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There is something about the number 3. The Ancient Greeks believed 3 was the perfect number, and in China 3 has always been a lucky number, and they know a thing or two. Most religions also have 3 this and 3 that and, of course, in these mo

There is something about the number 3. The Ancient Greeks believed 3 was the perfect number, and in China 3 has always been a lucky number, and they know a thing or two. Most religions also have 3 this and 3 that and, of course, in these mo

There is something about the number 3. The Ancient Greeks believed 3 was the perfect number, and in China 3 has always been a lucky number, and they know a thing or two. Most religions also have 3 this and 3 that and, of course, in these mo

There is something about the number 3. The Ancient Greeks believed 3 was the perfect number, and in China 3 has always been a lucky number, and they know a thing or two. Most religions also have 3 this and 3 that and, of course, in these mo

There is something about the number 3. The Ancient Greeks believed 3 was the perfect number, and in China 3 has always been a lucky number, and they know a thing or two. Most religions also have 3 this and 3 that and, of course, in these mo

There is something about the number 3. The Ancient Greeks believed 3 was the perfect number, and in China 3 has always been a lucky number, and they know a thing or two. Most religions also have 3 this and 3 that and, of course, in these mo

There is something about the number 3. The Ancient Greeks believed 3 was the perfect number, and in China 3 has always been a lucky number, and they know a thing or two. Most religions also have 3 this and 3 that and, of course, in these mo

There is something about the number 3. The Ancient Greeks believed 3 was the perfect number, and in China 3 has always been a lucky number, and they know a thing or two. Most religions also have 3 this and 3 that and, of course, in these mo

There is something about the number 3. The Ancient Greeks believed 3 was the perfect number, and in China 3 has always been a lucky number, and they know a thing or two. Most religions also have 3 this and 3 that and, of course, in these mo

There is something about the number 3. The Ancient Greeks believed 3 was the perfect number, and in China 3 has always been a lucky number, and they know a thing or two. Most religions also have 3 this and 3 that and, of course, in these mo

There is something about the number 3. The Ancient Greeks believed 3 was the perfect number, and in China 3 has always been a lucky number, and they know a thing or two. Most religions also have 3 this and 3 that and, of course, in these mo

There is something about the number 3. The Ancient Greeks believed 3 was the perfect number, and in China 3 has always been a lucky number, and they know a thing or two. Most religions also have 3 this and 3 that and, of course, in these mo

There is something about the number 3. The Ancient Greeks believed 3 was the perfect number, and in China 3 has always been a lucky number, and they know a thing or two. Most religions also have 3 this and 3 that and, of course, in these mo

There is something about the number 3. The Ancient Greeks believed 3 was the perfect number, and in China 3 has always been a lucky number, and they know a thing or two. Most religions also have 3 this and 3 that and, of course, in these mo

There is something about the number 3. The Ancient Greeks believed 3 was the perfect number, and in China 3 has always been a lucky number, and they know a thing or two. Most religions also have 3 this and 3 that and, of course, in these mo

There is something about the number 3. The Ancient Greeks believed 3 was the perfect number, and in China 3 has always been a lucky number, and they know a thing or two. Most religions also have 3 this and 3 that and, of course, in these mo

There is something about the number 3. The Ancient Greeks believed 3 was the perfect number, and in China 3 has always been a lucky number, and they know a thing or two. Most religions also have 3 this and 3 that and, of course, in these mo

There is something about the number 3. The Ancient Greeks believed 3 was the perfect number, and in China 3 has always been a lucky number, and they know a thing or two. Most religions also have 3 this and 3 that and, of course, in these mo

There is something about the number 3. The Ancient Greeks believed 3 was the perfect number, and in China 3 has always been a lucky number, and they know a thing or two. Most religions also have 3 this and 3 that and, of course, in these mo

There is something about the number 3. The Ancient Greeks believed 3 was the perfect number, and in China 3 has always been a lucky number, and they know a thing or two. Most religions also have 3 this and 3 that and, of course, in these mo

The James Alan McPherson Prize for the Novel, AWP Award Series Winner It's not easy for anyone to find love, let alone a middle-aged gay man in small-town America. Mike Breck works multiple part-time jobs and bickers constantly with his father, an angry conservative who moved in after Mike's mother died. When he's not working or avoiding his father, Mike burns time on hookup apps, not looking for anything more. Then he meets a local guy, Dave, just as lonely as he is, and starts to think that maybe he doesn't have to be alone. Mike falls hard, and in a moment of intimacy, his pent-up hopes for a relationship rush out, leading him to look more honestly at himself and his future. Winner of the James Alan McPherson Prize for the Novel, Ben Grossberg's The Spring before Obergefell is about real guys who have real problems, yet still manage to find connection. Funny, serious, meditative, and hopeful, The Spring before Obergefell is a romance—but not a fairytale.

What keeps and attractive academic tied to the memory of a man she marries when he is about to die? What do people who have been jailed without trial have to say to one another and to posterity? What do they really long for as they languish in detention? What is love? How does it survive persecution? Has the last word been written about Dr Banda? What really brought him to power and how did he manage to wield it for so long? In this, his first novel, the poet Felix Mnthali tries to answer some of these questions asked here. He also gives us brief vignettes of his own life as well as sketches of the history of his beloved country of Malawi....constructed in a fascinating way, like a musical symphony, one tune leading into another, merging and accumulating a harmony or discord to form a satisfying whole, it certainly stands the'test'of a literary work. Literature succeeds better than history in bringing to life the reality of that history. [Pat Bryden]

Once the institutions of his world proved untrustworthy, a young veteran leaves college and seeks refuge in a shack beneath a condemned train bridge along the depleted and abused Salt River. Here, he encounters those society deems invisible: Natives, migrants, and discarded souls. A makeshift clan forms as curious individuals are drawn to this enigmatic figure and his humble dwelling. Among them are a compassionate female doctor, a questioning priest, a lonely flour mill guard, a seventeen-year-old girl yearning for freedom, and a disheartened judge. Even scorpions, black widows, and countless butterflies find their place. To the Salt Shack Dweller, this motley group becomes a true family.

A fictional return to the unsettling world of Franz Kafka's iconic unfinished novel, The Castle Seth Rogoff's masterful and mesmerizing novel, The Castle, draws inspiration from the enigmatic and incomplete final sentence of Franz Kafka's influential work of the same title. Follow renowned translator Sy Kirschbaum as he finds his way into the deserted landscape of Kafka's world where the village of Z. lies eerily silent. The inhabitants vanished like phantoms leaving only remnants of their lives. From these fragments, Kirschbaum pieces together a vision of a world in crisis triggered by the arrival of a stranger named K. To unravel this mystery, not just for the sake of the vanished village of Z. but for the world beyond, Kirschbaum is compelled to venture where K. could not—the deepest core of the castle. The Castle is built upon lost documents, forgotten stories, and imagined histories. Unbound by the constraints of an authoritarian and doomed reality, Kirschbaum embarks on an extraordinary journey, seeking meaning through the fertile ground of imagination and embracing the inherent paradox of existence.

From the author of Harper's Bazaar Hottest Breakout Novel comes a multi-layered, emotionally resonant story. In 1939, as the Great Depression winds down and war in Europe looms, the small Prairie community of Grayley is all but abandoned. Abel Dodds paces his family's plot, searching for gold his late father buried in an undisclosed location. When his neighbour Jake Wishart drops by to tell Abel he's leaving town and to ask if Abel can keep an eye on his sister, Una, and her son and grandfather, Abel reluctantly agrees. Abel and the Wisharts prepare for the growing season — their last chance to make a living on their debt-burdened farms. When they hear the news of a visit from the king and queen to rally troops, tensions rise. With little food on their tables and a land turned to dust, the unfailingly optimistic Una is convinced that the royal tour will change their lives for the better. But Abel wants a reckoning. In this lyrical novel, Nina Berkhout artfully brings into focus a story of hope and disillusionment, of disaster and the cultivation of joy, of the relationship between people and the land they inhabit.

DeMisty D. Bellinger's debut story collection covers queer liaisons and trysts, love bordering on the absurd, and awe-worthy finds in the familiar, the familial, and the mundane. These stories'protagonists, mostly women, often unexpectedly redefine themselves in intimate circumstances.

Villette, a profound novel by Charlotte Brontë, explores themes of isolation, identity, and unrequited love through the experiences of its protagonist, Lucy Snowe. Set in the fictional town of Villette, the story follows Lucy as she navigates her way through personal hardships and societal expectations in a foreign land. Her journey of self-discovery and resilience resonates deeply with modern readers facing issues of mental health, loneliness, and the search for belonging.One of the central themes of Villette is isolation, both physical and emotional. Lucy's struggle with loneliness and her quest for connection mirrors the growing concerns about mental health in today's society. In an era where social media and digital communication often replace face-to-face interactions, many people experience a sense of isolation similar to Lucy's. The book highlights the importance of genuine human connections and the impact they have on one's well-being.Another significant theme is identity, particularly the challenges of self-perception and the pressure to conform to societal norms. Lucy's internal conflicts and her efforts to assert her own identity in a world that often marginalizes her reflect the contemporary struggles of individuals striving to find their true selves amidst societal expectations. This theme is particularly relevant in discussions about gender identity, cultural assimilation, and the fight for individuality in a conformist society.Unrequited love and desire for acceptance are also pivotal in Villette. Lucy's unfulfilled romantic aspirations and her yearning for validation resonate with readers who have faced similar emotional challenges. In a world where relationships are increasingly complex and multifaceted, the novel's exploration of love and acceptance remains pertinent.In summary, Villette by Charlotte Brontë offers a rich, introspective narrative that addresses timeless themes of isolation, identity, and unrequited love. These themes are remarkably relevant today, providing insight into contemporary issues such as mental health, self-identity, and the complexities of human relationships. The novel's exploration of these subjects invites modern readers to reflect on their own experiences and the societal pressures they face, making it a compelling and relatable read.

A Tall Ship On Other Occasions, by Bartimeus, offers a vivid portrayal of naval life and the complexities of maritime adventures. Set in the early 20th century, the book delves into the themes of duty, camaraderie, and the human spirit's resilience. Bartimeus, a pseudonym for Lewis Anselm da Costa Ricci, drew from his own experiences in the Royal Navy to craft stories that resonate with authenticity and emotional depth.The book's central theme of duty reflects the timeless struggle between personal desires and professional obligations, a conflict still relevant today as individuals navigate work-life balance and societal expectations. The camaraderie depicted among sailors parallels modern discussions on the importance of teamwork and community, especially in an era where digital connectivity often overshadows genuine human connections.Moreover, the resilience showcased in the face of adversity mirrors contemporary issues such as mental health challenges, economic instability, and global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. Readers can find inspiration in the characters'perseverance, highlighting the importance of solidarity and mental fortitude.In today's context, A Tall Ship On Other Occasions underscores the significance of leadership, ethical decision-making, and the impact of technology and globalization on traditional industries. The book encourages modern audiences to reflect on their own values and the societal structures that shape their lives.Overall, Bartimeus'narrative not only provides a historical snapshot of naval life but also invites readers to draw parallels with current societal issues, making it a compelling read for those interested in understanding the enduring nature of human experiences and the lessons they impart.

Worthy of His Name, by Eglanton Thorne, is a compelling exploration of identity, honor, and societal expectations, themes that resonate profoundly in today's world. The novel centers on the life of Jonathan Merrell, a young man from a modest background, who strives to live up to his father's illustrious name while navigating the complexities of love, ambition, and morality.Set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing society, Jonathan's journey is a mirror to the struggles faced by many today in balancing personal aspirations with societal pressures. His story delves into the timeless conflict of individual desires versus communal responsibilities, a theme that echoes in contemporary discussions about career choices, familial obligations, and personal integrity.The novel's exploration of social mobility and the pursuit of a meaningful life is particularly relevant in the context of modern economic uncertainties and the gig economy. Jonathan's challenges reflect the experiences of many who grapple with the instability of job markets and the quest for self-fulfillment amidst economic constraints.Moreover, the book addresses issues of honor and reputation, scrutinizing how these concepts are influenced by societal norms and personal ethics. This is strikingly pertinent in our current era of social media, where public perception can be both a powerful motivator and a source of immense pressure.Thorne's narrative also touches on themes of love and sacrifice, highlighting the complexities of relationships in a world that often prioritizes success over personal connections. This aspect of the story resonates with modern readers who are navigating the intricate balance between professional ambitions and maintaining meaningful personal relationships.In essence, Worthy of His Name is a timeless tale that offers valuable insights into the human condition, making it a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the delicate interplay between personal values and societal expectations. Its themes of identity, honor, and the quest for a purposeful life are as relevant today as they were in Thorne's time, providing a rich, reflective experience for contemporary audiences.

The Twelve Adventures and Other Stories by Charlotte Brontë is an enchanting collection that delves into themes of self-discovery, resilience, and the complexities of human relationships. This compilation of tales showcases Brontë's mastery in exploring the human psyche, often set against the stark and evocative backdrop of the Yorkshire moors. Each story in this collection takes the reader on a journey through the highs and lows of the protagonists'lives, emphasizing the importance of personal strength and moral integrity.In today's world, where issues of mental health, societal pressures, and the quest for identity are ever-present, Brontë's stories resonate deeply. Her characters often grapple with internal and external conflicts that mirror contemporary struggles, making her work profoundly relevant. For instance, the theme of resilience in the face of adversity is a powerful reminder of the importance of mental fortitude in navigating modern life's challenges. Similarly, the exploration of complex human relationships in Brontë's stories underscores the timeless nature of love, friendship, and betrayal, reflecting current societal dynamics.Moreover, Brontë's portrayal of strong, independent women who challenge societal norms is particularly significant in the context of today's ongoing conversations about gender equality and women's rights. Her characters'journeys toward self-empowerment and autonomy continue to inspire and resonate with modern audiences. By highlighting these themes, The Twelve Adventures and Other Stories not only offers a captivating reading experience but also serves as a poignant commentary on issues that remain pertinent today. The book's blend of engaging narratives and profound themes makes it a timeless piece that continues to captivate and inspire readers across generations.

An Awfully Big Adventure by Bartimeus offers a gripping narrative that resonates deeply with contemporary readers by exploring timeless themes such as the complexities of war, the search for identity, and the resilience of the human spirit. Set against the backdrop of the early 20th century, the story follows the protagonist's journey through the trials and tribulations of naval warfare, capturing the harrowing experiences and moral dilemmas faced by those in uniform.The theme of war's impact on individuals and communities is especially pertinent today, as global conflicts and their repercussions remain ever-present. Bartimeus intricately portrays the psychological toll of war, highlighting issues of PTSD and the struggle to find one's place in a post-war society. This mirrors the contemporary struggles of veterans and others affected by modern conflicts, making the book's exploration of these themes both relevant and poignant.The search for identity, another central theme, is depicted through the protagonist's personal growth and self-discovery amidst the chaos of war. This resonates with modern audiences, especially younger readers, who often grapple with their own questions of purpose and belonging in an increasingly complex world. The narrative encourages readers to reflect on their values and the impact of their choices, a significant consideration in today's rapidly changing societal landscape.Furthermore, the book underscores the resilience of the human spirit, a theme that is universally inspiring. The characters'determination to overcome adversity and maintain their humanity in the face of unimaginable challenges serves as a reminder of the strength and perseverance required to navigate difficult times. This message is particularly relevant in today's context, where many face personal and collective hardships.In summary, An Awfully Big Adventure captivates with its rich storytelling and profound themes. Bartimeus's exploration of the effects of war, the quest for identity, and the enduring resilience of the human spirit not only reflects historical realities but also offers valuable insights for contemporary readers. This timeless narrative continues to inspire and engage, making it a must-read for those seeking to understand the complexities of human experience in both past and present contexts.

A successful, popular man; a broken childhood sends the course of Peter Brooke's life into a downward spiral when, at the end of his life, he finds himself rejected and alone. Only one woman has the power to help him. Who is she? What part did she play in Peter's life? What is the bond between them? Will Peter ever find the peace he has struggled all his life to secure, or will he forever be tortured by his demons?

'Une sœur si dévouée'plonge le lecteur au cœur d'une romance brisée entre Éloïse et Marc, parents de quatre enfants. Malgré l'arrivée d'un dernier-né, la trahison de Marc, cupide, scelle leur destin. Éloïse et ses enfants gardent néanmoins des liens étroits avec l'oncle de son ex-mari, qui leur lègue sa maison plutôt qu'à sa propre sœur qui a tout sacrifié pour lui. La jalousie de cette dernière entraîne un dénouement inattendu…À PROPOS DE L'AUTRICELucie Durand trouve dans l'écriture un moyen de laisser libre cours à son imagination. Son intérêt pour les mystères et les crimes transparaît dans son œuvre Une sœur si dévouée.

You're invited to The Wedding, an electrifying novel about the joining of two South Asian families, and the secrets, resentments, and unspoken truths boiling just beneath the surface. Interweaving themes of identity, culture clashes, and the immigrant experience as found in The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri with the exuberance and sharp humour of Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians, Gurjinder Basran delivers a wide-ranging but intimate portrait of a vibrant, complex Sikh community. Set in Vancouver and Surrey, BC, The Wedding exposes the inner lives of the wedding party, guests and event staff, in the lead-up to a lavish wedding. This novel, centered around the impending marriage of Devi and Baby, illustrates the union of two people, two families and all the ways in which an entire community bears witness, ensnares and uplifts itself. Like all great Bollywood films, The Wedding is rife with family drama, steeped in tradition and an ode to love in all its forms. With humour, nuance and honesty, The Wedding spills the chai—exploring desire and expectation, suffering and judgment, class and race—all in search of a happy enough ever after.

A director of a big budget Australian sci-fi TV show grapples with the dilemma of corporate sponsorship, and their infatuation with their beautiful but mercurial lead star, Kit. Meanwhile, a young radical struggles to find themselves as their political movement - and the found family derived from it - implodes around them. The two characters'worlds become increasingly interconnected as they're forced to make big decisions and act in the face of counterinsurgency and social uprising. The Director and the Daemon is a character-driven novel of ideas that is beautiful, funny, provocative and deeply felt.

Els Swart són una família sud-africana blanca propietaris d'una granja als afores de Pretòria. La família es va retrobant al llarg dels anys en diferents vetlles. La generació més jove, l'Anton i l'Amor, detesten tot el que representa la seva família, sobretot la promesa incomplerta a la dona negra que va treballar per a ells tota la vida. Després d'anys de servei, a la Salomé se li va prometre una casa pròpia, una terra pròpia..., però d'alguna manera, a mesura que passen les dècades, i que el país evoluciona de les antigues divisions a la nova societat anomenada més justa, aquesta promesa continua sense complir-se. La novel·la ens permet entendre la crisi real d'un país on la segregació legalitzada potser s'ha acabat, però en què la tràgica divisió entre dos grups de persones encara es manté molt vigent. Guanyadora del Booker Prize 2021.'Aquesta és, sens dubte, una de les millors novel·les de l'any.'The Times

Alaa, a young Palestinian, is haunted by his grandmother's memories of being displaced from Jaffa and becoming a refugee in her homeland. Ariel, Alaa's neighbour and friend, is a liberal Zionist, critical of the military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza yet faithful to the project of Israel. When he wakes up one morning to find that all Palestinians have suddenly vanished, Alaa included, Ariel begins searching for clues to the secret of the collective disappearance; that search, and his reaction to it, intimately reveal the fissures at the heart of the Palestinian question. Between the stories of Alaa and Ariel are the people of Jaffa and Tel Aviv – café patrons, radio commentators, flower-cutters – against whose ordinary lives these fissures and questions play out. Critically acclaimed in Arabic, spare yet evocative, intensely intelligent in its interplay of perspectives, The Book of Disappearance is an unforgettable glimpse into contemporary Palestine as it grapples with both the memory of loss and the loss of memory.

Barnes & Noble's April Book Club Pick An Amazon Top 10 Editors'Pick A Most Anticipated Book of 2024 from Literary Hub Set in a not-too-distant America, I Cheerfully Refuse is the tale of a bereaved musician taking to Lake Superior in search of his departed, deeply beloved bookselling wife. Encountering lunatic storms and rising corpses from the warming depths, Rainy finds on land an increasingly desperate and illiterate people, a malignant billionaire ruling class, crumbled infrastructure and a lawless society. Amid the Gulliver-like challenges of life at sea, Rainy is lifted by physical beauty, surprising humour, generous strangers and an unexpected companion in a young girl who comes aboard. As his essentially guileless nature begins to make an inadvertent rebel of him, Rainy's private quest for the love of his life grows into something wider and wilder, sweeping up friends and foes alike in his strengthening wake. A rollicking narrative in the most evocative of settings, I Cheerfully Refuse is a symphony against despair and a rallying cry for the future.

2024 NYC Big Book Award Winner: Suspense“Love thrillers? Me too, and Linda Moore's whip smart Five Days in Bogotá adds extra ammunition to the genre….” —Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of Pictures of You and With or Without You“Add this to the thriller section.” —Booklist“…a pulse-pounding game of cat-and-mouse.” —Kirkus ReviewsFor fans of B. A. Shapiro's Art Forger and Daniel Silva's Art Collector, a courageous female art dealer blocks a heist of valuable paintings and an international conspiracy in this gripping caper.Young widow Ally Blake risks everything to save her grieving family from bankruptcy by choosing to exhibit at an art fair in Bogotá in the 1990s—during the height of the drug wars. When her art crates are mysteriously tampered with, she discovers an ex-boyfriend from her State Department days has involved her in a money laundering scheme. Now it's up to her to stop the fraud, save herself, and secure her family's future—but pulling it off will require the art deal of a lifetime.

It is May 2014, and Dr. Klara Lieberman—forty-nine, single, professor of archaeology at a small liberal arts college in Maine, a contained person living a contained life—has just received a letter from her estranged mother, Bessie, that will dramatically change her life. Her father, she learns—the man who has been absent from her life for the last forty-three years, and about whom she has long been desperate for information—is dead. Has been for many years, in fact, which Bessie clearly knew. But now the Polish government is giving financial reparations for land it stole from its Jewish citizens during WWII, and Bessie wants the money. Klara has little interest in the money—but she does want answers about her father. She flies to Warsaw, determined to learn more. In Poland, Klara begins to piece together her father's, and her own, story. She also connects with extended family, begins a romantic relationship, and discovers her calling: repairing the hundreds of forgotten, and mostly destroyed, pre-War Jewish cemeteries in Poland. Along the way, she becomes a more integrated, embodied, and interpersonally connected individual—one with the tools to make peace with her past and, for the first time in her life, build purposefully toward a bigger future.

A profound debut novel that explores complicated love, secrets, and familial misunderstandings from the celebrated octogenarian author of the “trail-blazing” (Oprah Daily) collection Cat BrushingDuring the week of Dr. Agnes Stacey's daughter's wedding, each of the eleven attendees in the small family gathering brings their own simmering tensions. Agnes's uncle, Professor Malcolm Miller, has harbored a family secret since Agnes's parents died in a car crash when she was a young girl. Dr. Joseph Bradshaw, who married into the family, has nursed a private obsession with Agnes since his brief stint as her therapist. Agnes herself is returning to her ex-husband's home for the first time, just as she's trying to extricate herself from a potent new love affair. Each one of these three has the tools to analyze the love lives of others, yet find themselves challenged to recognize the love in their own lives. As they all emerge from painful years in emotional isolation, Malcolm considers where better to lay bare the failures and secrets of one's advancing age than at an intimate celebration of love?In this incisive and lively novel, Campbell parses the inner lives of ordinary people doing their best to process aftershocks of war, the parenting they do and don't receive, and the many different forms love can take in one family.

Sex, vengeance, and betrayal in modern day Tehran—Navid Sinaki's bold and cinematic debut is a queer literary noir following Anjir, a morbid romantic and petty thief whose boyfriend disappears just as they're planning to leave their hometown for goodAnjir and Zal are childhood best friends turned adults in love. The only problem is they live in Iran, where being openly gay is criminalized, and the government's apparent acceptance of trans people requires them to surgically transition and pass as cis straight people. When Zal is brutally attacked after being seen with another man in public, despite the betrayal, Anjir becomes even more determined to carry out their longstanding plan for the future: Anjir, who's always identified with the mythical gender-changing Tiresias, will become a woman, and they'll move to a new town for a fresh start as husband and wife.Then Zal vanishes, leaving a cryptic note behind that sets Anjir on a quest to find the other man, hoping he will lead to Zal. Stalking and stealing his way through the streets, clubs, library stacks, hotel rooms, and museum halls of Tehran—where he encounters his troubled mother, addict brother, and the dynamic Leyli, a new friend who is undergoing a transition of her own—Anjir soon realizes that someone is tailing him too. It quickly becomes clear that more violence may be the fastest route to freedom, as Anjir's morals and gender identity are pushed to new places in the pursuit of love, peace, and self-determination.Steeped in ancient Persian and Greek myths, and brimming with poetic vulnerability, subversive bite, and noirish grit, Medusa of the Roses is a page-turning wallop of a story from a bright new literary talent.

In Rabata, everyone has secrets—especially since the arrival of the white American missionaries.Twenty-year-old Jummai is a beautiful and unassuming house girl whose dreams of escaping her home life are disrupted when an unexpected pregnancy forces her to hide her lover's identity. Tebeya, an ambitious Dublin-educated doctor, has left prestigious opportunities abroad to return to the small town of her birth, and discovers a painful betrayal when she strives to take control of the mission clinic. Zanya is a young translator, enticed by promises of progress, who comes to Rabata to escape a bitter past and finds himself embroiled in a fight against the American reverend for the heart of the church and town.United by their yearning for change, all three must make difficult decisions that threaten the fragile relationships of the Rabata they know. As tensions mount and hypocrisies are unveiled, the people of Rabata are faced with a question that will transform their town forever: Let the Americans stay, or make them go?Set against the backdrop of 1970s Nigeria teetering between post-colonial dependency and self-rule, Before the Mango Ripens examines the enduring themes of faith, disillusionment, and the search for belonging. Both epic and intimate, Afabwaje Kurian's debut announces a brilliant new talent for readers of Imbolo Mbue and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Richard Barham Middleton was born on the 28th October 1882 in Staines, Middlesex.His education was primarily at Cranbrook School in Kent before he began work as a clerk, in 1901, at the Royal Exchange Assurance Corporation in London. There he struggled with constraints and boundaries and by night he took to a bohemian lifestyle. Middleton moved into rooms in Blackfriars and joined the New Bohemians club where his literary contacts grew.He became an editor at Vanity Fair where he told a fellow editor, the notorious Frank Harris, that he wanted to pursue a career as a poet. Shortly afterwards Harris published Middleton's poem ‘The Bathing Boy'.As an author he is most remembered for his short ghost stories.Richard Middleton died on 1st December 1911. He was 29.

Joshua Albert Flynn was born in Sheerness, Kent, on 15th September 1863. He was educated at private schools and later graduated from King's College, London. His initial career was with the Civil Service where he thrived. A marriage to Ada Parkinson brought two sons and three daughters into their lives. He worked in South Africa as a financial adviser to Lord Kitchener before stints at the Admiralty and the War Office. In 1916 he was appointed director-general of finance at the Ministry of Pensions. His stellar professional career brought him a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1910 and a knighthood in 1919. His career in literature started late and is almost forgotten today. Although he wrote a handful of novels, he was well regarded as the author of short stories for children. But amongst the 250 stories he wrote and published in the leading periodicals and the magazines of the day his ambitions spread much wider. He was able to write across a number of genres. His humourous stories received particular praise as did his many science fiction stories, where undoubtedly his time in Government helped bring across a particular way of imparting information into the structure of narratives as normal everyday folk came up against terrifying and dystopian happenings.Owen Oliver, died in Streatham, south London on 8th October 1933. He was 70.

A gripping, provocative work by one of our finest writers, the internationally acclaimed author Fiona McFarlane. In overlapping stories, Highway 13 explores the reverberations of a serial killer's crimes in the lives of everyday people. A brilliant and illuminating account of loss and its extended echoes across an entire society.'Every one of them was a whole world, full of love and curiosity, and every one of these worlds touched hundreds of others.'A gripping, haunting work about the reverberations of a serial killer's crimes in the lives of everyday people.In 1998, an apparently ordinary Australian man is arrested and charged with a series of brutal murders of backpackers along a highway. The news shocks the nation, bringing both horror and resolution to the victims'families, but its impact travels even further - into the past, as the murders rewrite personal histories, and into the future, as true crime podcasts and biopics tell the story of the crimes. Highway 13 takes murder as its starting point, but it unfolds to encompass much more: through the investigation of the aftermath of this violence across time and place, from the killer's home town in country Australia to the tropical Far North, and to Texas and Rome, McFarlane presents an unforgettable, entrancing exploration of the way stories are told and spread, and at what cost. From the acclaimed author of The Sun Walks Down and The Night Guest comes a captivating account of loss and fear, and their extended echoes in individual lives.'Remarkable... an accomplished collection, stylish and lyrical in its prose and deeply sensitive in its characterisation.'The Guardian'Highway 13 is vibrant and intricately crafted, from its taut sentences and pitch-perfect psychological observations to its very order of stories.'The Sydney Morning Herald'Highway 13 is a thrilling collection that explores an uncanny restlessness haunting the Australian psyche.'The Conversation'McFarlane is a master at just about everything: dialogue, setting, comic timing... but her biggest accomplishment is creating an empathic bond with people whose lives are touched by unexplainable violence. Compulsively suspenseful and enormously readable.'The Los Angeles Times'These sublime stories have the poise and clarity of classics. As Fiona McFarlane's characters edge towards revelation or disaster, her artistry shines on every page.'Michelle de Kretser, author of Scary Monsters'In Fiona McFarlane's gifted hands, this Mobius strip of linked stories bends and twists the crime genre until it is barely recognisable... The result is a riveting study of human nature.'Geraldine Brooks, author of Horse'McFarlane expands our understanding, illuminating what it is to be human... compulsory reading for anyone who's ever read (or written) a tale of murder.'Hayley Scrivenor, author of Girl Falling'McFarlane is a ventriloquist in these brilliant stories, voicing our fear and fascination around atrocity, the shocking ordinariness of its perpetrators.'Kristina Olsson'Every chapter is a small masterpiece in this eerie, haunting novel.'Jack Heath, author of Kill Your Husbands Praise for The Sun Walks Down:'Quite simply, the best novel I've ever read about 19th-century Australia. A tense search for a lost child unfolds with rising dread against a landscape of harsh and radiant beauty, amid lives as tangled as barbed wire.'Geraldine Brooks, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Horse'McFarlane's language and unblinking historical realism are more evidence that the author is one of the legitimate talents of her generation.'The Australian

Following the enormous success of CanalWatch, Ken Rivard reaffirms his place as an original master of flash fiction with Up Front...Up Front is an electrifying collection of flash fiction stories, each approximately 500 words in length, that are based on actual events that occurred during the beginning and ending years in an inner-city, secondary school. Each story attempts to capture the energy of a specific moment in the real lives of adolescents while pulsating with the raw energy and emotion of these young lives. Some stories ingeniously loop back on themselves, with the final line echoing the opening, creating a captivating narrative frame.

A naked, burning man runs up a hill of rubble on the last day of the Second World War in Berlin. In one hand are fragments of a white flower and he whispers'Ich liebe Sie alle,'I love you all. He is saved by a young Irish-American colonel, Kells. Certain the man with no identity or memory will die, Kells gives him the name'Hyman Kaplan'who Kells, as part of Operation Lucy, has been sent to kill because, absurdly, Hyman is part of Lucy, and Lucy kills her own to remain secure. Pickering's new novel is a sensationally readable tale of intrigue, sex, horrific killings, and sacrifice.

“Molly is one of the greatest young female characters I've had the luck of reading since I picked up Joy Williams's The Quick and the Dead back in 2000... I TRULY LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!!” —Gillian Flynn, Gillian Flynn Books“Holly Wilson's Kittentits is sacred and profane, filled with big emotions, all amplified by grief. Molly is a wholly unique and charismatic narrator, navigating (and creating) chaos as she seeks out a way to hold onto both the living and dead. This is a wildly funny and utterly convincing coming-of-age novel like nothing I've read before.” —Kevin Wilson, author of Nothing to See HereA feral, heart-busting, absurdist debut about Molly, a rambunctious and bawdy ten-year-old searching for friendship and ghosts.It's 1992, and ten-year-old Molly is tired of living in the fire-rotted, nun-haunted House of Friends: a Semi-Cooperative Living Community of Peace Faith(s) in Action with her formerly blind dad and their grieving housemate Evelyn. But when twenty-three-year-old Jeanie, a dirt bike–riding ex-con with a shady past, moves in, she quickly becomes the object of Molly's adoration. She might treat Molly terribly, but they both have dead moms and potty mouths, so naturally Molly is the moth to Jeanie's scuzzy flame.When Jeanie fakes her own death in a hot-air balloon accident, Molly runs away to Chicago with just a stolen credit card and a sweet pair of LA Gear Heatwaves to meet her pen pal Demarcus and hunt down Jeanie. What follows is a race to New Year's Eve, as Molly and Demarcus plan a séance to reunite with their lost moms in front of a live audience at the World's Fair.A surrealist and bold take on the American coming-of-age novel, Holly Wilson's debut is about the interstices of loss, grief, and friendship.

“A surreal, riveting, keep-the-lights-on masterwork of horror... I will be haunted by this book for years to come.” —Kim Fu, author of Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st CenturyI know this place. The room is too dim to see clearly. It smells like the bones. Yewon dreams of a hotel. In the hotel, there are infinite keys to infinite rooms—and a quiet terror she is both eager to understand and desperate to escape. When Yewon wakes, she sees her life: a young woman, out of her job at a convenience store, trapped in the tiny South Korean village of her birth, watching her mother wash the bones of their ancestors in their decrepit bathtub. Every house has them, these rotting and fragmented ribs, tibias, and femurs, whose constant care and persistent stench serve as reminders of what they have all lost to the Forgotten War that never seems to end. Now Yewon's brother is stationed near the North Korean border, her sister has experienced a life-changing tragedy, and her mother is overwhelmed by anxiety, her health declining. When Yewon begins to drive a local woman named Ms. Han, a mysterious and aging North Korean refugee, to visit her brother at a distant prison, Yewon's dreams intensify. As the line between reality and illusion slowly begins to blur, Yewon is led to an unsettling truth about her country's collective heritage.A work of literary horror in the gothic tradition, The Invisible Hotel is a startling, speculative tale of a woman in crisis and in stasis, and a country's shifting identity in the long afterlife of the Korean War.