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Fiction A to Z December 2016
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The translation of love: A novel
by Lynne Kutsukake
Deported back to Japan after losing her mother in a Canadian internment camp, 13-year-old Aya Shimamura struggles with her father's demoralising work schedule and school bullies before helping a classmate write a letter to Douglas MacArthur, and venturing into Tokyo's dangerous red-light district.
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Homesick for another world: Stories
by Ottessa Moshfegh
"An electrifying first collection from one of the most exciting short story writers of our time. Ottessa Moshfegh's debut novel Eileen was one of the literary events of 2015... short-listed for the Man Booker Prize... But as many critics noted, Moshfegh is particularly held in awe for her short stories. Homesick for Another World is the rare case where an author's short story collection is if anything more anticipated than her novel. And for good reason. There's something eerily unsettling about Ottessa Moshfegh's stories, something almost dangerous, while also being delightful, and even laugh-out-loud funny. Her characters are all unsteady on their feet in one way or another; they all yearn for connection and betterment, though each in very different ways, but they are often tripped up by their own baser impulses and existential insecurities. Homesick for Another World is a master class in the varieties of self-deception across the gamut of individuals representing the human condition."
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| Thus bad begins by Javier Marías; translated by Margaret Jull CostaYoung Juan de Vere has taken a job as a personal assistant to eccentric film director Eduardo Muriel, now a fading star. Due to their close proximity, Juan can't help but notice the strange enmity between Eduardo and his wife, Beatriz; he's eventually asked to investigate unsavoury rumors involving a doctor friend of hers. Set in Spain in the 1980s, not long after dictator Francisco Franco's death, Thus Bad Begins explores a politically and philosophically treacherous time, the complexities of which open Juan's eyes to the complicity of those around him. |
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| The comet seekers by Helen SedgwickIn this complex, multi-layered novel, two peripatetic individuals meet at a remote research base in Antarctica, both driven by loss and drawn by a comet. As their stories unfold, it becomes clear that they have a centuries-old connection, thanks in part to their ancestors, some of whom make appearances throughout this debut, which spans nearly a thousand years. Though it is French chef François and Irish astronomer Róisín who connect, his mother and her cousin play important roles too, as do the ghosts -- and comets -- that surround them. Check this debut out if you enjoy introspective stories (or want to learn more about comets).
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| Swing time by Zadie SmithLike Zadie Smith's previous novels, Swing Time is a character-driven tale that addresses race and class (and betrayal) in a thoughtful yet engaging manner. It's the story of two biracial English girls, friends equally entranced by dance but not equally blessed with talent. The never-named narrator has the passion but not the skill; her friend Tracy has both the skill and the drive. As they get older, their friendship is tested and eventually broken by the different paths they take, which wind from northwest London to West Africa and back again over nearly 25 years. Complex and yet pointedly funny, Swing Time is a sure bet for Smith's fans and a good option for readers looking for tales of female friendship. |
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| Monday mornings by Sanjay GuptaOn Monday mornings at Michigan's Chelsea General Hospital, physicians come together for the Morbidity and Mortality conference, where they are held accountable for the sometimes fatal mistakes they've made. Today, it's neurosurgeon Ty Wilson's turn, and he's not handling the death of a young patient well. In addition to Wilson, we meet several other characters as they move through the hospital, bringing drama and tension to a novel filled with medical detail. Written by a neurosurgeon, Monday Mornings is a great choice for fans of Grey's Anatomy, ER, and other medical dramas. |
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| Flat water Tuesday by Ron IrwinRob Carrey is from a working-class part of New York State, but he's given the chance of a lifetime when a prestigious boarding school recruits him for their four-man crew team: success in their annual competition is essentially a ticket to Harvard. Told in chapters that alternate between Rob's senior year and 15 years later, when he's a documentary filmmaker, it's clear that some impending disaster looms. If you were fascinated by the nonfiction bestseller The Boys in the Boat, you'll enjoy the athletics seen here; others will appreciate the depictions of both Rob's difficulties as an outsider and the complex relationships between teammates. |
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| Tuesday's child by Fern MichaelsIn this page-turning read, defense attorney Kala Aulani is headed into retirement still musing on a ten-year-old murder case that sent her client, Sophie Lee, to prison. Kala believes that Sophie is innocent, so when the victim's husband confesses to the murder, Kala is willing to do anything she can to help Sophie return to a normal life. Sophie herself has plans, which include reconnecting with old friends from her years in an orphanage. But not everything is quite as clear-cut as Kala hopes, and the two women have plenty to learn about redemption and forgiveness. |
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| Tuesday nights in 1980 by Molly PrentissThough the 1970s financial crisis certainly affects New York City, it's still a better place to be than Argentina, which is torn by the violence of the nation's dirty war. That's why Argentinian painter Raul is in the city, and at the end of 1979, he's ready to make his mark. Already on the scene is art critic James, set apart from his contemporaries by the synesthesia that allows him to smell colours, see sounds, and describe art in profoundly unusual ways. And finally, the muse -- beautiful Lucy, an Idaho native drawn to New York (and its art scene) by little more than faded photographs. Over the course of one turbulent year, loss brings all three together in the gritty city they've come to call home. This debut -- marked by strong characterizations and vibrant details -- is "both ethereal and brutally realistic" (The New York Times). |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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