This chapter of The New Torchlight List takes in a big geographical area and a variety of cultures.
In this episode, Jim discusses the work of writers in Japan, India, Turkey Iran, Israel and Saudi Arabia.
He recommends Snow, by Turkish Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk "which lays bare the murderous intensity behind Turkey's divisions, but also it's a great read".
Robert Lacey's Inside the Kingdom opened his eyes to the culture of Saudi Arabia and Rohinton Mistry's A Fine Balance reveals the caste system "in all its brutality".
