This post was originally published on Audible.com.
The geographical region that comprises Asia is vast and varied—and so are the stories that have emerged from it. And as the continent consists of more than 50 countries, it is nearly impossible to narrow down a list of the best Asian literature. So, for this collection, we’ve elected to highlight the wonderful works crafted by authors who are from the East Asian region or are of East Asian descent. These authors represent the best of the best, and we’ve chosen their greatest works, divided by genre, to get you started.
Literary Fiction
Any list about the best Asian authors would be incomplete without a mention of Nobel Prize winner Kazuo Ishiguro. The Japanese author’s groundbreaking novel Never Let Me Go opens on a boarding school that, at first, seems like any other. At Halisham, the students have little contact with the outside world and must remain focused on their training and upbringing. That is, until the school's reluctance to let any student go outside becomes too overbearing for our protagonists. Soon, they find out truths they were not ready for. The audiobook, skillfully narrated by Audie Award nominee Rosalyn Landor, will leave you pondering the fragility of life and the utter lack of control we all have over it.
It is the depth and nuance of Chinese-American author Celeste Ng's characters that make her a literary force today. In the beautiful and stirring Everything I Never Told You, listeners find their loyalties shifting constantly from one character to another as they try to sort out the causes and effects of an unspeakable tragedy. Prolific Hall of Fame narrator Cassandra Campbell does a fantastic job at capturing this shift in loyalties for listeners. It all comes together in a slow burn, bleak conclusion that will have you thinking about the burden of expectations we all bear.
Vietnamese-American author Viet Thanh Nguyen won the Pulitzer Prize for his debut novel, The Sympathizer, and its beautifully crafted prose will make you stop in your tracks. With a fast-moving plot and a conflict that meets you front and center, this work is best enjoyed by listening to the incredible audio performance by Francois Chau. Both Nguyen’s lyricism and Chau’s narration demand that you disengage from the world and become fully immersed in this story of extreme politics and profound love. You will emerge shaken and haunted, with a new understanding of the delicate nature of loyalties.
A heartbreaking story of one small life and the multitude of lives connected to it, A Little Life by Korean-American Hanya Yanagihara is a staggering piece of fiction that explores the nuances of the human experience, from trauma and relationships to struggle and redemption. In audio, this novel soars with the acclaimed narration of Oliver Wyman, making this a listen you won’t soon be able to forget.
In this highly acclaimed and widely relatable family drama, Elaine Castillo examines the politics and trauma of two nations through the life story of an immigrant. When Hero De Vera arrives at the home of her uncle in San Francisco, it is to escape the political violence she experienced in the Philippines. There, she befriends her young cousin, the first in the family to be born in the United States, and looks to heal from both the emotional and physical scars she carried halfway around the world with her.
Science Fiction/Fantasy
Malaysian author Zen Cho has made a name for herself as a fresh, exciting new voice in fantasy. In The Sorcerer to the Crown, listeners meet Sorcerer Royal Zacharias Wythe, who finds himself in a dilemma when it appears magic is fading from the world. Enter Prunella, whose path will intersect with Zacharias's and ultimately decide the future of sorcery. Partly inspired by the work of Jane Austen and the rest pure imagination, this is a work of fantasy for both longtime fans and those hesitant to approach the genre. Lose yourself in Jenny Sterlin’s skillful narration, which listeners have commended for being completely immersive.
With her fantastical debut, The Ghost Bride, author Yangsze Choo (who is a fourth-generation Malaysian of Chinese descent) claimed her seat amongst the authors known for seamlessly blending mythology, culture, and history all in one beautiful story. This skill truly shines in the author-narrated The Night Tiger. There are two narratives that intertwine. One is about Ji Lin, an apprentice dressmaker who is moonlighting as a dance hall girl, and the other is about Ren, a young houseboy whose dying master has one request. As they both journey to find their answers, their paths intersect in the most unexpected ways.
One of the most eye-opening, searing listens out there, Severance by Chinese-American writer Ling Ma masterfully satirizes city living, corporate greed, and our collective definitions of success, fulfillment, and happiness. How do you best experience this groundbreaking work that is part dystopia and part reality? You listen to the talented Nancy Wu narrate it for you, freeing your eyes to look around and question everything and everyone.
Building on themes of Asian-American cultural pluralities and Chinese mythology, Chinese-American author Ken Liu does a great job at creating an inventive anthology. Fans of speculative fiction will enjoy stories examining everything from artificial intelligence to time travel. This soaring gem highlights so much of the skill and worldbuilding that made Liu’s The Grace of Kings a masterpiece in fantasy. The audiobook's two narrators, Corey Brill and Joy Osmanski, capture the depth of the stories and deliver impeccably timed performances.
Romance
While this novel is, of course, a work of fiction, it also acts as a joyful kind of travelogue that captures the wonderful (and sometimes hidden) joys of Asian cities, food, and culture. Experience the story that put Singaporean-American author Kevin Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians trilogy in the spotlight with narrator Lynn Chen. Her expertise will first help you lose yourself in the glitz and glam, before grounding the more heartfelt elements of a story that, at its core, is about vulnerability and family.
Vietnamese-American author Helen Hoang crafts a thoroughly unique and heartfelt romance in the unforgettable The Kiss Quotient. A tender romance featuring a neurodivergent woman lead who struggles to find herself in a world that embraces conformity and uniformity, this stunning audiobook was the Audible Editors' selection for the Best Romance of 2018. Let narrator Carly Robins take you on Michael and Stella’s swoon-worthy journey in this inclusive, diverse, and sex-positive charming romance.
Young Adult
In this funny, heartwarming story about finding the courage to express yourself to the one you care about, Lara Jean has written letters to all the boys she likes and has them safely tucked away…or so she thought. Soon, she finds each of those boys holding a letter that she authored and she’s mortified—until she finds love in the most unlikely of ways. All three of the books in the series by Korean-American author Jenny Han are wonderfully narrated by Ali Ahn. And after you finish the series, don’t miss Han’s other YA gems.
Korean-American author Jenny Lee’s YA reimagining of Leo Tolstoy's enduring love story, Anna Karenina, shines in its own right. While capturing the opulence characteristic of the classic novel, this creative take shifts the story to modern day Manhattan and makes it about teenagers dealing with modern day issues. The audiobook narration by Jenna Ushkowitz of Glee fame is a perfect way to experience this retelling.
Memoir
The American-born daughter of Chinese immigrants, Maxine Hong Kingston lit up the literary scene when she published this genre-bending mix of memoir, social sciences, folklore, and culture more than 40 years ago. The nonlinear, spellbinding story is performed in audio by actress Ming-Na Wen (The Mandalorian’s Fennec Shand and the voice of the titular heroine in animated classic Mulan), providing a special listening experience for a very special text.
After the man who sexually assaulted her was sentenced to just six months in jail, Chanel Miller made the brave decision to come out from behind the protection of anonymity and talk publicly about her experience. Her potent victim impact statement inspired other survivors of sexual violence to speak out and led to changes in the law, locally and nationally. In this memoir, she reveals how the events have changed her as well. Miller narrates her own story, with conviction and honesty, which will leave you trembling.
