There's so much available to read on the #SubwayLibrary — a service that delivers free e-books brought to you by MTA, Transit Wireless, and NYC's libraries— it can be hard to choose which books to peruse on your commute. Lucky for you, we're going to put together a list of our favorite titles in a given category every week, so you can get the best recommendations for what to read from our NYPL experts.

This week's category: international tales! The Subway Library has a wide-ranging collection of stories from authors across the globe, encompassing memoir, travelogue, and fiction. Now you can travel around the world without ever leaving your subway seat. Take a look:

Murder in Matera by Helene Stapinski

If you love Elena Ferrante, you need to check out this page-turner of a memoir, written by a journalist who travels to Italy to investigate the secrets of her great-great-grandmother’s past. Excerpt, a 1-hour read.

Red Bean Sticky Cakes and Running by Zhao Ying

The words “I am a countrywoman” open this story of a state-sponsored Chinese track star, who describes how running shaped her complicated relationship with her mother. Full text, a 1-hour read.

The Lanterns of Seville by Abd el-Salam al-Ujayli

In 1954, A Syrian writer describes searching for what remains of Arabic culture in Spain. Full text, a 1-hour read.

Easter Lunch by Gabriella Ghermandi

A funny and sweet short story, set in Bologna, about an Ethiopian teen inviting her new Italian boyfriend over for a traditional holiday dinner. Full text, a half-hour read.

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry

Get a glimpse into 1975 India through the lens of four strangers, fleeing political strife, who seek refuge together in a single tiny apartment. Excerpt, a half-hour read.

Red Bean Sticky Cakes and Running, The Lanterns of Seville, and Easter Lunch were all brought to Subway Library via Words Without Borders, which promotes cultural understanding through the translation, publication, and promotion of the contemporary international literature. Every month, it publishes eight to 12 new works in English translation in its free online magazine. Dozens of stories from Words Without Borders appear on Subway Library.

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