Suggestions for African and/or Asian literature?
I need to pick a book to use for my book report but we need to pick a book written by an African or Asian author.
I’ve thought about using "The Ring" since its novel was written by a Japanese, but I’d like to keep my options open since our book report is ‘oral’; like having a book launch in our class—we act like we’re the authors and promote it—and I don’t think "The Ring" would be easy to do.
I can’t use "Things Fall Apart" since someone has it already.
Could anyone suggest interesting books? I’m having a hard time looking for something that has nothing to do about oppression and war.
These sound nice, but would I like them?
The Famished Road: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Famished_Road
Disgrace: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disgrace_%28novel%29
These are all works that could be found in English (translated/written in English).
"A Pale View of Hills" is very nice, but in case you don’t find it in your place…
(Chinese-American) Ha Jin’s "A Free Life" is very interesting—it’s about a Chinese family adapting to life in America. One of their children starts working in small jobs in the US as they learn to explore and live to their new life.
"Blue Bloods" by Melissa de la Cruz (Filipino) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Bloods_%28series%29
(Japanese) Miura Tetsuo’s "Shame in the Blood" http://www.complete-review.com/reviews/japannew/miurat.htm
(Japanese) Nisio Isin’s "Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases" is nice, too. I like Death Note and psychological thrillers. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Note#Light_novels
(Japanese) Haruki Murakami’s translated works:
"Kafka on the Shore" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kafka_on_the_Shore
"The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wind-Up_Bird_Chronicle
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:20 pm
Go with "Wild Sheep Chase" by Haruki Murakami (Japanese).
It is a really great book.
References :
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:50 pm
Although my favorite books by Chris Abani (Nigerian) are about oppression and war, his novel called The Virgin of Flames (Penguin 2000) was a strangely fun read and might work for you.
References :
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:26 pm
Try:
A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro. VERY interesting story, you’ll have to check it out.
In a Grove by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa is a short story but is incredible and was made into a movie called Rashomon..
Both are Japanese authors.
References :
Read them in my Contemporary Global Fiction class (in college).
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:37 pm
you should pick something by Ngugi Wa Thingo and be open to war and opperssion because that is really the main issue in Africa. pick Weep Not Child or Petals of Blood. both are really good.
References :
i’m studying African literature right now so …
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:49 pm
These are all works that could be found in English (translated/written in English).
"A Pale View of Hills" is very nice, but in case you don’t find it in your place…
(Chinese-American) Ha Jin’s "A Free Life" is very interesting—it’s about a Chinese family adapting to life in America. One of their children starts working in small jobs in the US as they learn to explore and live to their new life.
"Blue Bloods" by Melissa de la Cruz (Filipino) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Bloods_%28series%29
(Japanese) Miura Tetsuo’s "Shame in the Blood" http://www.complete-review.com/reviews/japannew/miurat.htm
(Japanese) Nisio Isin’s "Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases" is nice, too. I like Death Note and psychological thrillers. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Note#Light_novels
(Japanese) Haruki Murakami’s translated works:
"Kafka on the Shore" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kafka_on_the_Shore
"The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wind-Up_Bird_Chronicle
References :