One book I read a while back was 'The Sound of One Hand Clapping' by Richard Flanagan (Grove Press). I am always interested in reading novels related to characters dealing with conflict, emotional or physical, resulting from cultural clash.
'The Sound of One Hand Clapping' is set in Tasmania, Australia. Bojan Buloh is an immigrant from Slovenia who goes to Australia with his wife, Maria, to move on from bitter memories of wartime atrocities. They have a daughter, Sonja, who together with her father, Bojan, is a central character in the novel, as they attempt to survive together after Maria leaves mysteriously.
The writer uses language rich in imagery as well as language which is sometimes direct and brutal to show the tension in the relationship between Sonja and Bojan. Although it is a relationship which finally gains positivity, there are many trials along the way, including dealing with the racism prevalent in Australia at the time when the earlier events of the book are set, in the 1950s and 1960s.
Other books that I have found stimulating concerning characters dealing with culture clash are:
'Obasan' by Joy Kurita, based on her own experiences as a young Japanese-Canadian forced to move inland as anti-Japanese sentiment builds up after Pearl Harbour
''Tis' where Frank McCourt, writer of 'Angela's Ashes' describes his struggle as a young Irish immigrant in New York. He is physically self-conscious and has to deal with less than motivated students after he qualifies as a high school teacher.
Books I have reviewed for 'The Proceedings of the Japan Society'