A sorrowful novella of the ghosts, literal and figurative, that inhabit society. Providing fascinating and somber insight into the lesser discussed poA sorrowful novella of the ghosts, literal and figurative, that inhabit society. Providing fascinating and somber insight into the lesser discussed portions of Japanese history, Tokyo Ueno Station is a poignant glimpse into grief, homelessness, and normalized inequality. With dainty prose and shards of painful memory, this novella is a nod to the lives faded away for the sake of progress, those who are passed by and forgotten, but who linger on to witness, to ponder on the progress and the setbacks of the institutions they helped to build. A quietly aching story rooted in real world issues. ...more
A raw and honest novel that looks into the many faces of motherhood and friendship. With candid, sharp prose, Still Born follows two women as they makA raw and honest novel that looks into the many faces of motherhood and friendship. With candid, sharp prose, Still Born follows two women as they make choices which alter their futures, and as they reevaluate their own expectations of life and grief. This novel fearlessly explores the nuances of what it means to be a mother, a caretaker, a provider, and effortlessly dissects the roles in which women have been typecasted, and the ways in which women now must balance what they want to be, and what they are still expected to be. Short in length but powerful in message, Still Born is a riveting journey into the ways that life carves away our plans, and how our own paths intertwine in the most unexpected ways. ...more
“But my dreams are full of apples, and in the dark my body slowly transforms into fruit: tonsils shrinking to seeds and lungs to cores. I dream of white flowers blossoming under my nails, as if under ice. Then my nails break, opening up like clams and in the finger flesh there are sticky little fruit pearls.” ...more
An uncanny collection on the thinly disguised horrors of loss and growing old, fighting against memories. Beautiful prose tracks the subtle growth of An uncanny collection on the thinly disguised horrors of loss and growing old, fighting against memories. Beautiful prose tracks the subtle growth of unease and disorientation between stories; the sense of solitude and displacement we so often feel after a loss, as the years tick by and as memories blend together, fade in and out; this is a kind of fear that we can all relate to, the houses we build, we breath life into, may one day close around us, or shut us out completely. Samantha Schweblin is an expert of turning everyday struggles and emotions into so much more; every breath is one of anticipation, every shadow has its own life. A quietly haunting collection that emphasizes the power of the spaces we inhabit. ...more
An epic family saga that discusses identity, love, freedom, and the immigrant experience. Equal parts funny and touching, Disoriental is the journey oAn epic family saga that discusses identity, love, freedom, and the immigrant experience. Equal parts funny and touching, Disoriental is the journey of one Iranian family as they navigate relationships, political exile, and forging new identities while attempting to honor the past. It is filled with such personality, authentically capturing the conflict between modernity and tradition, duty and desire, the attempts to successfully blend two cultures, languages, personas. It is a richly imagined saga that feels true to so many families in the Iranian diaspora; our narrator feels like an old friend as much as a guide into not only a family history, but also a liaison between two expectations, and an encouragement to find something that is both and neither simultaneously. ...more
A dreamy novel that celebrates the natural world and all of its hidden powers. Told in the richly candid style of oral storytelling, When I Sing MountA dreamy novel that celebrates the natural world and all of its hidden powers. Told in the richly candid style of oral storytelling, When I Sing Mountains Dance is a love song to the changing seasons, the cycles of death and birth that exists across all living things, the destructive and healing powers of water, fire, animals. This is a novel that highlights the harmony between humans and nature, the ways in which the world around us inspires us to create, to remember, to connect ourselves to others and to the histories of our nations, our forests. This novel feels like a conversation between friends, a series of visions and memories being passed on. ...more
An atmospheric journey into the dark corners of society. Moody and dark, Carnality addresses topics such as social media dependency, illness, and whatAn atmospheric journey into the dark corners of society. Moody and dark, Carnality addresses topics such as social media dependency, illness, and what it means to love someone, with or without conditions. It explores the questions: Who gets to decide what is good and what is evil? Which evils are deserving of punishment? What happens when we blur the lines of our own morality? Do we define our stories or do our stories define us? Gritty but with the essence of a daydream, this is a novel for those who see the world not as black and white, but as a kaleidoscope of greys in which we are forever searching for someone with the same vision. ...more
A stunning reflection on grief and identity. Linking cultural, historical, and personal aspects into a gorgeous family saga of trauma, desire, and literary expression. Moving, visceral, and unforgettable, Wound pulses with all the love and loss that a heart can stand to bear; it calls out to the mothers that loved us in the only ways they knew how; it meditates on the lessons that we had to learn the hard way, the people we had to lose in order to move forward. An effecting, haunting autobiographical journey that inspires art as well as one’s own unburied memories, it is an invitation to write, remember, to forgive our mothers as well as ourselves....more
An unnerving, sensuous look into when love bleeds into obsession. My Husband is a slow burn character study in passion, depression, and the ways in which we weaponize our thoughts, our unspoken words. It is an expert dissection of the little ways that domestic life can easily become something stale, resented, how we are constantly stacking our realities with our inner fantasies. With a shocking yet satisfying twist, this dark, provocative spin on contemporary married life is a pleasure to deconstruct and reflect on....more
A charming, heartfelt family saga that blends magic and history. Told from the family whose life is changed by the presence of a mysterious, seemingly magical child, The Murmur of Bees is an interpretation of family bonds, faith, and healing that is enchanting and impactful. Using the pain of the influenza of 1918 and the triumphs and challenges of the Mexican Revolution, this is a novel that is filled with emotion, poetry, and the echoes of history that has defined culture, literature, and community. This is an ode to the mysteries in life, the unexplainable blessings, the memories that last for lifetimes, the magic of nature, of animals. It is a sweeping story of brotherhood and reminiscing on a life filled to the brim....more
A dark, sensual imagining of the creation of one of horror’s most universal masterpieces. Filled with atmospheric gothic imagery and the growing sense of displacement, grief, this novel is a compelling interpretation of the life and desires of Mary Shelley, the constraints against which she fought to express herself through her work, to explain the horrors within and around her. Winding through a path of ambition, longing, otherness, envy, the parallels to Frankenstein are a welcome examination of the ways in which we are pushed to the brink for the pursuit of creation, and the ways in which our own creations reveal our inner selves. Beautifully written and illuminating a new depth to the mother of monsters....more
A dark, sensual study in grief and codependency. Unsettling, fevered, and pulsing with loneliness, Blue Hunger is a fascinating journey into the chasmA dark, sensual study in grief and codependency. Unsettling, fevered, and pulsing with loneliness, Blue Hunger is a fascinating journey into the chasm of grief; it is a trip through the labyrinth of loss, a look into the ways in which we try to fill its void, be it through vices or through relationships. This novella is a deliriously compelling look at the feeling of otherness, the ways that language and emotion shape how we view ourselves and those around us; how we will go to any lengths to feel a part of someone, something. A gripping and powerful story. ...more
A sweeping novel of finding family and a true home. Set over 80 years and traversing continents, The Wind Knows My Name is a heartbreaking yet hopefulA sweeping novel of finding family and a true home. Set over 80 years and traversing continents, The Wind Knows My Name is a heartbreaking yet hopeful look into the effects of war and displacement on children, as well as the power and comfort that imagination offers. It is a testament to the sacrifices that are made at the hopes of a better life, and the ways in which we attempt to rebuild ourselves after tragedy. It is a beautiful ode to those who never stop fighting for justice and security, and to those who open their own hearts to those in need. A timely and thoughtful novel....more
A touching novella taken from Simone de Beauvoir’s own memories and love for her dear friend Zaza Lacoin. Intimate and tinged with regret and longing,A touching novella taken from Simone de Beauvoir’s own memories and love for her dear friend Zaza Lacoin. Intimate and tinged with regret and longing, it is easy to see how Simone de Beauvoir was influenced and inspired by Zaza; two girls born ahead of their time trading philosophies, desires, and building things left unsaid. This is a haunting reminder of the impact the ones closest to us leave, especially when we are separated from them, and it is a tribute to the intensity with which friendship alters our lives and our view of the world....more
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