If you enjoy reading novels by Salman Rushdie then you might also like the following authors:
Gabriel García Márquez is known for weaving reality with a touch of the extraordinary, often creating worlds that feel both familiar and surreal.
His book “One Hundred Years of Solitude” tells the story of the Buendía family over several generations in the fictional town of Macondo. The novel is filled with unforgettable characters, such as the visionary patriarch José Arcadio Buendía and the fiercely independent Úrsula.
Strange events—like a rain of yellow flowers and a child born with a pig’s tail—blend into the everyday lives of the characters.
The story explores themes of love, loss, and the weight of history in a way that’s both sweeping and deeply personal, leaving readers fascinated by the magic held within its pages.
Arundhati Roy is an author with a talent for weaving together stories about family, love, and societal change.
Her novel, “The God of Small Things,” is set in Kerala, India, and focuses on fraternal twins, Estha and Rahel, as they navigate the secrets and tragedies that shape their lives.
The story explores how a forbidden love affair, along with caste and cultural expectations, leads to devastating consequences for their family.
Through vivid descriptions and deeply personal moments, the book gives readers a look at the tensions of post-colonial India and the fragile ties that bind people together.
Isabel Allende is a Chilean author known for weaving rich, imaginative tales that often blend family history and cultural heritage with a touch of the surreal.
Her novel “The House of the Spirits” begins with the powerful story of Clara, a young girl with extraordinary abilities, and follows generations of a complex family through love, loss, and political upheaval in an unnamed Latin American country.
The novel moves through grand estates, passionate romances, and moments of mysticism, all set against a backdrop of shifting political tides. If you enjoy stories where personal fates intersect with larger historical events, this book offers that kind of depth and emotion.
Rohinton Mistry is an author known for bringing Indian life and history alive through his rich storytelling. His book, “A Fine Balance,” is set during the tumultuous period of India’s Emergency in the 1970s.
The story follows four strangers—a widow, a student, and two tailors—who are brought together by fate. Through their struggles and unlikely friendship, the book paints a vivid picture of resilience in the face of hardship.
It explores themes like class, politics, and survival in a way that feels deeply personal and heartfelt. Mistry creates a portrait of ordinary lives shaped by extraordinary circumstances.
Vikram Seth is an author known for his rich storytelling and deep sense of place. His novel, “A Suitable Boy,” is a sprawling tale set in post-independence India, where Lata, a young woman, faces the challenge of choosing a husband against the backdrop of a changing society.
The book weaves through her family’s lives, from political tensions to personal joys. It opens a vivid window into the relationships, traditions, and struggles of the time, with characters who feel alive on every page.
If you’re drawn to layered stories with rich cultural settings, this book might catch your interest.
Haruki Murakami is a Japanese author known for his unique blend of surrealism and emotional depth.
In his novel “Kafka on the Shore,” he tells the story of a fifteen-year-old boy named Kafka who runs away from home, as well as an elderly man named Nakata who has lost most of his memory but has the ability to talk to cats.
Their lives are connected by strange events, dreams that feel real, and questions about their pasts. The book weaves together moments of mystery, mythology, and personal discovery, keeping you hooked on how these two seemingly separate lives intersect.
Orhan Pamuk is a Turkish author known for weaving stories that explore history, culture, and identity. One of his standout novels, “My Name Is Red,” is set in 16th-century Istanbul and dives into the world of Ottoman miniaturist painters.
The story starts with a murder, as a painter is killed after working on a book commissioned by the Sultan. Through the perspectives of various characters—and even from the murdered man’s spirit—Pamuk builds a tale filled with art, secrets, and tension.
It’s a fascinating mix of mystery and history that takes you deep into the world of forbidden love and clashes between tradition and individuality.
Carlos Fuentes was a Mexican writer known for exploring themes of history, identity, and culture in his work. His novel “The Death of Artemio Cruz” tells the story of a former revolutionary who rises to power but becomes deeply corrupt.
The book unfolds as Cruz lies on his deathbed, reflecting on his life and the choices that shaped it. Through these reflections, Fuentes paints a vivid picture of Mexico’s political and social struggles in the 20th century.
The shifting perspectives and personal memories make the story unforgettable, highlighting ambition, betrayal, and regret in a man who embodies the contradictions of his country.
Jorge Luis Borges was an Argentinian author known for his imaginative storytelling and thought-provoking ideas. One of his most famous works, “Ficciones,” is a collection of short stories that play with reality, time, and the nature of knowledge.
In one story, “The Library of Babel,” Borges imagines a massive library filled with books containing every possible combination of letters, making it impossible to separate sense from nonsense.
In another, “The Garden of Forking Paths,” he creates a spy narrative connected to a mysterious novel that reflects infinite possibilities. His stories often blend philosophy and fiction in a way that feels fresh and surprising.
If you enjoy Salman Rushdie’s inventive approach, Borges offers a world where ideas and stories weave together in fascinating ways.
Chinua Achebe was a Nigerian writer known for bringing African stories and perspectives to global literature. His book, “Things Fall Apart,” tells the life of Okonkwo, a respected man in a small Igbo village.
The story shows his rise through hard work, his struggles with his father’s reputation, and the arrival of British missionaries that upend everything he knows.
The clash between traditional Igbo society and colonial forces creates powerful moments, especially when Okonkwo’s values meet the new ways brought by outsiders. It’s a story that shows deep cultural roots, the weight of change, and the human consequences of disruption.
Margaret Atwood is a Canadian author known for her imaginative storytelling and sharp insights on society. One of her standout novels is “The Handmaid’s Tale.” It takes place in a world where a strict religious regime has taken over, stripping women of their rights.
The story follows Offred, a woman forced to bear children for the ruling class. Her quiet resistance and memories of her life before create a story that is chilling and thought-provoking. The book explores power, control, and the human spirit against all odds.
If you’re drawn to Salman Rushdie’s vivid worlds and social themes, Atwood’s work might catch your attention.
Italo Calvino was an Italian writer who explored imaginative storytelling with a mix of wit and thoughtfulness. One of his most famous books, “Invisible Cities,” is a conversation between the explorer Marco Polo and Kublai Khan.
Polo describes magical cities, each one unique and strange, like a city built entirely on stilts or one that exists only in memory. The book isn’t really about geography—each city reflects ideas about life, dreams, and human nature.
The creativity in the descriptions feels boundless, giving readers so much to think about beyond the surface of the story.
Kazuo Ishiguro is an author known for his ability to tell stories that unfold with quiet emotional weight. One of his most well-known books, “The Remains of the Day,” follows Stevens, an English butler, as he reflects on his life of service to a once-powerful lord.
The story moves between his current journey through the English countryside and his memories of the years spent managing Darlington Hall.
Themes of duty, pride, and missed opportunities come through as Stevens looks back on decisions he made and the moments in life that passed him by. It’s a deeply human story that lingers long after you’ve finished it.
Toni Morrison is an American author who writes stories filled with rich history and emotional depth. One of her most well-known novels, “Beloved,” is a haunting tale about a woman named Sethe, a former slave who is haunted by the spirit of the baby she lost.
The story weaves through her life as she struggles with the weight of her past and the trauma of slavery. The book explores themes of memory, motherhood, and freedom, all set against the backdrop of post-Civil War America.
There’s an unforgettable scene where Sethe makes a heartbreaking decision to protect her children, showing the lengths a mother will go to for love.
Julio Cortázar created works that break traditional narrative boundaries, blending realism with elements of the absurd and surreal.
His novel “Hopscotch” invites readers to experience the story in a non-linear fashion, while “The Winners” navigates themes of conspiracy and existential questions.
Fans of Salman Rushdie may find Cortázar’s bold experimentation with form and language appealing, as both challenge storytelling conventions and weave themes of identity, culture, and the fantastical into their works.