One of the many reasons I love being able to attend my school? The University of North Carolina Asheville repeatedly has some of the best speakers, artists, and musicians on campus, gracing the students with their knowledge and insight. Luckily for me and the Asheville community in general, UNCA's Cultural Events program was able to bring Salman Rushdie on campus. One of the most celebrated authors of our time, Salman Rushdie is a British-Indian author best known for his novels "The Satanic Verses" and "Midnight's Children." With fiction heavily based in magical realism, Rushdie also writes on the themes of globalization and the ties between the Eastern and Western world. In honor of his visit and his words on the importance of reading novels from around the world, here are five contemporary authors from all around the world that deserve your attention.
Marjane Satrapi -- Iran
Satrapi, an Iranian-born French contemporary graphic novelist, illustrator, animated film director, and children's book author, penned one of the most highly regarded graphic novels, "Persepolis." A coming-of-age memoir, the book tells the story of Satrapi's upbringing in a country torn apart during the Islamic Revolution. Satrapi's family, her rebellious phase, and the life lessons she learns along the way make the book a stunning read. After going to boarding school in France, Satrapi returned to Iran for college. After a short marriage, Satrapi moved back to France and has been there ever since. Some of her more recent works are graphic novel "Embroideries" and novel "Chicken with Plums." The author has also delved into filmmaking, helping to adapt some of her novels into movies.
Mo Yan -- China
Guan Moye, better known by his pen name Mo Yan, which translates to "don't speak," is one of China's most celebrated contemporary authors. Known for his historical novels with influences of magical realism and aspects of black humor, Yan won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012 for his contributions to literature. His most famous novel, "Red Sorghum," spans three generations, relating the stories of a family in Shandong province and their struggles with the times and with each other during the Chinese battle against Japanese invaders. Yan is also an avid supporter of reading literature from around the world like Rushdie, stating that "literature can overcome the barriers that separate countries and nations."
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie -- Nigeria
You may have heard of Adichie -- her speech on feminism was sampled on Beyonce's "Flawless," and that speech was later turned into an acclaimed book last year. One of the most prominent younger authors to come out of a resurgence of African literature, all of her novels have received acclaim. "Americanah," her most recent novel, depicts the struggle of two young lovers separated, and how they learn to cope in the places they call home, while her earlier novel, "Half of a Yellow Sun," won the Orange Prize for Fiction. Adichie is an adamant feminist, stating that her feminist views influence her writings.
Isabel Allende -- Chile
Isabel Allende, who writes in the South American "magical realism" style popularized by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Jorge Luis Borges, is considered one of the first successful South American female authors. Her first novel, "The House of the Spirits," is one of the most widely acclaimed contemporary novels, touching on themes of family and women, with mythical and magical elements added throughout her tales. She's been called the "world's most widely read Spanish-language author" and is still releasing novels every few years. She's lived in the U.S. since 1989.
Banana Yoshimoto -- Japan
Another author writing under a pen name, Yoshimoto is one of the more discreetly well-known Japanese authors -- but her works are just as breathtaking. Her first novel, "Kitchen," was an acclaimed hit and remains her most famous work. Composed of two stories, the novel touches on two of her most common themes, exhaustion of young Japanese in contemporary Japan and the ways that tragedies and heartbreak affect people. An extremely private person, Yoshimoto keeps most of her life under wraps, but consistently publishes new work. Her most recently translated novel is "The Lake," which was partly inspired by the Aum Shinrikyo cult.
These are only a few of the brilliant authors that world literature has to offer. Kyung-sook Shin, from South Korea, Muriel Barbery, from France, and NoViolet Bulawayo, from Zimbabwe, are just a few other suggestions. When we read, we're transported to other worlds. Let these authors transport you to other places in our world, because it's true: Reading is the second-best plane ticket. As Sir Rushdie said during his speech, literature "brings us truth of the lived parts of the world."
