Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books Set Outside the US

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by  The Broke and the Bookish. Each week, bloggers get a topic which entails giving a list of ten things based on the topic.

This week’s instructions were as follows: July 19: Ten Books Set Outside The US (I don’t know about you but sooo much of what I read is set in the US and I love finding new recs of stuff set outside of it!)

Books that I have reviewed

Click on the book title to read my review

Paris (France) – Anne and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. The settings was one the best aspects on this book. Perkins did a fantastic job with portraying Paris through Anna’s eyes which was great because she was experiencing Paris for the first time. Paris is one of my dream destinations.

Barcelona (Spain) – The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon- Beautiful setting with some wonderful history along the way

Nazi Germany–The Book Thief by Markus Zusak- This was the first book that I read set in this location and time period. Heartbreaking but beautiful story. This remains one of my favorite books of all time

Burma, Tasmania– The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flannagan and Ireland– Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt- Two of the saddest books that I have ever read set in unique locations.

Kabul(Afghanistan)– The Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns and the Mountain Echoed– Khaled Hosseini- Khaled gives a wonderful perspective of life in Afghanistan especially pre-war. The rich culture and traditions come alive in the pages of his books.

Kyoto (Japan)–Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden- Another wonderful setting rich with culture. The book gives perspective of the life of Geisha’s the tea parties (sake), the intricate dressings (kimonos) and other cultural aspects of the Japanese. The cinematography is breathtaking.

Africa

“Africa is mystic; it is wild; it is a sweltering inferno; it is a photographer’s paradise, a hunter’s Valhalla, an escapist’s Utopia. It is what you will, and it withstands all interpretations. It is the last vestige of a dead world or the cradle of a shiny new one. To a lot of people, as to myself, it is just ‘home.”
― Beryl Markham, West with the Night

Nigeria– It’s a well known fact that Nigeria is the home of African Literature. Some of my favorite Nigerian authors include Chinua Achebe and Chimamnda Ngozie. The last book that I read set in Nigeria is The Fishermen by Obioma Chigozie.Another book set in Nigeria that I have reviewed this year is The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives by Lola Shoneyin.

Kenya- All books by Ngugi Wa Thiongo– Ngugi’s books are full of history and culture that helps readers understands Kenya especially in the pre-colonial and colonial era. Ngugi writes about the Agikuyu(my ethnic tribe) which makes his books more endearing to me.

Sierra Leone– A Long Way Gone: The Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Baeh- This was the first book that I ever read concerning child soldiers. Heartbreaking but beautifully narrated by Baeh.

South Africa– Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Palton- A wonderful classic that reminds me that I need to read more books set in South Africa.

Which are some of your favorite books set outside the US? Have you read any of the books on my list? If you participated in today’s Top Ten Tuesday, share the link to your post and I will visit you.