I can’t stand VS Naipul but enjoy most things from Rushdie and Michael Ondaatje.

Regarding Japanese fiction, a few years ago I used to see Kirino recommended often. I enjoyed “Out” but haven’t like anything else I have read by her.

How open are you to controversy and vulgarity? If you are open to it, Houllebecq is worth reading for sure. Many of his novels are brilliant but also nihilistic and repulsive. “Atomized” is probably his best rated novel and a good place to start.

They are European, but I love the Scandinavian noir mysteries.

I grew up in Japan, so am fond of Japanese authors. Try these:

https://j-entranslations.com/10-modern-japanese-authors-that-arent-murakami/

PP. Just read “Half of a Yellow Sun” based on the recommendation here. I was in tears at the end. What a gorgeous and painful book. I loved “Americanah” but think this might be a surpassing masterpiece.

Anonymous wrote:How recent is "contemporary"?

it means written recently, not 50 yrs ago. That would be mid-century fiction (or earlier)

How recent is "contemporary"?

Naquib mahfuz.....any book by him

Banana Yoshimoto