If you enjoy reading books by Abraham Verghese then you might also like the following authors:
Jhumpa Lahiri writes moving stories about displacement, family, and identity. If you enjoyed Abraham Verghese, her writing might resonate with you. In her book “The Namesake,” she tells the story of Gogol, the American-born son of Bengali immigrants.
The novel follows his struggles with his name, his heritage, and his place in the world. It captures the conflict between the life his parents envision for him and the one he wants for himself.
Through Gogol’s experiences, Lahiri paints a vivid picture of the immigrant journey and the ties between generations.
Khaled Hosseini is an author known for his emotional and heartfelt storytelling. His novel “The Kite Runner” explores friendship, betrayal, and redemption. The story follows Amir, a boy from Kabul, and his relationship with Hassan, the son of his father’s servant.
Set against the backdrop of Afghanistan’s political upheaval, the book captures life-changing decisions and their repercussions. Hosseini’s writing brings the characters to life and takes readers through moments of loyalty, guilt, and the search for forgiveness.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie writes stories that explore culture, family, and identity with a focus on modern Nigeria. One of her most celebrated books, “Half of a Yellow Sun,” is set during the Nigerian Civil War.
It follows characters whose lives are tied to the conflict—a professor, a houseboy, and a woman navigating her relationship with both men and the turbulent times around her.
The book captures personal struggles and the impact of war on everyday life, offering a rich portrait of human resilience.
Amitav Ghosh is an author known for weaving history and culture into his stories. One of his fascinating books, “The Shadow Lines,” explores memory, family ties, and borders through the eyes of a young narrator.
The story moves between Calcutta and London, uncovering how the lives of two connected families are shaped by historical events. The novel looks at how personal stories intersect with larger historical changes, like the Partition of India.
It’s rich with moments where relationships and places blend in unexpected ways.
William Boyd writes stories filled with rich characters and layered narratives. One of his novels, “Any Human Heart,” is presented as the collected journals of a fictional man, Logan Mountstuart.
Through Logan’s life, you witness key moments of the 20th century, from literary circles in 1920s Paris to the chaos of World War II. The book is a journey through friendships, love, and loss, told with a deep sense of humanity.
Boyd’s ability to bring the world and his characters to life makes his work stand out.
Arundhati Roy is an Indian author known for her rich storytelling and vivid characters. Her debut novel, “The God of Small Things,” is set in Kerala and focuses on a fractured family burdened by secrets.
The story revolves around twins, Rahel and Estha, whose lives change forever after a tragic event during their childhood. It looks at forbidden love, societal norms, and the deep scars left behind by past decisions.
The book vividly brings to life the lush landscapes of Kerala, weaving personal struggles with larger social issues. If you enjoy Abraham Verghese’s writing with strong cultural settings and emotions at the forefront, Roy’s work might resonate with you.
Gabriel García Márquez was a writer from Colombia known for telling vivid and emotional stories that feel almost larger than life. His book “One Hundred Years of Solitude” follows the Buendía family in the fictional town of Macondo.
The story weaves generations of personal struggles, love, and tragedy, with moments of magic that feel strangely ordinary in their world. The book has a way of making you feel connected to the characters through their joys and sorrows.
For readers who enjoy rich, layered stories, his work has a lot to offer.
Lisa See is an author known for exploring family bonds, cultural heritage, and the untold stories of women’s lives. Her book, “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan,” is set in 19th-century China and follows the lifelong friendship between two women, Lily and Snow Flower.
Bound together by a secret language written on folded fans, the story takes readers through arranged marriages, traditions, and the challenges the two women face as their lives pull them in different directions.
It’s a fascinating look at love and loyalty within the constraints of the time.
Barbara Kingsolver is a storyteller who often writes about deep family connections and the ways people navigate complicated circumstances. In her novel “The Poisonwood Bible,” she follows the Price family, missionaries who move to the Congo in the late 1950s.
Each chapter lets you see through the eyes of a different family member. The father’s rigid beliefs clash with the culture around him, while the rest of the family struggles in ways that feel deeply personal and, at times, heartbreaking.
Colum McCann is an author known for crafting deep and immersive stories. His novel, “Let the Great World Spin,” is set in 1974 New York City, where a group of characters are connected by an event high above the streets—a tightrope walk between the Twin Towers.
The story weaves together lives, including an artist, a grieving mother, and a priest, offering a mosaic of human experience. You get a vivid sense of the city and the struggles people face, all tied together in unexpected ways.
Fans of Abraham Verghese might appreciate how McCann creates rich, interconnected narratives with emotional depth.
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o is a Kenyan author who writes stories centered around the history and culture of Kenya, often showing the struggles of ordinary people caught in times of change.
In his book “The River Between,” he tells the story of two villages separated by a river and divided by religion, tradition, and colonial influence.
At the heart of the book is Waiyaki, a young man who tries to unite the opposing sides through education, though the tensions around him grow stronger. The book offers a vivid look at the clash between different worlds and the challenges of holding onto identity.
Yaa Gyasi is the author of “Homegoing,” a novel that spans generations and offers a look at the rippling effects of slavery and history on two Ghanaian half-sisters and their descendants.
One sister is forced into slavery and taken to America, while the other remains in Africa, marrying into a line of wealth and power. The story follows their families across centuries, capturing moments of struggle, resilience, and survival.
Each chapter focuses on a different character, creating a sense of unfolding history as readers trace the connections across the years.
Isabel Allende is a Chilean author known for her vivid storytelling and emotional depth. Her novel “The House of the Spirits” weaves together the lives of several generations in a magical and turbulent South American setting.
The story follows the Trueba family, where power, love, and secrets collide as political and personal struggles shape their fates. The blend of family drama and history creates a rich and unforgettable narrative.
Paul Kalanithi was a neurosurgeon and writer who wrote the memoir “When Breath Becomes Air.” In the book, he tells his own story, starting with his journey through medicine and how his life changed after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.
He reflects on his work as a doctor and the meaning he found in caring for his patients, even while facing his own mortality. The book is deeply personal and touches on choices, family, and what makes life worth living.
It’s an honest, raw account of a man who wore both a doctor’s coat and a patient’s gown.
Anne Tyler is known for creating stories that focus on ordinary families and the quiet details of their lives. In her novel, “Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant,” she tells the story of the Tull family and their struggles with love, growth, and connection.
The mother, Pearl, tries to hold everything together while her three children grow up and drift in different directions. The book captures moments of heartbreak and humor as the family works through missed chances and misunderstandings.