Recs if you like The Garden of Evening Mists...

Influential literature from across Southeast Asia: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam.

Often overshadowed by East Asian lit, these works are rich and diverse in theme, style, philosophical and religious influence, folklore and indigenous wisdom.

I’ve tried to include at least one historical work (mid-20th century and earlier) and one modern classic from each country. Works listed by country in the comments!

Recs welcome as always :)

Writing and voices from outside of the white Western canon. Fiction and Non-fiction with an emphasis in diaspora, decolonization, global history, and resistance narratives from around the world. Features African, Asian, Central American, South American, Caribbean, and Middle Eastern voices.

Began with many recommendations from Jamin Anderson (@jaminanderson__ on Instagram) and has expanded with the help of the Pagebound community.

This list brings together fiction from around the world that documents historical events or periods of time. Titles in this list aren't necessarily "historical fiction" but do have an important historical element to them.

I find fiction is an easy media to help educate me about world history I never learned in school. These titles aim to bring to light historical events that may not be taught in schools!

As always, I'm open to any and all suggestions! 🤠

Historical fiction and non-fiction set in and/or are about countries that were under Japanese occupation.

Recommendations are welcome. 🙏🏻

featuring loosely "gothic" inspired stories from outside of the european / western literary canon (by no means a rigid, all encompassing list or academic designation.)

as always welcome to suggestions !

east & south east asian literary fiction beyond murakami.

timeless modern classics – 20th century onwards – exploring universal themes like identity, morality and society.

these books capture elements of the uniquely beautiful symbolism, tones and rhythms that characterise asian languages and culture.

very much open to recs for expansion. (one book per author, typically their most renowned)

books about lost chances, 'what ifs', and the lives that might've been. nostalgia and regret are two sides of the same coin: a lingering, a dwelling, on a past you can't return to.

All fiction books that appear in the Tiny Bookshop catalogue! Would sort them by genre as I read along.

book recs for blue readers according to read your color on substack | updated periodically

Book set in or inspired by South East Asia. This is specifically for @mangopopsicles but everyone else is welcome to use this too lol!

“It was the garden that came first, heaven trailing in its wake” — Olivia Laing

Add your recs in the comments! 💚

here to make your brain cells tingle !! stories that unravel and take root in your mind as time goes on

Fiction books set in Malaysia

Open to recs!

These books explore the painstaking mastery of traditional heritage crafts and the fierce grit required to save a family workshop from ruin. Similarly to the chinese drama, The Heir.