Longing and Other Stories is a collection of three stories from Jun’ichirō Tanizaki, a prominent twentieth century Japanese writer. At only 148 pages, this collection is a short and breezy read that transports you to late 19th century and early 20th century Japan. Though all three stories explore the relationships between mothers and sons and… Continue reading Longing and other Stories
Author: LB
The Art of Losing
Prix Renaudot-winning author Alice Zeniter’s newest book to be translated into English ‘The Art of Losing’ (L’Art de Perdre), translated from the French by Frank Wynne, is a sweeping, intergenerational exploration of the ongoing tensions between Algeria and its former colonizer France. Though the book begins and ends centered on a modern-day woman named NaÏma, large… Continue reading The Art of Losing
The Last One
“My name is Fatima Daas.” This is the rhythmic refrain of Fatima Daas’ debut novel The Last One, a tender but powerful exploration of the “often conflicting facets of her identity: French. Algerian. Muslim. Lesbian.” The book, which was originally published in France in 2020 and then swiftly released in English in December 2021, is equal… Continue reading The Last One
Animals
Hebe Uhart’s Animals can be summed up in one word: delightful. The 212 page book is like a marriage between Animal Planet and a conversation with a friend, in fact, within its pages Uhart describes the second-century Roman writer and teacher Aelian as the Animal Planet of his time. The pensive tone of the book… Continue reading Animals
Black Box: The Memoir That Sparked Japan’s #MeToo Movement
It feels tone deaf to review and rate a memoir, particularly one based on such traumatic experiences – I have no place to judge the lived experiences of someone else. So while this is not a full review, I did want to make sure I give space and voice to this powerful story from Japanese… Continue reading Black Box: The Memoir That Sparked Japan’s #MeToo Movement