Making progress on my Read the World Challenge, where you read a book by an author from each country in the world. I’m going alphabetical by country, limiting myself to the 193 member states of the UN, and including a mix of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Next four books finished:

Angola – A General Theory of Oblivion by José Eduardo Agualusa
A novel about Ludo, a Portuguese woman who bricks herself into her Luanda apartment for 30 years, starting on the eve of Angolan independence, and chronicles the country’s tumultuous history through her isolation, diaries, and observations from her window. Rating: 4/5

Antigua and Barbuda – A Small Place by Jamaica Kincaid
A scathing, book-length essay exploring the devastating impacts of colonialism and tourism on Antigua. It presents a sharp critique of how Western tourists consume the island’s beauty while ignoring its socio-political corruption and post-colonial poverty, effectively acting as an “indictment” of these systems. Rating: 2/5

Argentina – Jorge Luis Borges: The Last Interview and Other Conversations
Compiles interviews with the famous Argentine author, including his final one with Gloria Lopez Lecube shortly before his death in 1986, alongside other significant conversations, notably with Richard Burgin during his time at Harvard. The book offers insights into his life, literary philosophy, blindness, and politics, providing a revealing look at one of the 20th century’s most celebrated cultural figures. Rating: 4/5

Armenia – Three Apples Fell from the Sky by Narine Abgaryan
A fable-like novel about community, love, and second chances, set in a remote Armenian mountain village called Maran. The story follows lifelong resident Anatolia, who, believing she is dying, receives an unexpected proposal from a neighbor, sparking an unlikely romance that revitalizes the isolated village. Rating: 4/5

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