Chinese literature

"红楼梦" (Dream of the Red Chamber) by 曹雪芹 (Cao Xueqin): This is one of the Four Great Classical
Novels of Chinese literature. The story revolves around the rise and fall of the Jia family and provides a
detailed depiction of Chinese society during the Qing Dynasty.

"西游记" (Journey to the West) by 吴承恩 (Wu Cheng'en): Another one of the Four Great Classical
Novels. This fantasy adventure story is based on the legendary pilgrimage of the Tang dynasty Buddhist
monk Xuanzang to Central Asia and India to obtain Buddhist sacred texts.

"水浒传" (Water Margin) by 施耐庵 (Shi Nai'an): This novel tells the story of 108 outlaws who gather at
Mount Liang to form a sizable army before they are eventually granted amnesty by the government and
sent on campaigns to resist foreign invaders.

"三国演义" (Romance of the Three Kingdoms) by 罗贯中 (Luo Guanzhong): This historical novel set in
the turbulent years towards the end of the Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period, combining both
historical and mythical events.

"边城" (Border Town) by 沈从文 (Shen Congwen): A beautiful and melancholic novel about life in a
small town near the border of China and Burma.

"围城" (Fortress Besieged) by 钱钟书 (Qian Zhongshu): A satirical novel about Chinese society in the
1930s, focusing on the life of Fang Hongjian, who returns to China after studying in Europe.

"活着" (To Live) by 余华 (Yu Hua): A novel that depicts the struggles of life in China from the 1940s to
the 1980s through the life of the protagonist Fugui.

Hindu literature
 "The Mahabharata" - Attributed to Vyasa, this is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India.
It's an epic narrative of the Kurukshetra War and the fates of the Kaurava and the Pandava princes.

"The Ramayana" - This is the other major ancient Indian epic, attributed to Valmiki. It follows Prince
Rama's quest to rescue his beloved wife Sita from the clutches of Ravana with the help of an army of
monkeys.

"The Upanishads" - These are ancient Sanskrit texts that contain some of the central philosophical
concepts and ideas of Hinduism. They are dialogues that explore the concepts of Brahman (the ultimate
reality) and Atman (the individual soul).

"The Bhagavad Gita" - Part of the Indian epic Mahabharata (in the Bhishma Parva), this 700-verse text
is a conversation between Prince Arjuna and the god Krishna, who serves as his charioteer. It's a spiritual
and philosophical classic.

"The Vedas" - These are a large body of religious texts originating in ancient India. They are the oldest
scriptures of Hinduism and are composed in Vedic Sanskrit.

"The Puranas" - These are ancient Indian texts eulogizing various deities of the Hindu pantheon
through divine stories.

"Aranyak" by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay - This novel is a tale of the human relationship with the
wilderness, with the author often treating the forest as an animate entity.

"Godan" by Munshi Premchand - This novel is an important part of Indian literature, which vividly
portrays the social conflict of a peasant's life.

"The Guide" by R.K. Narayan - This novel is a masterpiece of Narayan where he skillfully studies human
character and Indian society.

Hebrew Literature
 "The Bible" - Also known as the Tanakh in Hebrew, it's the canonical collection of Jewish texts, and is
also a textual source for the Christian Old Testament.

"The Talmud" - This central text of Rabbinic Judaism is second to the Bible in importance. It's a
compendium of law, lore, and commentary on a range of topics.

"The Guide for the Perplexed" by Maimonides - A philosophical work that seeks to reconcile
Aristotelian philosophy with Jewish religious thought, providing a rational explanation for Jewish beliefs.

"The Kuzari" by Judah Halevi - This book is a defense of Judaism and an attack on Greek philosophy,
Karaism, Christianity, and Islam.

"Tevye the Dairyman" by Sholem Aleichem - This is a series of stories about a poor milkman and his five
daughters, which was later adapted into the musical "Fiddler on the Roof."

"In the Heart of the Seas" by S. Y. Agnon - This novella tells the tale of a group of Hassidic pilgrims
journeying from Eastern Europe to Jerusalem.

"A Tale of Love and Darkness" by Amos Oz - This memoir reflects on Oz's childhood in Jerusalem at the
end of the British Mandate in Palestine and the early years of the State of Israel, and his experiences
during the 1940s and 1950s.

"Be My Knife" by David Grossman - This novel explores the power of language and the nature of
obsession, as a man and a woman who have never met build an intense relationship through letters.

Persian literature
 "Shahnameh" by Ferdowsi - This epic poem is considered the national epic of Iran. It tells the mythical
and historical stories of ancient Persia, including the reigns of legendary kings and heroes.

"Divan-e-Hafez" by Hafez - This collection of poetry by Hafez is one of the most beloved works in
Persian literature. His poems explore themes of love, mysticism, and spirituality.

"Rubaiyat" by Omar Khayyam - This collection of quatrains, or four-line poems, offers philosophical
reflections on life, love, and the nature of existence.

"Conference of the Birds" by Attar - This allegorical poem tells the story of a group of

"Khosrow and Shirin" by Nezami - This romantic epic tells the story of the love between the Persian
king Khosrow and the Armenian princess Shirin.

"The Blind Owl" by Sadegh Hedayat - This modernist novel explores themes of existentialism, madness,
and alienation, and is considered a masterpiece of Persian literature.

"My Uncle Napoleon" by Iraj Pezeshkzad - This satirical novel is set in Iran during World War II and
humorously depicts the eccentricities of a family and the influence of political events on their lives.

"The Conference of the Birds" by Farid ud-Din Attar - This poetic work is a Sufi allegory that follows a
group of birds on a journey to find the mythical Simurgh, representing the search for divine truth.

"The Blood of Flowers" by Anita Amirrezvani - This historical novel is set in 17th-century Iran and tells
the story of a young woman who becomes a master rug weaver.

Vietnam literature
 "The Tale of Kieu" by Nguyen Du - This epic poem is considered the most significant work of
Vietnamese literature. It tells the tragic story of a young woman named Kieu and explores themes of
love, sacrifice, and fate.

"Paradise of the Blind" by Duong Thu Huong - This novel provides a powerful portrayal of life in
Vietnam during the Communist era. It follows the journey of a young woman named Hang as she
navigates family, politics, and personal identity.

"The Sorrow of War" by Bao Ninh - This novel offers a haunting account of the Vietnam War from the
perspective of a North Vietnamese soldier. It delves into the psychological and emotional toll of war.

"Dumb Luck" by Vu Trong Phung - This satirical novel critiques the social and political issues of 1930s
Vietnam. It follows the misadventures of a poor, uneducated protagonist named Red-haired Xuan.

"The General Retires" by Nguyen Huy Thiep - This collection of short stories explores the complexities
of Vietnamese society and human nature. The stories often contain elements of magical realism.

"The Beauty of Humanity Movement" by Camilla Gibb - This novel tells the story of a Vietnamese chef
and his quest to preserve traditional cuisine in the face of modernization and political change.

"The Reeducation of Cherry Truong" by Aimee Phan - This novel follows the lives of three generations
of a Vietnamese family, exploring themes of identity, assimilation, and the impact of the Vietnam War.

"The Boat" by Nam Le - This collection of short stories spans different settings and characters, providing
a diverse and nuanced portrayal of Vietnamese and Vietnamese diaspora experiences.

"The Mountains Sing" by Nguyen Phan Que Mai - This novel chronicles the lives of four generations of a
Vietnamese family, offering a sweeping narrative of Vietnam's tumultuous history.
 "The Song of Everlasting Sorrow" by Nguyen Anh Vu - This historical novel tells the story of a young
woman named Duong Quy Vuong during the Ly Dynasty, capturing the political and cultural landscape of
medieval Vietnam.Vietnam.l

Indonesian literature

"This Earth of Mankind" by Pramoedya Ananta Toer - This novel is the first book in the Buru Quartet
series. It depicts the life of a Javanese boy named Minke during the Dutch colonial period and explores
themes of oppression and national identity.
 "The Rainbow Troops" by Andrea Hirata - This novel is a heartwarming coming-of-age story set in
Belitong, Indonesia. It follows a group of tenacious schoolchildren and their dedicated teacher as they
strive to overcome challenges and pursue education.

"Beauty is a Wound" by Eka Kurniawan - This novel weaves together history, magic realism, and
folklore. It tells the story of a prostitute named Dewi Ayu and her family, spanning the tumultuous
periods of Indonesian history.

"Man Tiger" by Eka Kurniawan - This novel explores themes of violence, desire, and fate. It tells the
story of a young man named Margio who is believed to be possessed by a tiger spirit.

"Larasati" by Pramoedya Ananta Toer - This novel follows the life of Larasati, a young Javanese woman,
as she navigates love, marriage, and societal expectations in colonial Indonesia.

"Home" by Leila S. Chudori - This novel delves into the lives of Indonesian exiles living in Paris and
explores themes of identity, politics, and love.

"Saman" by Ayu Utami - This novel tackles social and political issues in contemporary Indonesia
through the interconnected stories of four women.

"The Dancer" by Ahmad Tohari - This novel portrays the life of Srintil, a Javanese dancer, against the
backdrop of political upheaval and cultural transformation in Indonesia.

"The Fall and the Heart" by Sitta Karina - This novel tells the story of a young woman named Aisyah
who embarks on a journey of self-discovery and love.