Asian literature is a profound treasure trove of incredible tales. With a rich literary history dating back thousands of years, and with some of modern lit’s most engaging masterpieces, novels from the likes of Japan, Korea and Vietnam are those that everyone can enjoy.
So, with all this beauty and wonder in mind, here are five Asian books Australia has available to invigorate your literary joy!
⦁ Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
A global literary hit upon its release in 2016, Convenience Store Woman can be found in pretty much every library across Australia. Perhaps its success is due to its non-conformist nature, being about a woman who simply has no time for the constraints and judgement of Japanese society.
Keiko, our convenience store heroine, is content to work at her local convenience store, with no plans to marry or do something perceived as “better” with her life. But Keiko is happy this way, and doesn’t care for the condescending comments of her friends and family, who find her desperately strange.
It’s a charming, short read, and one that carries the power to make us consider where we stand in our own lives; whether we are content or whether we are conforming to the desires of the society around us.
⦁ On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
This intensely beautiful novel is able to get us right where the author wants us through the beauty of his poetry. And this is largely due to the fact that Ocean Vuong is also a highly respected young Vietnamese-American poet.
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous is written in the form of a son’s letter to his mother, a first generation Vietnamese immigrant whose pain and trauma was often passed on to her son.
The narrator beautifully reconstructs his family history in vignettes that are as harrowing as they are enlightening, providing a vast look into the difficult lives Vietnamese immigrants faced in the post-war years.
This novel will try you, test you and tear at your heartstrings, but it is totally worth it, as it is a truly gorgeous read…
⦁ Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
On a lighter note, and how much fun is Crazy Rich Asians, the international megahit in both its novel and cinematic forms? But what makes the novel much more intriguing than its big screen counterpart is its unbridled ability to explore the class distinctions and go for further plotlines than the film.
So, if you found yourself in a cinema somewhere thoroughly enjoying this amazing story, perhaps it’s time to pick up the book? It will easily give you a more in-depth understanding of the class structures and distinctions that typify Singaporean culture, and it will give you a fresh perspective the next time you find yourself glued to your screen, loving every minute of the amazing film!
⦁ The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
Another Asian novel that became a film hit, The White Tiger offers a detailed snapshot of the trials and tribulations of Indian life and its caste system. Balram Halwai wants out of his impoverished existence, and he is willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen.
He soon becomes the driver for a wealthy family, but dreams of going much further, realising that he may have to commit some nefarious deeds to ensure he makes it to the top or nowhere else.
It’s a novel that is as chilling as it is readable, and one that captures the gulf between India’s ultra rich and ultra poor to perfection.
