Sublimation by Isabel J. Kim
What would life be like if you left a version of yourself behind when you migrated? This thoughtful sci-fi novel introduces "instancing" as a powerful metaphor for the rupture of migration.
Sisters in Yellow by Mieko Kawakami
My thoughts on Mieko Kawakami's latest novel, in which the bland recounting of everyday events conceals deeper themes.
Kokoro by Natsume Soseki
My thoughts on this Japanese classic, which explores themes of guilt, responsibility, individualism, and more.
Vigil by George Saunders
How do we comfort and forgive a dying oil CEO whose climate change denial has ruined our futures? George Saunders explores the question in his new novel Vigil.
The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann
Deep themes are explored in this slow, meditative novel set high in the Swiss Alps.
Cat’s Eye by Margaret Atwood
My review of Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood, the story of a middle-aged artist who recalls traumatic bullying in her childhood.
The Heart of a Dog by Mikhail Bulgakov
My thoughts on Mikhail Bulgakov's long-banned satire on Soviet social engineering.
Indignity: A Life Reimagined by Lea Ypi
This book started with a social media post. The author, Lea Ypi, saw a photo of her grandmother posted online and going viral in Albania. Some of the comments were offensive and wildly inaccurate, and since her grandmother is now…
Borderline Fiction by Derek Owusu
I wanted to like this novel, but I couldn't. Here's why.