Newly arrived fiction from around the world
The Muslim Cowboy by Bruce Omar Yates
Set in the aftermath of the Iraq war, the 'American', an Iraqi man obsessed with Americana and western movies, and his grumbling camel make their way across the sweeping and arid landscape of the war torn country where they meet Nadia. Together they set out find safety. Cinematic and rich in iconography, Yates' debut novel is full of unexpected encounters and a surprising friendship.
The Dream of a Tree by Maja Lunde
In 1849, a young botanist embarks on a perilous journey to the Himalaya to collect seeds for the world's first major botanical garden. in 2017 a young woman faces a moral dilemma when her employer develops new technology that could pose significant risk to the environment. And in the near future, a young boy living in a world decimated by climate change discovers a vault, hidden in the perma frosts of Longyearbyen that could spell hope for the human race. Told in these three intertwining narratives, The Dream of a Tree poses intriguing questions about the future of our species.
Lai grows up in 1970s Beijing, in a working class neighbourhood in the heart of this bustling metropolis but moves to Peking to study. Falling in with a theatre troupe, she becomes part of the student resistance. Through Lai's eyes, we witness the stirrings of political change in the 1980s, the hopes and dreams of a generation, and the brutal crackdown that followed.
Blending elements of horror, magical realism, folklore and mythology into a beguiling collection of 12 short stories, Aguda takes her readers into an alternative universe Lagos, blending the supernatural with every day life. A razor sharp collection that was a finalist in the American National Book Awards for Fiction.
Where there was Fire by John Manuel Arias
Brimming with spirits and omens, secrets and coverups, Where There Was Fire centres around a fire at the American Fruit Company in Costa Rica which destroys all evidence of sinister behaviours. Decades later, and Teresa, whose life was shattered the night of the fire, is forced to face the events that destroyed her family. Inspired by real events in banana plantations around central America, Arias' poetic and lyrical writing is vivid and captivating.
Someone Like Us by Dinaw Mengestu
After the collapse of his once happy marriage, Mamush, a journalist of Ethiopian heritage returns to his home town of Washington D.C, the place that has shaped his life. There he discovers that Samuel, a charismatic and influential figure from his community, has suddenly died, leaving Mamush with questions about his own life. Mengestu captures the cultural tensions that exist within immigrant communities as, we witness the struggles and triumphs of a generation caught between two worlds, grappling with their heritage, their identity, and their place in the world.
Taiwan Travelogue by Shuangzi Yang
Presented as a 'found' document, a travel memoir of a young Japanese woman in Taiwan in 1938, we see the island, then under Japanese control, through the eyes of Chizuko. A desire to see the 'real' Taiwan and to eat its famous cuisine, the charming Chizuru is hired as a guide and Chizuko is introduced to the real country that lies under the obscuring veil of colonisation. As the two women eat drink and travel, they grow closer, a bond that will be tested by politics, power dynamics and social realities.
Childish Literature by Alejandro Zambra
A captivating collection of short stories, essays, and poems, Zambra reflects on fatherhood and the transformative power of having a child. Zambra explores the joys and challenges of parenthood with a fresh eye and a unique blend of humor, tenderness, and philosophical insight.
