The Covenant of Water
Abraham Verghese
A sweeping, multi-generational saga set in early 20th-century Travancore, South India, and later in Glasgow and Madras. The story begins with a twelve-year-old girl married into a family haunted by a mysterious 'Condition' involving water. It intricately weaves together the lives of diverse characters, including a Scottish surgeon, exploring themes of love, loss, faith, medicine, and the profound impact of history and culture on individual destinies.
Stay True
Hua Hsu
From New Yorker staff writer Hua Hsu, 'Stay True' is a poignant and gripping memoir that delves into the complexities of friendship, the profound impact of grief, and the universal search for self and belonging. It chronicles Hsu's formative years, his unlikely bond with Ken—a friendship built on shared experiences and contrasting identities—and the devastating loss that forces him to confront his memories and identity through writing. This coming-of-age story beautifully weaves together themes of cultural assimilation, the immigrant experience, and the solace found in art and connection, leaving readers with a deep sense of reflection on what it means to truly 'stay true' to oneself.
The Odd Woman and the City
Vivian Gornick
In this insightful and sharply observed memoir, Vivian Gornick navigates the vibrant, often challenging landscape of New York City, reflecting on her friendships, romantic relationships, and profound observations of urban life. Through candid conversations with her gay friend Leonard and encounters with an array of city dwellers, Gornick explores themes of loneliness, identity, feminism, and the enduring search for self-knowledge amidst the ceaseless energy of the metropolis. A poignant and intellectual journey into the heart of human connection and the city that shapes it.
Interpreter of Maladies
Jhumpa Lahiri
During a family trip to India, an Indian-American family hires a local tour guide, Mr. Kapasi, who also works as an interpreter for a doctor. As they journey to the Sun Temple, Mrs. Das, feeling disconnected from her life and family, confides a deeply personal secret to Mr. Kapasi, mistaking his role as an interpreter of maladies for a deeper, more empathetic understanding. This poignant encounter explores themes of cultural identity, marital disillusionment, and the complexities of human connection.
Code Work
Héctor Beltrán
This book delves into the intricate world of "code work" among young Mexican and Latinx hackers navigating the US-Mexico techno-borderlands. Through compelling ethnographic research, Héctor Beltrán uncovers how these individuals engage with narratives of technological progress, neoliberal entrepreneurship, and social justice. Introducing the innovative concept of the "ethno-stack," the book reveals how personal, social, political, and technical elements intertwine as hackers utilize coding to challenge and redefine boundaries of nation, race, ethnicity, class, and gender, offering a vital perspective on digital culture from the Global South.
Cutting for Stone
Abraham Verghese
Born in 1954 in a mission hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, twin brothers Shiva and Marion Stone arrive into the world under mysterious and tragic circumstances. Their mother, a young Indian nun named Sister Mary Joseph Praise, dies during their birth, and their brilliant but emotionally distant surgeon father, Thomas Stone, abandons them. This excerpt introduces their unusual origins, delving into their mother's journey from India to Africa and the dramatic events leading to her fateful encounter with their father. It sets the stage for a sweeping saga of family, medicine, and identity against the vibrant and tumultuous backdrop of mid-20th century Ethiopia.
Down the Up Staircase
Bruce D. Haynes
A compelling and intimate memoir that traces the complex history of a prominent African American family across three generations in Harlem. Triggered by the discovery of a long-lost painting, the author delves into his family's rise and eventual decline, exploring themes of race, class, identity, and the enduring impact of personal struggles and societal changes on a family's legacy. It's a poignant look at the hidden truths and public facades of a family striving for success amidst the challenges of American life.
Exit West
Mohsin Hamid
In a city teetering on the brink of civil war, Saeed and Nadia find solace in each other's company. As their world descends into chaos, rumors spread of mysterious doors that can transport people to other places. They decide to take a leap of faith, stepping through one of these portals, embarking on a perilous journey as refugees across a world grappling with mass migration. Their love story unfolds against a backdrop of displacement, nativism, and the search for belonging, forcing them to confront who they are and what home truly means.