If you enjoy reading books by Viet Thanh Nguyen then you might also like the following authors:
Ocean Vuong writes with a poetic and heartfelt style that stands out. His novel, “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous,” is framed as a letter from a son to his illiterate mother. It reflects on their experiences as Vietnamese immigrants in America.
The book shares intimate moments from his life, including his struggles with identity and his first love. Vuong’s reflections bring out emotional truths that linger long after the last page.
Readers who appreciate Viet Thanh Nguyen’s ability to blend personal and historical narratives might find themselves drawn to Vuong’s work as well.
Jhumpa Lahiri is known for writing stories that explore themes of identity, migration, and family rooted in the experience of the Indian diaspora.
One of her acclaimed books, “The Namesake,” follows Gogol Ganguli, a man born to Bengali immigrants in the United States, as he struggles with his name, his heritage, and his place in two cultures.
The story takes readers through key moments in his life, showing the challenges of balancing familial expectations with the desire for independence. Through Gogol’s journey, the book paints a vivid picture of what it means to grow up between two worlds.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian author known for powerful stories that explore identity, culture, and belonging.
Her novel “The Thing Around Your Neck” is a collection of short stories that take readers into the lives of characters navigating love, loss, and the tension between home and abroad.
In one story, a young woman moves to the United States, where she faces isolation and cultural misunderstandings, while grappling with the expectations of her family back in Nigeria.
With richly developed characters, Adichie paints a vivid picture of the struggles and connections that define these experiences.
Mohsin Hamid is an author known for writing stories that explore identity and displacement. One of his books, “Exit West,” follows a young couple, Nadia and Saeed, as their city collapses into war.
They escape through mysterious doors that transport them to new places, from Greece to California. The story doesn’t focus solely on the war but also on the changes in their relationship as they navigate unfamiliar worlds.
It blends realism with a touch of fantasy, creating an emotional journey through love and migration.
Yiyun Li is an author known for her deeply human stories that explore relationships, culture, and identity. Her book, “The Vagrants,” is set in a small Chinese town during the aftermath of the Cultural Revolution.
It follows a group of ordinary people connected by the execution of a young woman labeled a political dissident.
The story introduces characters like a radio announcer struggling to balance loyalty and conscience, a young girl navigating societal pressures, and a teacher haunted by the past. Li’s writing captures the weight of personal choices and how they ripple across a community.
Arundhati Roy is an author best known for her debut novel, “The God of Small Things.” The book is set in a small village in Kerala, India, and tells the story of fraternal twins, Estha and Rahel.
It explores family secrets, societal rules, and how a moment can alter lives forever. The story moves between their childhood and adulthood, revealing connections and consequences in a way that feels deeply intimate.
Roy’s way of capturing emotion and the impact of history on personal lives might appeal to readers who enjoy Viet Thanh Nguyen’s works.
Julie Otsuka is an author known for her poetic and spare writing, which often explores themes of identity and displacement. In her novel “The Buddha in the Attic,” she tells the story of Japanese picture brides who arrived in California in the early 20th century.
The book follows their experiences as they meet their new husbands, work in fields and homes, and face rising prejudice. Each chapter focuses on collective voices, giving a powerful glimpse into their shared struggles and moments of hope.
Khaled Hosseini is an Afghan-American author who writes stories that explore human connections, cultural roots, and lifelong bonds. One of his well-loved novels, “The Kite Runner,” follows the lives of two boys, Amir and Hassan, who grow up in 1970s Afghanistan.
Their childhood friendship is shaped by loyalty, betrayal, and secrets that haunt them into adulthood. Set against the backdrop of a changing Afghanistan, the story combines personal struggles with historical upheaval.
The emotional conflicts and vivid details of their journey make the characters unforgettable. If you enjoy stories where personal histories intertwine with larger societal shifts, Hosseini’s work might resonate with you.
Celeste Ng writes stories that focus on family dynamics, identity, and the weight of secrets. Her novel, “Everything I Never Told You,” centers on a mixed-race family in 1970s Ohio after the sudden death of their daughter, Lydia.
The story peels back the layers of their lives, showing how cultural expectations, parental pressures, and hidden desires shape their connections. It’s heartfelt and reveals the unspoken tensions within families, all while keeping the characters deeply human.
If you liked the way Viet Thanh Nguyen explores identity within relationships, you might find Ng’s work equally meaningful.
Kazuo Ishiguro is known for his understated storytelling, exploring memory, identity, and human connection. His novel “The Remains of the Day” follows Stevens, a loyal English butler, as he reflects on his years of service to a wealthy lord.
Set after World War II, the story takes the reader through Stevens’ quiet struggle with his sense of duty and his missed chances at personal happiness.
The emotional weight of the book comes from Stevens’ journey through the English countryside, where his reflections reveal the cost of dedicating his life to someone else’s ideals.
Ruth Ozeki is an author who blends personal stories with larger issues in a way that feels intimate and engaging. Her novel, “A Tale for the Time Being,” connects the lives of two characters across time and distance.
A writer in British Columbia discovers a diary washed ashore after the 2011 tsunami. The diary belongs to a Japanese teenager named Nao, who writes about her struggles with bullying and her family’s hardships.
The story shifts between the writer piecing together Nao’s life and the emotional entries from Nao herself, creating a bond between two people who have never met.
Laila Lalami is a novelist known for exploring themes of identity and belonging. Her book, “The Other Americans,” begins with the hit-and-run death of a Moroccan immigrant in a small California town.
The story unfolds through the perspectives of various characters, including his daughter, his wife, and a witness. Each voice adds layers to the mystery while also revealing personal struggles tied to family, culture, and loss.
The novel creates a vivid picture of a community pulled together and torn apart by secrets and misunderstandings.
Ha Jin writes stories that often explore themes of migration, identity, and the cost of loyalty. His book “A Free Life” follows Nan Wu, a Chinese immigrant trying to build a new existence in America after leaving behind his homeland.
The novel focuses on his struggles to provide for his family, chase his dream of being a poet, and navigate the gap between two cultures. The emotional weight of his journey is balanced by small, intimate moments that bring his story to life.
Min Jin Lee is an author who tells stories about family, identity, and the struggles of immigrants over generations. Her novel “Pachinko” follows a Korean family living in Japan through the 20th century, showing how they face prejudice, poverty, and the weight of their history.
At the center is Sunja, a young woman from a small Korean village who makes a life-changing choice that affects her descendants. Through the family’s journey, the book explores questions of belonging and resilience in the face of a society that tries to push them aside.
It’s filled with characters whose lives feel real and unforgettable.
Nguyen Phan Que Mai is a Vietnamese author known for writing about the lives of ordinary people during complex times in Vietnam’s history. Her novel “The Mountains Sing” tells the story of a family torn apart by war and political changes.
It follows multiple generations of the Tran family as they face loss, resilience, and hope.
Through the eyes of a grandmother and her granddaughter, readers witness their struggles to survive and keep their family bonds strong, even when the world around them is falling into chaos.