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:

Brunei – The Fisherman King by Kathrina Mohd Daud
A novel set in Brunei that blends modern-day and historical narratives, centered on a fisherman named Lisan who believes he is of royal descent and returns home after eight years to prove it, intertwining his quest with a historical tale of doomed royal siblings and the mythical serpent god, the Nabau, exploring themes of fate, identity, and Bruneian folklore. Rating: 3/5

Bulgaria – East of the West: A Country in Stories by Miroslav Penkov
Debut short story collection, exploring the history, culture, and absurdities of his native Bulgaria through poignant and humorous tales. The stories blend folklore, history (from Ottoman rule to communism), and modern life, featuring characters grappling with family, exile, and identity, often with a magical or surreal twist. Rating: 4/5

Burkina Faso – Ritual: Power, Healing and Community by Malidoma Patrice Some
An exploration of how ancient tribal wisdom can heal modern societal alienation. Written by West African Dagara medicine man Malidoma Patrice Somé, the book argues that the absence of meaningful, community-based ritual is a core reason modern Western societies suffer from spiritual disconnection and emotional suffering. Rating: 3/5

Burundi – Small Country by Gaël Faye
A poignant coming-of-age story set in Burundi in the early 1990s, narrated by a young boy named Gabriel whose idyllic childhood in a comfortable expatriate neighborhood is shattered by the escalating ethnic violence leading to the Rwandan genocide. Rating: 4/5

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