Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Take Place In Another Country

Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly meme that is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s topic is Books That Take Place In Another Country. Most of the books I have read are set in America or the UK, so this was a little tricky. It’s made me realise that I definitely need to expand my reading horizons. Let’s go around the world!

Cinder by Marissa Meyer – New Beijing

Cinder is a YA futuristic novel that is set in New Beijing which is the capital of the Eastern Commonwealth. It’s based on Beijing in China.

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh – Khorasan

This imaginative retelling of One Thousand and One Nights is set in the ancient Persian empire of Khorasan. Some of the cities mentioned in the book, like Rey and Taleqan, are now in present-day Iran.

Chocolat by Joanne Harris – France

Chocolat is a sensuous and delightful novel. As you can guess from the title, it’s set in France, specifically the village of Lansquenet. I enjoyed this book and need to read the rest of the series.

Cat’s Eye by Margaret Atwood – Canada

Margaret Atwood is a Canadian author and Cat’s Eye is set in Toronto. This book is about childhood bullying and its lifelong effects. I would like to read more by Atwood in the future.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley – Mostly Europe, Russia and the North Pole

This classic gothic book is like a travelogue. Frankenstein takes place in various European countries, including Switzerland, Italy, Germany, France and the UK. Russia and the North Pole are also explored.

Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier – Holland

This historical fiction novel is set in Delft, Holland. It’s inspired by Johannes Vermeer’s most famous painting Girl with a Pearl Earring. I recommend it for fans of art history.

The Odyssey by Homer – Greece

The Odyssey has an ancient Greek setting. This was required reading in one of my subjects at secondary school and it’s epic and memorable. I need to read The Iliad which is also composed by Homer.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho – Spain and North Africa

The Alchemist is a symbolic and allegorical novel. It’s about Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who journeys from Spain to North Africa and follows his dream. I’m not sure if I really “got” this, but it is a quick read.

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller – Italy

Catch-22 is set during World War II and most of the action takes place on a small Italian island. It’s a little on the long side, but if you like satire then this book is for you.

Dracula by Bram Stoker – Transylvania and England

Transylvania has become synonymous with Dracula. This historical region is part of modern-day Romania. I was surprised to learn that Bram Stoker never visited Transylvania, but he did carry out extensive research. Whitby and London also feature in the classic horror novel.

What books have you read that take place in another country? Let me know in the comments and feel free to link your Top Ten Tuesday post!