What you’re about to read is a pair of lists — one of fiction and the other nonfiction. These are all, in some way, books about life. But that definition is going to mean something different to everyone. For that reason, we’ve done our best to provide as much variety as possible here (and, to …
Women writers are at the forefront of historical fiction today. The best contemporary historical novels are being written by incredible women authors. Some of these are historical romance novels; others are gothic fiction; others still are supernatural horror stories. One thing they all have in common, however, is that they’re written by varied and talented …
Queerness comes in all shapes and sizes, and encapsulates a spectrum of human experiences. To celebrate all the facets of queerness, here are some of our favourite LGBTQ books from all around the world. From South America to Japan and everywhere in-between, these queer novels speak for a range of expereinces across the queer spectrum. …
Of all the world’s literature, the works of Argentine writers represent some of the most punk and political; some of the most diverse, surreal, groundbreaking, and beautiful novels and short stories. Essential Argentine Novels by Argentine Writers As a reader, I cannot sing the praises of Argentine writers and Argentine novels enough. These authors have …
Translated from the Spanish by Frances Riddle Published by Charco Press One of 2020’s finest novels in translation, Theatre of War marks a lot of firsts. This is the first Chilean novel published by Charco Press; it’s the first Chilean novel I’ve ever read; and it’s my first experience with translator Frances Riddle. It’s also …
In 2019, the English translation of Selva Almada’s The Wind That Lays Waste (translated by Chris Andrews) was Books and Bao’s favourite translated novel of the year. Twelve months later, we’re already gifted another sharp and cutting Almada book, once again published by Charco Press: Dead Girls, translated by Annie McDermott. Dead Girls is a …
Dystopian novels are seeing a massive resurgence in popularity right now, due to the state of the political world we find ourselves living in. Novels written in the World War 2 era and during the Cold War have found relevance now more than ever before. We’re all digging out our old copies of Nineteen Eighty-Four …
How do you begin to discuss the narrative, historical, and cultural impact of music on the human experience? Do you explore the sounds of nature? Provide anecdotes about the gold record aboard the Voyager? Tell the wild story of an enormous organ that took fifteen years to build, was blessed by a bishop, and then …
Holiday Heart is a novel that unravels the time and space of a relationship, pulling it apart and making a battlefield of the pieces. It is a novel about the far future of a marriage, nineteen years deep and in tatters. It’s a novel that explores the hows and whys of getting to this place …
Fate is a novel populated by people who would not want our sympathy if they knew we were watching, and yet we are compelled to offer it. That is the wisdom and ferocity of Jorge Consiglio’s writing. That said, despite us being so eager to offer our sympathies to these people, tossed about as they …
