Sayaka Murata is a Japanese writer who started working at a convenience store in college. She kept the job after graduating because she found that it not only paid the bills, but it worked well with her writing schedule. She still works at the same convenience store despite becoming an intenationally respected, best-selling author. I… [Read More]
Blog
Poland: The Extintion of Irena Rey
When I started this book project, back in the pandemic, I figured that I would mostly go through the list of the world’s countries alphabetically. That got thrown out the window early on for two reasons. The first is that I keep coming across books set in other countries with no rhyme or reason relative… [Read More]
Colombia: Infinite Country
Patricia Engel’s Infinite Country is an amazing story. It’s packed with so much plotting and detail that it seems like a long book–in a good way! It’s only 191 pages, moves fast, and leaves you feeling like you have been reading about the characters forever. The story involves parallel journeys taken by one family: parents… [Read More]
Trinidad: Even in Paradise
The Caribbean is home to a mix of independent and colonial islands. Inhabitants and emigrants have a rich literature; it seems like everyone who has come into contact with one of these places has written an excellent novel. Add Even in Paradise by Elizabeth Nunez to the list. This is a retelling of King Lear…. [Read More]
Paraguay: The News from Paraguay
It often seems to me that Americans don’t think much about South America, even though we have a lot of shared colonial history. Europe is a shorter flight, but going to South America from Chicago involves a lot less jet lag. Paraguay is down there, nestled among Argentina, Brazil, and Bolivia. It’s a former Spanish… [Read More]
