Reading Around the World. The challenge set by the Broke and the Bookish was to find books set outside the US. I have never had the opportunity to visit the US sad face and it wasn’t until I began to look closely that I realised how many books are set in America. It became almost an obsession to find books and my list just exploded. I eventually realised that there was no way I could put all of the books I wanted to on one list. I’ll have to do a series of posts featuring books from different continents- watch this space!
This is a (somewhat shorter) list of books from around the world. I have chosen books I have read and highly recommend. I hope you can find one (or more) you’d like to read.
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
This beautiful, inspirational but heartbreaking book tells the story of two very different women who find comfort and strength in each other in war-torn Afganistan.
Goodreads
Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk
Book Depository Loot.co.za
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
Set in a boarding school in Australia this YA book is one that I will always remember. This book combines two separate stories so that they intertwine and enrich each other as you unravel their secrets.
Goodreads
Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk
Book Depository Loot.co.za
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
Anna Dressed in Blood is a dark, spine-chilling YA ghost story set in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Sinister, menacing and downright creepy, this is the perfect Halloween read.
Goodreads
Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk
Book Depository Loot.co.za
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy 
Set in Kerala, Southern India this is a beautiful book that weaves wistful words replete with foreboding menace and the loss of innocence. Unforgettable mental images accompany the words making this a story you won’t disremember.
Goodreads
Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk
Book Depository Loot.co.za
Coram Boy by Jamila Gavin
Eighteenth-century England comes to life in this sinister story that still haunts me five years after I put it down. Shocking, shadowy events and eerie characters traipse through the pages creating a subtle but dark menacing gothic atmosphere.
Goodreads
Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk
Book Depository Loot.co.za
Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
This mesmerising book is a mix of historical fiction and fantasy. Set in 15th century France it is brilliantly, mysteriously bursting with treason and betrayal. I loved the storyline which has murder, secrets, assassins and villains seeping out its pores.
Goodreads
Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk
Book Depository Loot.co.za
Babylon’s Ark: The Incredible Wartime Rescue of the Baghdad Zoo by Lawrence 
Anthony
A non-fiction memoir by Lawrence Anthony, a well-known South African conservationist and author of The Elephant Whisperer, about the courageous rescue of the Baghdad Zoo animals during the Iraq War.
Goodreads
Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk
Book Depository Loot.co.za
Orchards by Holly Thompson
Written in verse this award-winning YA book about complicated family relationships and a clash of cultures. I flew through this inspiring, uplifting story of a Japanese-American girl is sent to stay with her grandparents home in Japan after her involvement in a bullying-related suicide.
Goodreads
Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk
Book Depository Loot.co.za
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys 
This YA historical fiction book is a haunting and compelling portrayal of humanity during the Second World War. Sparks of life, small acts of kindness and decency, shine through between brutal cruelty while the prisoners of war face the reality of survival in an unbelievably harsh environment
Goodreads
Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk
Book Depository Loot.co.za
The Trouble with Flying by Rachel Morgan
Rachel Morgan is a South African author well known for her YA fantasy series. The Trouble with Flying is the first of a series of contemporary fiction. Although the characters make an appearance in their friend’s stories, each book is about different characters so can be read in any order.
Goodreads
Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk
Book Depository Loot.co.za
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Veronika Éles
I’ve only read Anna Dressed in Blood from your list and I had NO IDEA it was set in Canada. Maybe because I read it years ago and I have the worst memory. Between Shades of Gray & Grave Mercy are on my tbr – didn’t know GM was set in France. That makes me even more excited for it!
crushingcinders
I actually didn’t Know ADIB was set in Canada when I read the book either, I only found out when I researched for the post. Hope you like BSOG and GM. 🙂
Stephanie@Fairday's Blog
What an interesting challenge! I have read Between Shades of Grey and it was sad and interesting. I learned a lot about the time period! I also read A Thousand Splendid Suns. I loved it- though it was also sad. I learned so much from reading it! I hope you enjoy both of them when you get to them. I have had Jellicoe Road for a long time, but haven’t had a chance to read it yet. I hope to get to it soon! 🙂
crushingcinders
Thank you! I always feel so grateful after reading sad books like Shades of Gray that I wasn’t born into such hardship.
Resh Susan
This is such a lovely post. God of small things is one of my favourite books. I have Jellicoe road on TBR. And yes, 1000 splendid suns was also heart breaking
crushingcinders
Hope you like Jellicoe Road when it gets to the top of your TBR. Thanks for visiting.
crushingcinders
Thank you
Zoe @ Stories on Stage
Between Shades of Gray is one of my favorite YA historical fiction novels, so I am so glad to see it on your list. And I really enjoyed Anna Dressed in Blood and Jellicoe Road too. Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous post! <3
crushingcinders
Thank you! Hopping over to see your post.
Lauren @ Always Me
Anna Dressed in Blood is awesome! 🙂
I need to read Grave Mercy!
Check out my TTT.
Jo
Between Shades of Grey was on my list this week too!
Giovanna
Great Top Ten! I’ve been wanting to read, Between Shades of Gray for a while now, but the WWII setting is kind of a turn off…Maybe I should just suck it up, and read it anyway…
My Top Ten Tuesday!
crushingcinders
It is sad but worth reading. Thanks for the visit 🙂
Jenna @ Rather Be Reading YA
I’m reading Grave Mercy now. Good list! I haven’t heard of about half of them.
Candace
I loved Grave Mercy!
crushingcinders
It is such a good story, I haven’t finished the series yet, but I’ve heard they are good too.
Candace
Book 2 is my fave, but I wasn’t a big fan of book 3
Candace
I live Grave Mercy!
Candace
I live Grave Mercy!
Suzanne
Great list! I loved A Thousand Splendid Suns as well and am adding Between Shades of Grey, Jellicoe Road, and The God of Small Things to my TBR. Thanks for sharing 🙂
crushingcinders
thank for visiting. Hope you enjoy them!
Greg
I’ve heard really good things about A Thousand Splendid suns and I enjoyed Grave Mercy a lot. That French setting really worked for me. I think it’s a great idea to make a series of regular posts about this topic!
crushingcinders
I know I have discovered so many unread books that look really good on everyones lists!
JAH
You’ve got a great list here! I haven’t read any, so I guess I have to get reading!
https://booksbeyondmeasure.wordpress.com/2016/07/19/top-ten-books-set-outside-the-us/
crushingcinders
Hope you like them as much as I did. Thanks for the visit.
Grace @ Rebel Mommy Book Blog
I have a lot of these on my TBR. A Thousand Splendid Suns and Grave Mercy I have wanted to read for a long time now. Between Shades of Grey and Jellicoe Road are newer to my TBR but I am still excited for them. Great list!!
crushingcinders
They are so good! Hope you enjoy them as much as I did.
Cait @ Paper Fury
omg Between Shades of Grey i set in Russia?! HOW DID I NOT KNOW THIS?! I need it immediately. xD I mean, I’ve always been going to read it, I just never get around to it. Bleh to my ginormous TBR. hehe. And I still have to read Jellicoe Road. Melina Marchetta is like SUCH a writing queen. :’)
Thanks for stopping by @ Paper Fury!
crushingcinders
I haven’t read any others yet but Jelicoe was good. Must look out for more of hers. My TBR seems to grow even when I’m not looking like it has a life of its own!
Lindsey @ Lindsey Reads
Nice list and it’s so great that you found 10 different locations! A Thousand Splendid Suns, Grave Mercy and Between Shades of Gray are still on my TBR, I hope to get to them soon. 🙂
crushingcinders
Thank you!Hope you enjoy them.
Diana
I like how you did your post with the flags.I have the three Khaled Hosseini books on my list too. A thousand splendid suns was the saddest of the three, all beautiful stories though. I am looking for more books set in SA.
Here is my TTT:https://ahavenforbooklovers.wordpress.com/2016/07/19/top-ten-tuesday-ten-books-set-outside-the-us/
crushingcinders
I did a previous post on South African books that you may like. https://crushingcinders.com/celebrating-diversity-with-south-african-books
Agnes
Great list! A Thousand Splendid Suns, Jellicoe Road, and The God of Small Things are all on my TBR. Love that you put the flags next to the book covers! I came across a TTT earlier that put maps in the post as well, both make the book descriptions more evocative (?), I think.
crushingcinders
Thank you! Hope you enjoy the books when you get to them.
Puput @ Sparkling Letters
Great list! I want to read stories located or at least written by African authors! Of all the continents in the world, African is probably the only one I haven’t read about. Have you got some more recommendations, preferably in YA Fantasy? 😛 I’ve also always wanted to read Anna Dressed in Blood but I’m a bit of a coward, ghost stories and thrillers completely spook me. Precisely the reason why I keep postponing reading Gone Girl and Miss Peregrine. Scary movies don’t scare me though, it’s my imaginations that run wild 😛
crushingcinders
Rachel Morgan’s Faerie Guardian series is very good the first book is free on Amazon.com right now. The author is South African but the book is set in a fantasy world. Her Trouble series (book one is on this post) is YA/NA, very good and set in SA and is also free on Amazon now.
crushingcinders
This is a previous Top Ten post just on South African books. https://crushingcinders.com/celebrating-diversity-with-south-african-books