixties with the story of one college student's romantic coming of age, Norwegian Wood by the Japanese author Haruki Murakami brilliantly recaptures a young man's first, hopeless, and heroic love.

"The best laid schemes o' mice an' men
Gang aft agley".
(The best laid schemes of mice and men
Often go awry.)
— Robert Burns - "To a Mouse", 1786

Published in 1937, American author John Steinbeck’s "Of Mice and Men" narrates the experiences of George Milton and Lennie Small, two displaced migrant ranch workers, who move from place to place in California in search of new job opportunities during the Great Depression in the United States.

"There could only be a few winners, and a lot of losers. And yet we played on, because we had hope that we might be the lucky ones."

Richly told and profoundly moving, American-Korean author Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko is a story of love, sacrifice, ambition, and loyalty.

From bustling street markets to the halls of Japan's finest universities to the pachinko parlors of the criminal underworld, Lee's complex and passionate characters — strong, stubborn women, devoted sisters and sons, fathers shaken by moral crisis — survive and thrive against the indifferent arc of history.

Set in a dystopian future America during the 2020s, "Parable of the Sower" follows a young woman as she navigates a world marked by societal collapse, environmental decay, and rampant violence.

The novel delves deep into themes of resilience, community, belief, and the human instinct to survive and build anew. Butler's masterful storytelling and prophetic vision make "Parable of the Sower" a thought-provoking exploration of humanity's potential for both destruction and redemption.

Following the life of Kambili, a young Nigerian girl, as she navigates the challenges of adolescence within the confines of a strict household, this novel delves into the complexities of family dynamics and personal growth.

Set against the backdrop of political and social unrest in Nigeria, the novel explores themes of identity, freedom, and the transformative power of self-discovery. Adichie's vivid storytelling and rich prose make "Purple Hibiscus" a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant read.

Returning to Haifa is a short story by Palestinian author Ghassan Kanafani.

It tells the story of a married Palestinian couple returning to their hometown twenty years after living through the events of the Nakba (the mass displacement of the Palestinian people) in 1948.

Travelers by ship from New York to Buenos Aires find that on board with them is the world champion of chess, an arrogant and unfriendly man. They come together to try their skills against him and are soundly defeated, until a mysterious passenger steps forward to advise them and their fortunes change.

Chess Story is the Austrian master's final achievement, completed in Brazilian exile and sent off to his American publisher only days before his suicide in 1942. It is the only story in which Zweig looks at Nazism, and he does so with characteristic emphasis on the psychological.

"Daniel, an antiquarian book dealer’s son who mourns the loss of his mother, finds solace in a mysterious book entitled The Shadow of the Wind, by Julián Carax. But when he sets out to find the author’s other works, he makes a shocking discovery: someone has been systematically destroying every copy of every book Carax has written. "

Set in post Spanish Civil War Barcelona, The Shadow of the Wind tells an epic story of murder, madness, and doomed love.

Book one of the Spanish author’s series "Cemetery of Forgotten Books" which includes: The Shadow of the Wind, The Angel's Game, The Prisoner of Heaven, and The Labyrinth of Spirits.

A simple story of a "strong man" whose life is dominated by fear and anger, Things Fall Apart explores the life of Okonkwo, a wealthy and fearless Igbo warrior of Umuofia in the late 1800s, his futile resistance to the devaluing of his Igbo traditions by British political and religious forces and his despair as his community capitulates to the powerful new order.

Uniquely and richly African, at the same time it reveals Achebe's keen awareness of the human qualities common to men of all times and places.

"Born a generation apart and with very different ideas about love and family, Mariam and Laila are two women brought jarringly together by war, by loss and by fate.

As they endure the ever escalating dangers around them-in their home as well as in the streets of Kabul-they come to form a bond that makes them both sisters and mother-daughter to each other, and that will ultimately alter the course not just of their own lives but of the next generation."

"A Thousand Splendid Suns is at once a remarkable chronicle of three decades of Afghan history and a deeply moving account of family and friendship. It is a striking, heart-wrenching novel of an unforgiving time, an unlikely friendship, and an indestructible love - a stunning accomplishment."

Written by Czech author Franz Kafka in 1914 but not published until 1925, a year after his death, The Trial is the terrifying tale of Josef K., a respectable bank officer who is suddenly and inexplicably arrested and must defend himself against a charge about which he can get no information.

Whether read as an existential tale, a parable, or a prophecy of the excesses of modern bureaucracy wedded to the madness of totalitarianism, Kafka's nightmare has resonated with chilling truth for generations of readers.

Hafsa Zayyan's compelling debut novel "We Are All Birds of Uganda" takes readers on a profound journey of identity, heritage, and belonging.

Through interconnected narratives set in present-day London and 1960s Uganda, Zayyan weaves a captivating tale that explores the complexities of cultural identity, the enduring power of family, and the search for one's place in the world. With beautifully crafted prose and thought-provoking storytelling, Zayyan's novel invites readers to reflect on themes of migration, displacement, and the universal human desire for connection and self-discovery.

Described as one of the greatest life-affirming novels of our time, Zorba the Greek by author Nikos Kazantzakis tells the story of two men, their incredible unlikely friendship, and the importance of living life to the fullest.

Zorba has been acclaimed as one of the most remarkable figures in literature; he is a character in the great tradition of Sinbad the Sailor, Falstaff, and Sancho Panza. He responds to all that life offers him with passion, whether he’s supervising laborers at a mine, confronting mad monks in a mountain monastery, embellishing the tales of his past adventures, or making love.