• The Sorrow of War by Bảo Ninh – A poetic novel from a Vietnamese soldier’s perspective on the Vietnam War, offering deep historical and emotional insight
• When Heaven and Earth Changed Places by Le Ly Hayslip – Memoir recounting a Vietnamese woman’s experiences during the war and her journey to the U.S., blending personal history with national events.

• The Secret River by Kate Grenville – Historical fiction exploring early European settlement in Australia and its impact on Indigenous communities.
• The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton – A beautifully structured novel set during New Zealand’s gold rush, blending history, mystery, and rich regional detail.

• Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden – Historical fiction immersing readers in pre- and post-war Japanese culture through the eyes of a geisha
• Pachinko by Min Jin Lee – A multi-generational saga about Korean families in Japan, exploring history, migration, and identity.

• In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez – Historical fiction inspired by Caribbean struggles and revolutionary movements, bringing context to the region’s history.
• The Canal Builders: Making America’s Empire at the Panama Canal by Julie Greene – Nonfiction detailing the construction of the Panama Canal and its impact on labor, politics, and society.

• The Colossus of Maroussi by Henry Miller – A travel memoir capturing Greece in the 1930s with vivid descriptions and cultural reflections.
• A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway – Historical fiction set in Italy during WWI, offering romance, war, and Mediterranean landscapes.
• Istanbul: Memories and the City by Orhan Pamuk – A memoir of Turkey’s largest city, blending history, culture, and personal narrative.

• The Northern Lights by Philip Pullman – Fiction with rich Northern European landscapes, adventure, and subtle cultural elements (for travelers with literary tastes).
• H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald – A memoir set in England’s countryside, blending nature, personal reflection, and British culture.

North America

• Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt – Nonfiction exploring Savannah, Georgia’s eccentric culture and Southern Gothic charm.
• The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson – Nonfiction tracing the Great Migration, offering historical context for Southern cities and towns
• Coming into the Country by John McPhee – Nonfiction travel and nature writing about Alaska’s wilderness, people, and culture, perfect for adventurous readers.