From the acclaimed author of The Hole and The Factory, a thrilling and mysterious work that explores fertility, masculinity, and marriage in contemporary Japan. In these three interconnected stories, Hiroko Oyamada revisits the same set of characters at different junctures in their lives. In the back room of a pet [...]
In Invisible Cities Marco Polo conjures up cities of magical times for his host, the Chinese ruler Kublai Khan, but gradually it becomes clear that he is actually describing one city: Venice. By Damla “You take delight not in a city's seven or seventy wonders, but in [...]
On a brisk autumn day in 1686, eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman arrives in Amsterdam to begin a new life as the wife of illustrious merchant trader Johannes Brandt. But her new home, while splendorous, is not welcoming. Johannes is kind yet distant, always locked in his study or at his warehouse [...]
Kokoro by Natsume Sosoki Kokoro—"the heart of things"—is the work of one of Japan's most popular authors. This thought-provoking trilogy of stories explores the very essence of loneliness and stands as a stirring introduction to modern Japanese literature. What is love, and what is friendship? What is the extent of our [...]
by Damla Today we celebrate all the fathers and father figures in our lives by highlighting the most remarkable fathers in literature. Whether they symbolise a guiding light, a sturdy support, or an overbearing power, these paternal icons are an undeniable force that give direction to unforgettable stories with their presence [...]
By Damla We slowly (veeery slowly) ease into the summer months as May draws to a close, which means that it is once again time to take a look at some of the best selling titles we have had this past month. And if you are looking for some new [...]
By Sophie It's May, and that means a trio of big literary prizes has been announced! First off, the International Booker Prize was announced this past Tuesday. Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq was the winner. These 12 stories were translated into English from Kannada (a language spoken in South India) by [...]
by Damla “Tea ... is a religion of the art of life.” - Kakuzō Okakura, The Book of Tea A cozy, heart-warming International Tea Day to all! Whether it is a symbol for a warm cup of comfort, a foundation stone of cultural rituals, or a golden opportunity for trade (and [...]
by Damla Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers and mother figures out there! Today, we celebrate the wide range of experiences on motherhood, from relatable to singularly strange, eccentric to traditional, yet all remarkable. Take a look at our picks that shine the spotlight on unforgettable, powerful, and certainly remarkable [...]
The Names by Florence Knapp It is 1987, and in the aftermath of a great storm, Cora sets out with her nine-year-old daughter to register the birth of her son. Her husband intends her to follow a long-standing family tradition and call the boy after him. But faced with the [...]
