Bewilderment by Richard Powers
The beauty of growing up in East Tennessee includes the Smoky Mountains that stretch across the North Carolina border. These mountains were once taller than the Himalayas millions of years ago but have...
Song of a Captive Bird by Jasmin Darznik
The novel "Song of a Captive Bird" by Jasmin Darznik portrays the remarkable life of Forough Farrokhzad, a rebellious and groundbreaking poet and filmmaker from Iran. Farrokhzad, who defied societal norms and conventions,...
A Burning by Megha Majumdar
Megha Majumdar's debut book "A Burning" stunned the literary community, being recognized as one of the most popular reads of the summer. It stands out for its political themes, unconventional writing style, and...
A Gentleman’s Guide to Graceful Living by Michael Dahlie
In A Gentleman’s Guide to Graceful Living, Michael Dahlie introduces us to Arthur Camden, a fumbling protagonist in his sixties in this debut novel that is both measured and humorous, with dark undertones,...
America Was Hard to Find by Kathleen Alcott
The novel "America Was Hard to Find" by Kathleen Alcott delves into the lives of three individuals over four decades against the backdrop of significant events like the Cold War, the moon landing,...
Fox by Dubravka Ugresic, translated by Ellen Elias-Bursać and David Williams
In Slavic literature, there is a strong tradition of writing about writing. Prominent writers like Chekhov, Tolstoy, Nabokov, Leskov, and Viktor Shlovsky have explored how reading, writing, and the act of creating literature...
Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay by Elena Ferrante, translated by Ann Goldstein
Comparing Elena Ferrante's "Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay" to George Eliot's "Middlemarch," both novels are praised for their mature approach to storytelling. Ferrante's work is part of the Neapolitan series and...
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
Ocean Vuong, acclaimed for his poetry collection "Night Sky with Exit Wounds," now presents his debut novel, "On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous," which mirrors the lyrical and poignant style of his poetry. Through...
God’s Wife by Amanda Michalopoulou, translated by Patricia Felisa Barbeito
When people pray, who do they talk to? At first glance, it may seem like they are speaking to themselves. The question of God's identity is intricate, and Greek novelist Amanda Michalopoulou adds...
You Think It, I’ll Say It by Curtis Sittenfeld
In the story "The Prairie Wife" from Curtis Sittenfeld’s latest collection, the character Kirsten feels envious of her friend Casey, wishing she could let go of grudges and live more freely. This theme...
