Read around the world - newly arrived books from diverse voices
Simpatía by Rodrigo Blanco Calderón
Simpatía follows Ulises, a Venezuelan movie buff, as he navigates a world of political turmoil and personal upheaval. After his wife leaves him, Ulises inherits a mission: transform his family's home into a shelter for abandoned dogs. This quest leads him to confront themes of family, love, and the corrupt power structures of Latin America. The novel explores the idea of sympathy and its role in a morally bankrupt society, where even the most basic human connections seem fragile.
These 100 short stories - inspired by Bocccaccio's classic The Decameron, takes its name from the Russian word zakliuchonny, meaning a person held in a convict camp. Set in modern day Belarus, in a society marked by political unrest and imprisonment, these prisoners tell their stories, offering glimpses into the harsh realities of their lives. Despite the bleakness, there is humour and even hope here, as they find ways to connect in the most challenging of circumstances. The author is a lawyer and politician in Belarus, working for free and fair elections, now serving 10 years in prison for his opposition to the Lukashenko government.
The Djinn Waits A Hundred Years by Shubnum Khan
A haunting tale set in a dilapidated mansion in South Africa, alternating between the present day, where a teenage girl Sana and her grieving father move into the mansion, and the past, where a young woman faces tragedy and heartbreak. A mesmerising story of love and secrets told over a hundred years with elements of horror, magical realism and historical fiction.
The Book Censor's Library by Bothayna Al-EssaDuring the day, the book censor meticulously scours manuscripts for any hint of queerness, unauthorized religion, or references to the pre-Revolutionary era. But at night, the characters he encounters in these forbidden texts haunt his dreams. The censored books he pilfers begin to accumulate in the home he shares with his wife and daughter. As the allure of the forbidden grows stronger, he is drawn into a clandestine world of resistance fighters, booksellers, and outlaw librarians striving to preserve their culture and heritage. An homage to the importance of books and reading and the role both play in freedom and democracy.The Remainder by Alia Trabucco Zerán
In post-dictatorship Chile, in a Santiago covered in ash, three young people, children of militants, grapple with the traumas of their past. Felipe is obsessed with counting the bodies in the street, Paloma is searching for her Mother's body and Iquela is just trying to find a way to live. This debut novel offers a poignant exploration of intergenerational trauma and the enduring weight of history.
A Trace of Sun by Pam Williams
Leaving her eldest child behind in Grenada, Cilla moves to England at the behest of her husband who has gone before her. Promising she will send for him, she entrusts Raef to her sister, but months become years, and when Raef does eventually join the family, nothing is the same. Spanning 30 years, from the 1960s to the 1990s, and inspired by events from the author's family, A Trace of Sun is an exploration of family secrets, trauma and mental illness.
Nightbloom by Peace Adzo Medie
In Ghana, Selasi and Akorfa are as close as sisters, bound together by their mother's close friendship. But as they age things change, the girls grow apart, and Akorfa is accepted to a university in America, where she hopes to become a doctor. Nightbloom is a deep-dive into Ghanaian culture, friendship, family dynamics, racism and power and will appeal to fans of The Vanishing Half and My Brilliant Friend.
My First and Only Love by Sahar Khalīfah
After decades in exile, Nadal, a Palestinian woman returns to her family home in Nablus, where she grew up under the British mandate. Told through multiple timelines, this book is a unique insight into understanding how present day Palestine came into being, and the ongoing heart ache of its people.
