83. Israel

 One Night, Markovitch by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen

Yaacov Markovitch and his friend, Zeev Feinberg, set sail to marry two women, bring them home to Israel, and then divorce them so they may escape Nazi-occupied Europe. But when Markovitch sets eyes on his beautiful bride he is instantly in love; later refusing to divorce her and vowing to make her love him.

This is a funny and sad novel, with an interesting bit of history. It won the Sapir Prize for best debut novel in 2013.

9. Australia

 The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas

My first impression was that this novel seems a bit like an episode for Neighbours or Far & Away if those shows had sex and swearing in them (I have since discovered there have been two television shows based on this novel, one Australian and one American). Later in the book there are some profound insights into love, marriage, infidelity, parenting, secrets and the lies we tell others and ourselves.

At a barbecue for family, friends and work colleagues, the host's cousin slaps a very badly behaved child. This is horrifying to some, while some feel the child deserved it. 

The novel follows eight perspectives, each one covering the person's view of the event and a look into their lives.

The Slap won the Commonwealth Writer's Prize in 2009 and was longlisted for the 2010 Man Booker Prize.

195. Zimbabwe

 Glory by NoViolet Bulawayo

This is part-fairy tale, part-factual account of the state of the revolution and the later regime change in Zimbabwe. Hailing from that part of the world, I found this novel sad and upsetting at times and fuelling anger at other times. This is political satire that delves into magical realism at times about the fictional African country of Jidada "with a -da and another -da" and begins just before the old horse known as the "Father of the nation" is ousted in a coup by his deputy who becomes known as the "Saviour of the nation." It bslao follows the story of Destiny, whose journey of discovery has the capacity to set in motion real change.

In a way this is a sequel to Animal Farm by George Orwell, or at least a companion piece. Where Animal Farm shows how the revolutionaries become the oppressors, this continues that thread to the point where the oppressive revolutionaries are overthrown in a coup... and these saviours are just as bad as the ones that came before. a vicious circle, it seems.

Glory is NoViolet Bulawayo's second novel. It was shortlisted for the 2022 Man Booker Prize, shortlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize, and longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction.

33. Canada

 All My Friends Are Superheroes by Andrew Kaufman

Tom is married to a superhero called The Perfectionist, but at their wedding her ex-boyfriend - a villain named Hypno - hypnotises her into thinking Tom is invisible. He tries to get her to see him, but nothing helps. Six months later, The Pefectionist is moving to Vancouver, convinced that Tom has left her. But he is right beside her. He needs her to see him before it's too late.

I found this book poignant and funny. It can be easily and enjoyably read in one sitting.

179. Tunisia

 The Ardent Swarm by Yamen Manai

A beekeeper in the North African village of Nawa has his beehives attacked by a swarm of hornets, destroying and killing everything in its wake. He has never seen anything like it, and ventures out to solve the mystery of what these hornets are and where they have come from. 

Set after the Arab Spring phenomena - when many citizens of Arab countries rose up in protest against the corruption and misrule of the regimes in control - and during Tunisia's first democratic elections. 

His quest reveals a country in fear and confusion as fundamentalists try to intimidate or coerce people into voting for them.

1. Afghanistan

 A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

This is the story of Mariam, an illegitimate harami, who is forced into marriage when she is fifteen. It is also the story of Laila who, in desperation many years later, is manipulated into marrying the same man. Laila and Mariam are enemies at first, but eventually build a strong bond.

What is shocking about this novel is the treatment of women under the Taliban, and their general lack of any kind of rights, voice or agency in the Muslim religion. Even though this is a sometimes upsetting read, it is difficult to stop reading - the writer's style really connected with me.

186. United Kingdom (England)

 Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell

I struggled a little to decide which Orwell to add here. 1984 and Animal Farm should be required reading in schools, and one of my favourites is Keep the Aspidistra Flying, but DaOiPaL is a vivid glimpse into Orwell's own life (as is Burmese Days).

This is his first full-length novel, published in 1933, and documents his experiences living in near poverty while working in various Parisian restaurants, and is also what could be called a tramp's-eye-view of life on the streets in and around London.

George Orwell is widely regarded as one of the greatest writers of the 20th century.

111. Mexico

 Mexican Gothic by Sylvia Moreno-Garcia

Set in 1950's Mexico, this novel starts out slow (and I almost gave up on it) until it really picks up the pace around halfway through. My first thought upon completion was "Why hasn't this been made into a Netflix series yet?!?"

Naomi is a young socialite who's cousin has sent her a letter claiming that her English husband is trying to poison her. Suspecting that he is after her money, Naomi's father sends Naomi to get the lowdown on what's occurring. 

What starts out as a run-of-the-mill horror novel, turns into something truly brilliant and interesting.

65. Germany

 Look Who's Back by Timur Vermes

Adolf Hitler miraculously regenerates in a park in 2011 Germany. He attempts to continue his crusade, but everyone he comes across either thinks he is a satirical comedian or a brilliant method actor. At one point he is attacked by neo-Nazis, incensed because they assume he is mocking Hitler's memory.

This is an amusing read for a while, but eventually the comedy wears a bit thin. It was made into a film in 2015. 

78. India

 Quichotte by Salman Rushdie

Although I have read other works by Rushdie many years ago (Satanic Verses, Midnight's Children, Grimus, Haroun and the Sea of Stories) this was the most recent and is still quite fresh in my mind. 

It mainly follows the story of Quichotte (with, the author tells us, many different pronunciations but for this it should be 'Key-shot') and his quest to cross America and woo his beloved Salma R. Quichotte himself, however, is the creation of Sam DuChamp, an Indian-American author of spy novels.

Quichotte is joined on his road trip by his imaginary son Sancho, and they face antagonism from post-9/11 Americans and, in one small town, surreal creatures that come out at night.

This novel brought me back to Rushdie, and I look forward to rereading Midnight's Children (considered by many to be his masterpiece) and exploring some of his other works.

Quichotte was shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2019. 

30. Cape Verde

 The Madwoman of Serrano by Dina Salustio

This is the first novel by a woman to be published in Cape Verde. It follows the story of Jeronimo, who falls in love with a woman who subsequently has a baby that isn't his and then disappears. Jeronimo raises the girl, who he names Filipa, and this is her story as well.

Set in an isolated village, the madwoman of the title prophesises throughout.

86. Japan

Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami

Now, most people would have chosen The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle or Kafka on the Shore, but personally, I preferred this. TWUBC and KotS are very good, don't get me wrong, but if you're new to Murakami they can be a bit challenging. HBWatEotW, on the other hand, I found to be easier and just as enjoyable. 

I read this about twenty-odd years ago, so the plot is not fresh in my mind, but it is split between two realities. One thing that has stuck with me over time is how the narrator calms himself by trying to count the change in both pockets of his trousers at the same time. I'm not sure why that made an impression, but that's what I've carried with me.

I find Japanese writing interesting because the way stories are told is so different to the way we're used to in the West. If you've grown up on American and British writers, then delving into Japanese writing can be challenging. Well, I found it challenging in my twenties, and I'm not sure if my understanding has developed with age or if I've just gotten used to it.

This novel was awarded the Tanizaki Prize, one of Japan's most sought-after literary awards, in 1985.