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Have you been reading any world literature lately?  Do you enjoy books in a particular world location?

I do enjoy reading from authors outside the U.S., and I’ve been happy with my results for 2008 so far.  I’ve really enjoyed being a part of both Canadian Challenges.  I’ve read three each by L.M. Montgomery and Atwood with hopes to read more of both authors next year.

What’s also amazing was that I read two books (in translation, of course) originally in Icelandic and none (so far) in Spanish.  I never would have predicted that!  Here is the breakdown by original language:

• Japanese (5)
• French (4)
• Hungarian (3)
• Icelandic (2)
• German (1)
• Chinese (1)
• Italian (1)
• Norwegian (1)
• Swedish (1)

The list below is by author nationality.  If a book is set in a different country, it is noted.  Also, some of the authors have moved from their original country, and if known, that is also indicated.  I should have a few more titles to add to this list by the end of the year.  (I’m behind on my reviews, but eventually they’ll get there.)

Australia

• The House at Riverton by Kate Morton (set in Great Britain)
• Breath by Tim Winton

Canada

• Sitting Practice by Caroline Adderson
• Cat’s Eye by Margaret Atwood
• Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
• The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
• Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
• Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery
• Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery
• Kanada by Eva Wiseman (set in WW II Europe)
• The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway (set in former Yugoslavia)
• The Road Past Altamont by Gabrielle Roy (originally in French)
• Life of Pi by Yann Martel
• Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (now lives in U.S.)
• Jacob Two-Two’s First Spy Case by Mordecai Richler
• Bear by Marian Engel
• The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson
• Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) by Anne-Marie MacDonald
• Atmospheric Disturbances by Rivka Galchen (U.S., but born in Toronto and on GG shortlist)

China

• Sky Burial by Xinran (set in Tibet; author now lives in Great Britain)

Czech Republic

• The Castle by Franz Kafka (originally in German)

France

• Snow by Maxence Fermine (set in Japan)

Great Britain

• The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
• The Sister by Poppy Adams
• On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan
• Daughters of the North by Sarah Hall
• What Was Lost by Catherine O’Flynn
• The Photograph by Penelope Lively
• Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner
• The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (now lives in U.S.)
• Children of Men by P.D. James
• Roald Dahl’s Book of Ghost Stories, edited by Roald Dahl
• The Twits by Roald Dahl
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling (2003, 896 pp.)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling (2005, 652 pp.)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Hungary

• Embers by Sandor Marai
• Kaddish for a Child not Born by Imre Kertesz
• Detective Story by Imre Kertesz (set in South America)

Iceland

• Independent People by Halldor Laxness
• The Pets by Bragi Olafsson

India

• The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

Iran

• Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (now lives in France)
• Persepolis II by Marjane Satrapi (now lives in France)

Ireland

• The Gathering by Anne Enright
• The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry
• Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

Italy

• Silk by Alessandro Baricco (set in Japan)

Japan

• Strangers by Taichi Yamada
• After Dark by Haruki Murakami
• Silence by Shusaku Endo
• X-Kai by Asami Tohjoh
• Vampire Hunter D by Hideyuki Kikuchi

Nigeria

• Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
• Purple Hibiscus by Adichie (reading now)

Norway

• Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson

Russia

• Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov (later lived in U.S.; set in U.S.; originally in English)

South Africa

• Life & Times of Michael K by J. M. Coetzee

Sudan

• The Translator by Daoud Hari

Sweden

• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

U.S. authors with books in foreign settings

• The Only Road North by Erik Mirandette (Africa)
• Maus I by Art Spiegelman (set in WW II Europe and the U.S.)
• Maus II by Art Spiegelman (set in WW II Europe and the U.S.)
• Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri (various world locations)