1. The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
This is the story of a friendship between two girls from different backgrounds. Their bond is tested by time and historical circumstances. Mi-Ja and Young-Sook are best friends despite their different social statuses, and they go to work together at sea with the women's diving group in their village. This work is dangerous, but the girls will face even greater difficulties.
The events of The Island of Sea Women take place over several decades: from the 1930s to the end of the Korean War. During this period, the village was divided between two hostile sides, and this undermined even the closest ties between families. This book is for those who want to fully immerse themselves in a world with a different culture and social order that did not change under the influence of circumstances and time.
2. Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
This book is perfect for those who love stories about family and love that go through numerous challenges and remain strong. The plot centers on two brothers, Peter and Ivan Koubek, who, despite their family ties, are polar opposites. Peter is a successful and ambitious lawyer who is used to showing leadership and achieving everything in life. Ivan is 8 years younger than Peter, a chess player who has not found fulfillment and recognition anywhere but in his favorite pastime, which makes him lonely.
However, the death of their father forces the brothers to reconsider their attitudes toward the family and their lives. In addition, along with the family line, each of the brothers also develops a personal life, which is also full of difficulties and uncertainties. Peter and Ivan start their lives from scratch, but will they succeed?
3. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
This time, the book will immerse you in the culture and history of another famous eastern country, India. Imagine that you are transported back to 1975: Indian leader Indira Gandhi declares a state of emergency throughout the country, conflicts and disorder reign everywhere, and persecution based on religion and nationality.
The story centers on a young and energetic widow, Dina Dalal, who agrees to take in a student and two tailors from a different caste who are being persecuted. While chaos, arrests, and even murders are taking place outside, peace and love reign in Dina's home. The characters give each other support and understanding, thus maintaining the same balance in a world that has been swallowed up by violence.
4. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
It is said that history and the events experienced are embedded in the memory of not only many generations of families but also entire nations. In eighteenth-century Ghana, two sisters, Effia and Esi, are born into a family, but their fates are very different. Effia marries a British man and lives in luxury at Cape Coast Castle. Meanwhile, her sister becomes a hostage of slave traders and is sent to America, forever separated from her native land and family.
Decades later, both girls have children and grandchildren. Effia and her descendants live through the tumultuous times of struggle against the slave trade and British colonization in Ghana. Meanwhile, the Esi family, who have spent their entire lives as slaves on plantations in America, witness the Civil War and the Great Migration. The Homegoing book is a story of broken destinies and slavery that will forever remain in the memory of entire nations.
5. Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu
Peach Blossom is a novel about China's past and present, told through the story of one family. It's 1938, and the Japanese are invading China and destroying the town where Meilin, a young mother, lives. The woman and her son Renshu leave their homeland and embark on a long journey across China in search of refuge. Their only consolation along the way is ancient fables, in which they find wisdom and strength to go on.
Many years pass, and Renshu, having changed his name and documents, settles in America with his family. He doesn't want to remember the dark period of his past and does not tell anyone about it. However, his daughter is desperately trying to find out the truth about her family and what her ancestors went through. Will the main character be able to start a new life, having still painful memories of the past?
6. Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
The story, which tells about the importance of one's roots and native culture for finding oneself, is based on real events. Moreover, this is a memoir by an American singer of Korean descent, who tells a sensual story of her life. For some time, Michelle Zauner did not realize the importance of her Korean side, but life events forced her to reconsider her worldview and begin to experience the culture and history that stretches back to her mother's side of the family.
Embracing her Korean identity helped Michelle Zauner not only to understand her family better but also to realize its potential. Immediately after publication, this memoir spent 60 weeks as a New York Times nonfiction bestseller. Many celebrities, such as Natalie Portman, Olivia Rodrigo, and Dua Lipa, have given sincere and satisfying reviews of the book. Read more in our Crying in H Mart summary.
7. Wild Swans by Jung Chang
In this memoir, a whole century of China's tumultuous history is described through the experience of one family. The book centers on three women — Jung Chang (the author), her mother, and her grandmother — who, although from different generations, all lived through very turbulent times in China's history. This story shows how the past is reflected in the present and shapes the consciousness of the current generations.
Jung Chang's grandmother was a warlord's concubine when control of China was divided between warring military factions. Jung Chang's mother lived in a completely different era of the country's history. She became an idealistic communist, and together with her husband, they became members of China's communist elite. But the Cultural Revolution changed everything, and Chang managed to catch these times of great change. Wild Swans is a book about how our roots shape the lives of future generations.
8. Lady Tan's Circle Of Women by Lisa See
A novel about how women can change history, unite and support each other, and make great discoveries. China, the 15th century, the main characters, two girls born under the sign of the Metal Snake, break the framework and stereotypes that have been held in the country for years. Tan Yunxian was born into a wealthy family and tried to find her place in the “male” field of medicine. Later, she meets Meiling, a midwife-in-training who is also looking to discover new opportunities.
At that time, society believed that women had no place in such serious fields, especially those related to saving lives. But both heroines learn more and more about various diseases, break silly prohibitions, and make great discoveries. In addition to treating women from different walks of life, the medicines invented by Yunxian are still used 5 centuries later! What was the secret of their success?
9. Saigon: An Epic Novel of Vietnam by Anthony Grey
One of the most famous Vietnam novels, covering more than five decades of Vietnamese history, including the period of French colonial rule and the Vietnam War. The book follows the life of Joseph Sherman, an American who first came to Saigon as a young tourist in 1925. His interactions with the exotic world and romantic feelings for Lan, the daughter of a local Mandarin, develop throughout the novel. He keeps returning to Vietnam, where he takes part in the political and military events that determine the country's fate.
Over the years, Joseph witnessed several major moments in Vietnam's history, from the French fighting local rebels to the US participation in the war against communism. As a war reporter and soldier, he sees the most brutal moments of the war, including the dramatic exit from Saigon during its fall. Through the prism of personal experiences and great historical events, this novel tells of love, betrayal, struggle, and political intrigue, creating an unforgettable portrayal of a country.
10. The Mountains Sing by Nguyen Phan Que Mai
The Mountains Sing is the story of many generations of the Trần family, told against the backdrop of the Vietnam War. It all starts when Trần Diệu Lan and his children leave their homeland because of the land reform of the communists, who quickly seized power in the country. However, the story of her family's connection to Vietnam does not end there. Decades later, her children and grandchildren would fight in a conflict that caused hundreds of thousands of people to suffer and defend their homeland.
When we talk about wars and conflicts, we usually look at them in terms of politics, economics, geography, or international relations... However, The Mountains Sing book will make you look at war through the eyes of the people who participated in it. This book captures the whirlwind of historical events and gets to the heart of the matter through Vietnamese culture.
Each of these books is special in that it conveys the unique and unrepeatable culture of different countries around the world. Our roots and the past of our families always have an impact on our formation as individuals. This idea is traced in these novels and inspires us to explore our family history. If you like the theme of other cultures and are looking for what to read next, you will find a good option in this list.
