Book Snails Book Group discussion

Asia is made up of 48 countries and accounts for 29% of the total land area on Earth's surface. Asians, Middle, Southeast and East, make up about 60% of the human population. Within the borders of those 48 countries there are hundreds of cultural identities aside from the national identity. As Asian hate crimes are on the rise in the West and Australia, I thought we should focus on an Asian country or culture. As the perpetrator in horrific Atlanta shootings targeted Koreans I chose this culture for our April theme.
Korea is comprised of two sovereign nations, the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). The history of Korea, like all nations, is one of Independence and occupation. From 1910 to 1945 Korea was controlled by Japan. At the end of WWII Korea gained independence but was split in two along the 38th parallel, with the North being influenced and assisted by Russia and the South by the USA. Since separation ideology, politics and military aggression have kept the two nations from reconciliation and, at best, in détente but often in a state of heightened tension.
North Korea is possibly the world's most secretive and oppressive state. Very little is know about it, aside from the State sanctioned information and the writings of the few who've escaped. Most of the books about North Korea by North Koreans will be memoirs, history or political writings. There are few fictions. So I include two rows of non-fiction genres of for each nation.

Memoir - North Korea


Memoir - South Korea


History/Politics - North Korea


History/Politics - South Korea


Contemporary Fiction
(NK)

Historical Fiction


Mystery/Thriller
(NK)

Romance


Fantasy/Sci-Fi


Horror


YA


Poetry/Short Story
(NK)

Children's/Middle Grade

Great list, and thanks for breaking it up by category

StarMan wrote: "Great list, and thanks for breaking it up by category"

Thanks. 😀
The goal is to diversify our reading and I always try to make it as appealing as possible. I want as many genres as possible for greatest appeal.

I was surprised at how few horrors there are. Especially as there are so many Korean horror films. Though many could fall under the psychological thriller category too.