I wasn't paying attention, and then I was, when the six books in the running for this year's International Booker Prize jumped out at me on social media with their surprising variety. It's the stuff that astonishes. Take a look.
Category: Books in Translation
My reading life: a few good books
Here you'll find three novels that will capture your attention for their complex characters, intriguing settings, and heartrending stories. Also, I’ve included the title of an unusual book from Melbourne, Australia, and a new novel coming out next week that takes place during a bloody week in 1871 Paris.
“The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World”
Laura Imai Messina’s engaging new novel tells the story of Japan's 2011 tsunami survivors and others who talk to their dead loved ones on a disconnected phone. Inspired by true events. Unusual and not to be missed.
My reading life: just finished + coming soon
A 21st century poet writes about the life of an enslaved 18th century poet, and a psychoanalyst explores that fateful night in Gethsemane in two profound stories far from this century. Plus, March is promising to be a literary month to look forward to – here’s why.
My 10 favorite books of 2020
Literary novels, a biography, a humorous memoir, a fable, and more. "What I want to tell you about is something quite different," says one character in these unforgettable books on this year-end list.
Book award winners announced this week
Some of the finest books published this year won the Booker Prize and the National Book Awards. Fiction includes stories about a ghost haunting a train station, an Asian actor aspiring to be Kung Fu Guy, and a boy in 1980's Glasgow. Here are the titles.
An old man contemplates his life with music: “Self-Portrait With Russian Piano”
Wolf Wondratshek's new novel evocatively explores the life and emotions of a concert pianist. Profoundly enjoyable, especially for classical music enthusiasts.
Three new story collections you want to ignore, but I recommend you don’t.
It's unheard of for me to read not just one but three short story collections in less than a month. I'm typically more into novels, but I couldn't put these down.
My impossible list of wants. Then three.
The International Dublin Literary Award is parked indefinitely at its 2020 Longlist due to the pandemic. But wait ‘til you see the nominees, happy hunting ground for readers in search of a good novel. There are many, but I provide a tip to help your search.
The books I’m reading now
Readers looking for new stories, here's a list of five books, all new this year, a mix of fascinating JFK fact/fiction, WWII non-fiction, an "engrossing" biography, and a dark novel that's one of the six finalists for the International Booker Prize. Also, an update about delayed spring releases.
“The Teacher” by Michal Ben-Naftali
An unnamed narrator imagines the life of her austere high school English teacher, compelled to understand what the Kolozsvár native experienced during the Holocaust and why she took her own life. It's profound storytelling in an intense, moving novel.
My year of reading
Here at The Longest Chapter, instead of calling out best books of 2019, I've gathered a more personal list.
National Book Awards 2019 Finalists
Twenty-five nominees in five categories made it from the longlist to the shortlist of the National Book Awards. Here's a look at three of them, and also one that didn't make the cut but has an interesting scandal going on in Norway.
An orphan in the family storm
"A Girl Returned" is the English-language debut of Italian author Donatella Di Pietrantonio. This memorable novel captivates readers with its young narrator whose identity and sense of belonging is shattered by her misguided family.
Summer prize-winning reads
This summer, fill the beach bag with 2019 award winners. From the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction to the recently awarded Women's Prize for Fiction, here are seven novels you'll be glad you read.
