The Diverse Shelf discussion

If anyone wants a bigger challenge, or community geared toward that, the Reading Globally group on LibraryThing is great. They focus on different regions each quarter of the year. It's also a great place to get recommendations.

I try to read one book set in or about a non-English speaking country every month.

Games Without Rules: The Often Interrupted History of Afghanistan, January 9
1941: The Year That Keeps Returning, February 23
Brother, I'm Dying, March 21
All Our Names, April 29
The Wedding Song, April 23
Cloud of Sparrows, April 9
Alice's Piano, May 7

I have a question. What of Sci-Fi and Fantasy books that take place in fictional countries, but are based on places that I would like to stop in on my literary world tour? In particular, I'm thinking of Saladin Ahmed's Throne of the Crescent Moon which draws from Arab and Muslim cultures.

Thanks!

I know that I am complicating the challenge a bit (or a lot?).

I figured this one case might be okay because I think this challenge is about exploring cultures and people more than specific places.

However, I'll definitely be careful about incorporating fantastical settings because I know that the cultures and people about whom I wish to learn grow and change in response to where they are living. So this will be the only Fantasy novel I count for this challenge.

I like keeping a list somewhere so I can see percentages of my total read later.

I have a bunch of lists saved of books/authors from specific countries, ethnicities, etc... Would it be useful for anyone if I posted the links here?

African Writers by Country

New Database of Caribbean Literature

Lesbian Historical Novels

Asian and Asian American Fiction by Authors of South Asian Descent

South American Literature

10 Asian Pacific American YA Authors to Know

Mental Illness History Reading

100 Books by Black Women Everyone Must Read

2014 Publications by Authors of Color

14 Must-Read Works of Chicano Literature

7 American Indian Women Novelists You Have to Read

A Reading List for National Coming Out Day

I forgot about this challenge!

May:
Ancient Egyptian Literature: An Anthology

June:
Purple Hibiscus

July:
War with the Newts
Rabbit-Proof Fence: The True Story of One of the Greatest Escapes of All Time
Who Fears Death
A Train in Winter: An Extraordinary Story of Women, Friendship, and Resistance in Occupied France
Empress Dowager CIXI

It's not another country for US people, but here's another diverse reading help list (it's a PDF):
Indigenous Hawaiian Authors