Bowie’s Books by John O’Connell (Bloomsbury)
This is one of my most eagerly anticipated books of 2019. In Bowie’s Books, John O’Connell explores the list that Bowie made of the 100 books that transformed his life. Featuring wonderful illustrations and rare insights into the private life of the legend, this book will make for a valuable addition to every reader’s bookshelf.
The Topeka School by Ben Lerner (Granta)
Another unmissable book of 2019, one of America’s most acclaimed writer is back with a remarkable novel for our times. This is a scorching look at toxic masculinity and a powerful indictment of the gravest crises plaguing America today.
Humiliation by Paulina Flores (Oneworld)
My favorite short story collection of the year, this masterpiece by acclaimed Chilean writer is nimbly translated from the Spanish by Man Booker International Prize finalist Megan McDowell. Set in the politically volatile Chile, Flores has crafted high-wire stories that are intense and profoundly nuanced.
Axiomatic by Maria Tumarkin (Fitzcarraldo Editions)
A book which defies genres, Axiomatic can be a best described as Tumarkin’s powerful commentary on the injustice and traumas inflicting humanity all over the world. In topics ranging from Australian justice system and teen suicides to migration, Tumarkin delivers a masterclass in literary prose.
Love by Hanne Orstavik (And Other Stories)
This award-winning novel is a haunting Norwegian winter tale about a mother and son, set during the course of a harrowing night. Beautifully nuanced and heartbreaking in its simplicity, Love will leave an indelible mark on readers with its lucid, breathtaking prose.
Suncatcher by Romesh Gunesekera (Bloomsbury)
Kairo and Jay are two boys who meet in Ceylon just when it is on the cusp of significant change. This is an affecting coming-of-age story about the loss of innocence, set in ’60s Sri Lanka by the Man Booker shortlisted author.
The Tenth Muse by Catherine Chung (Little Brown)
Inspiring and audacious, this is a novel about a woman’s relentless struggle to gain recognition in the male-dominated world of numbers. Chung deftly combines the historical and the human in this gripping story.
Labyrinth by Burhan Sonmez (Other Press)
A blues singer, Boratin, attempts suicide by jumping off the Bosphorus Bridge, but survives, losing his memory. Paying homage to Borges’s Labyrinths, this clever, elliptical tale by prize-winning Turkish writer will linger in your memory long after you have read it.
Exquisite Cadavers by Meena Kandasamy (Atlantic)
This is hands-down the most emotionally resonant book I have read this year. In this fragmented literary experiment, Kandasamy flawlessly combines the political and the personal with her searing insight and dazzling literary prowess.
Body Tourists by Jane Rogers (Sceptre)
In near-future London there is a clinic which carries procedures that will bring the wealthy dead back to life in young supple bodies for 14 days. Rogers delivers a gripping dystopian novel that is crisp and thought provoking.
