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As with all short story compilations, I enjoyed some more than others, but each one was unique. Each took place 100 years after the US and British invasion and it was eye-opening and thought-provoking to see how each author processed this and chose to represent the future — some shining light on the after effects of the war through speculative fiction while others leaned heavily into science fiction.

3⭐️

#Iraq #ReadtheWorld2025

I‘ve had this for years on my Kindle, bought during a sale, but don‘t remember why as it‘s not the type of book I‘d typically go for (novella, stream of conscious, literary fiction). However, I was swept away into the musings and confession of Father Sebastian Urrutia Lacroix and found this to be a fevered yet calculated novella that while I in no way fully understood, did fully enjoy.

#ReadtheWorld2025 #Chile

I didn‘t appreciate this as much as I feel I should have. Historical fiction in war (WWI) and post-war Africa. Amazing writing, but not my typical read. Read for my country challenge.

#Tanzania #ReadtheWorld2025

#ReadTheWorld2025

In March and April I‘ve read 7 books set in or written by author from places around the world: #Italy #Switzerland #Iraq #France #Iran #Denmark #Mexico #Argentina

I have the #InternationalBooker to thank for most of these books!

A coming of age story set against the backdrop of the Honduran presidential election of 2017, this book focuses on the Morazán family, primarily Libertad as she turns 18, explores her sexuality, &expresses herself through poetry on an anonymous Instagram acct. We also get glimpses into her older brother, Maynor‘s, life as a budding activist &their family dynamic. I found this YA novel to be revelatory, enlightening, &at times heartbreaking.

#arc

3⭐️s

Read for #readtheworld2025

Memoir about a man‘s life in Kenya. I found it interesting and very specific to Wainaina‘s life. A mix of coming of age and details of how he became a writer.

#kenya

There are so many historical fiction books out there focusing on Germany during WWII, that I found it a refreshing (for lack of a better word) change to have a novel shine light on Asia (specifically Malaya) during this time &highlight the lives effected &tragedies that occurred there.

There are serious topics &it‘s at times a difficult read, but I appreciated how the author approached each topic &how informative this historical fiction book was.

“Every 2 hours and 25 minutes, a woman in #Mexico is strangled, raped, dismembered, burned alive, mutilated, beaten to pulp, and left with bruises and broken bones.”

Combine these gruesome facts on femicide with living the high life of drugs, money, cosmetic surgery and Instagram followers and you probably have the span of Mexican society and of this #InternationalBooker collection of short stories. A good one.

#ReadingTheWorld2025