Take a look at previous What We’re Reading blogs for more reading inspiration. Hungry Ghosts, by Kevin Jared HoseinI'm thoroughly enjoying Hungry Ghosts, the debut novel by Kevin Jared Hosein, who won the Commonwealth Short Story Prize in 2018, and whom I had the pleasure of hearing read at the Bocas Lit Fest in Trinidad and Tobago. It's 1940s rural Trinidad, and there's a storm brewing. Quite literally, in the shape of torrential downpours which impact the lives of the ensemble cast of characters: Hansraj and Shweta, who dream of escaping their leaky barrack for a plot in the nearby town; their son Krishna, who gets into trouble again while out searching flooded paddy fields for fish; and the wealthy businessman Dalton Changoor who mysteriously disappears during the storm, leaving his wife Marlee piecing together his disappearance. But bigger change is also in the air, with the arrival of an American military base and the resulting displacement of families and communities.I’m only a short way in – so no spoilers here – but this novel has already grabbed my attention with its highly sensory depictions of its characters, its energetic interweaving narratives, as well as the comprehensively portrayed historical backdrop of Trinidad on its journey from a colony to an independent republic. I’m looking forward to more of Kevin Jared Hosein’s writing.Matthew Beavers, Literature Relationship Manager The New Life, by Tom CreweThere is a much quoted line in Tom Crewe’s exquisite... Continue reading at 'British Council global'
[ British Council global | 2023-05-25 16:57:18 UTC ]
Find Kristen L. Berry’s successful query to agent Sharon Pelletier for her debut novel "We Don't Talk About Carol." The post Successful Queries: Sharon Pelletier and “We Don’t Talk About Carol,” by Kristen L. Berry appeared first on Writer's Digest. Continue reading at Writer's Digest
[ Writer's Digest | 2025-06-03 22:11:41 UTC ]
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£20,000 award for writers aged 39 or under goes to story ‘tackling trauma and grief with bold and poetic moments of quirkiness and humour’A novel about a Palestinian woman who participates in a pyramid scheme reselling Birkin bags has won this year’s Swansea University Dylan Thomas... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2025-05-15 18:15:33 UTC ]
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In The Lilac People, my debut novel about trans people in Weimar Berlin and Nazi Germany, I have a side character so small, they’re downright tertiary. Dora Richter has no speaking role, nor does she have any impact on the plot. And yet she’s included because she’s important, and she was real.... Continue reading at Electric Literature
[ Electric Literature | 2025-05-09 11:10:00 UTC ]
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“Sleep,” the debut novel by Honor Jones, moves back and forth in time between a 35-year-old mother’s present and her disturbing, unresolved past. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2025-05-09 09:00:05 UTC ]
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Set in the recent past, Austin Kelley's debut novel centers on a magazine underling who becomes entranced with a Manic Pixie Dream Girl. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2025-04-14 10:00:06 UTC ]
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Find Ariel Courage’s successful query to agent Samantha Shea for her debut novel Bad Nature, which includes what Shea liked in the query. The post Successful Queries: Samantha Shea and “Bad Nature,” by Ariel Courage appeared first on Writer's Digest. Continue reading at Writer's Digest
[ Writer's Digest | 2025-04-12 16:00:00 UTC ]
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Author Art Bell shares a quick exchange with Walter Mosley and how he went about writing his memoir as a thriller and vice versa. The post How to Write Your Memoir as a Thriller and Your Thriller as a Memoir appeared first on Writer's Digest. Continue reading at Writer's Digest
[ Writer's Digest | 2025-04-10 20:00:00 UTC ]
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Find London Sperry's successful query to agent Lily Dolin for her debut novel Passion Project, which includes what Dolin liked in the query. The post Successful Queries: Lily Dolin and “Passion Project,” by London Sperry appeared first on Writer's Digest. Continue reading at Writer's Digest
[ Writer's Digest | 2025-04-09 01:30:03 UTC ]
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It wouldn’t be wrong to call Kate Folk’s debut novel Sky Daddy a marriage plot. The protagonist, Linda, has had numerous lovers, but she wants to settle down. She’s looking for a “fine gentleman” who’s sleek, strong, and ready to commit, and she already has her dream wedding planned: hurtling to... Continue reading at Electric Literature
[ Electric Literature | 2025-04-08 11:00:00 UTC ]
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The unnamed narrator of Zee Carlstrom's debut novel is full of anger at their AWOL dad, but over the course of a road trip home begins to question his certainty about their diverging views Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2025-04-04 10:00:40 UTC ]
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Mariam Rahmani’s debut novel is both charmingly familiar and totally unpredictable. Continue reading at The Atlantic
[ The Atlantic | 2025-03-26 14:00:00 UTC ]
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In this land of opportunities, being an immigrant can often feel like playing a round of Twister. A certain contortion of mind, language, and will power seems written into the script; a lot of territory remains untouchable. Shubha Sunder’s debut novel Optional Practical Training is named after... Continue reading at Electric Literature
[ Electric Literature | 2025-03-07 12:05:00 UTC ]
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Fifteen years ago, Kathryn Stockett’s debut novel became a best seller, but was also heavily criticized for its portrayal of Black characters. Now, she has written second novel, “The Calamity Club.” Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2025-03-07 10:04:33 UTC ]
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Emily St. James’s debut novel Woodworking chronicles the developing friendship between a 16-year-old trans girl and her recently-out-to-herself English teacher in Mitchell, South Dakota in the months leading up to the 2016 election. In a town like Mitchell, secrets are few and far between,... Continue reading at Electric Literature
[ Electric Literature | 2025-03-06 12:00:00 UTC ]
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Electric Literature is pleased to reveal the cover of These Memories Do Not Belong to Us, the highly-anticipated debut novel by Yiming Ma, which will be published by Mariner Books in the US and McClelland & Stewart in Canada on August 12, 2025. You can pre-order here in US or here in Canada.... Continue reading at Electric Literature
[ Electric Literature | 2025-03-04 12:00:00 UTC ]
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Dan Houser will publish his debut novel A Better Paradise Volume One: An Aftermath, an adaptation of his hit podcast, this fall. The book is the first title from the new publishing arm of his entertainment company, Absurd Ventures. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2025-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Georgia Hunter's debut novel about a Polish Jewish family that survived the Holocaust was turned into a Hulu series. Her second novel, 'One Good Thing,' revisits WWII Europe but is a more conventional work. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2025-02-24 11:00:28 UTC ]
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