Books set in other cultures

[FairyPenguin]

I really enjoy reading books that are set in other cultures and ways of life, both current and historical. I love finding out about how other people live/lived.

For example, I have liked:

The Kite Runner
The Help
Memoirs of a Geisha
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
Wild Swans
Plain Truth (Amish community)
Faye Kellerman books (Jewish family)
Clan of the Cave Bear series by Jean Auel
Nothing To Envy (North Korea true stories)

Also, I read a book set within a Quaker community which I was very interesting (I can't remember the title!).

Can anyone recommend other books that I might like, please? Thanks!

[Hogterm]

James Clavell has some good books about Japan. I think Shogun is the title

[FairyPenguin]

I have finished Like Water For Chocolate, which I really enjoyed. I am currently reading Half of a Yellow Sun.

In-between those two, I have learned a bit about Greek gods from reading a couple of my daughter's Percy Jackson books.

Really appreciate all the recommendations so far - building up my reading list.

I have previously read and enjoyed quite a few of the suggestions, including:
Victoria Hislop
Amy Tan
Lisa See
The Other Hand
Norwegian Wood
Snow Falling on Cedars
Shadow of the Wind
Winter in Madrid
The Color Purple

The only recommendation I've read and didn't enjoy was Captain Corelli's Mandolin. In fact, I started it a couple of times and tried persevering with it, but it is one of a few books that I have never finished. I didn't enjoy the style of writing.

I saw the film Lion, and would like to read the book that it is based on, so I shall look forward to that.

Thank you everyone.

[TomUI]

Leila Aboulela's books are fantastic!

The Translator
Minaret
The Kindness of Enemies

[AstrantiaMajor]

A Rising Man. A detective story set in India. A really well crafted story with good explanations of the political upheaval

[highlandcoo]

Really good post OP.

Yy to A Fine Balance, The Makioka Sisters, Music and Silence and Homegoing. All excellent.

Can I also suggest:

A Disobedient Girl by Ru Freeman
Cloudstreet by Tim Winton
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

I'm off to investigate The Gift of Rain and Night of the Miraj - both sound great.

[yesbutnobut]

Highly recommend the 'Ibis Trilogy' by Amitav Ghosh: set in India and China and evokes the days when opium transported to China. Starts with 'Sea of Poppies', brilliantly written, impeccably researched and filled with a cast of memorable characters. I'm currently re-reading them.