Asymptote Journal Book Recommendations & Book Mentions

Asymptote Journal

“I thought, let the dead speak because the living don't have a clue. That was my starting point.” Shehan Karunatilaka discusses his Booker Prize winning novel, The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, and the Sri Lankan civil war that serves as its setting. https://t.co/7c9Lm4nfB1 https://t.co/A7oOcRfwge

Asymptote Journal

Happy birthday to Alan Hollinghurst! He writes about gay experiences and the history of homosexuality in the 20th century, and won the Booker Prize for his novel “The Line of Beauty”. He also translated two plays by Jean Racine (1639-1699) from the French: “Bajazet” & “Bérénice” https://t.co/jrmlxx5CYR

Asymptote Journal

Happy August! Today, we're celebrating the birth and life of Herman Melville, one of America's first great novelists, born #OTD in 1819. He's best known for "Moby-Dick," the classic tale of Man vs. Beast (though perhaps more accurately, Man vs. Himself). https://t.co/Ii5q3JQDWJ

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#OTD in 1854, the great Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin, Ireland! He was well known for both his plays, like "The Importance of Being Earnest," and his novels, like "The Picture of Dorian Gray." His works dealt with philosophical ideals and norms surrounding the Victorian era. https://t.co/s3sxZXCUTK

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Virginia Woolf, a pioneer of modernist literature and feminist thought, was born #OTD in 1882. "Mrs Dalloway" and her later essay "A Room of One's Own" laid the groundwork for her beliefs in social justice and women's rights. She helped define English modernism in 20th century. https://t.co/1V9vtMoPgd

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In his review of Elias Khoury's MY NAME IS ADAM (translated by Humphrey Davies), @joshua_craze explores Khoury's willingness to embrace openendedness, asserting that a lack of resolution is often integral to the telling of a story. Read it here: https://t.co/uERcX5fGM7 https://t.co/u2QoyMVIgX

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#OTD in 1821, the Russian master of literature, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, was born in Moscow. One of the most translated authors of all time—his works have been translated into over 170 languages—he is best known for his epic, insightful novels like "Crime and Punishment". https://t.co/Ps19aDeZ3G

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Have you read the original The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi? Having inspired many adaptations—and with a new English translation released just last year—find out the tumultuous history behind this children’s classic: https://t.co/ZbHrFzAo4Y

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Born #OTD in 1885 Lawrence is known for novels like “Lady Chatterley's Lover”, he was also a prolific poet, vivid and sensual in his imagery. His prose and verse offer a great deal of insight into the social shifts of his time, and continue to intrigue readers to this day. https://t.co/qoq2hSVwHN

Asymptote Journal

Maria Firmina Dos Reis’s 1859 book Ursula is likely the first novel by a Black woman writer in Latin America. @ntrinehart reviews Cristina Ferreira Pinto-Bailey’s essential translation—and traces the nuances of abolitionist literature in Brazil: https://t.co/iDZ57L76FZ https://t.co/4PuG2qIHUt