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diversity trainer, translator and editor of poco.lit.
Jessica George’s debut novel Maame has the air of being the well-behaved little sister to Candice Carty-Williams Queenie. Like Queenie, Maddie, the protagonist, goes through crises and explores her sexuality, but she is – perhaps because of the Christian upbringing in her Ghanaian family home – far less reckless.
more...In her moving memoir, Zauner recounts the death of her mother Chongmi and her subsequent grieving process, a time during which cooking brought her great comfort.
more...Kavita Bhanot is a writer, editor, translator, teacher, and activist based in Birmingham, UK. We were lucky enough to chat to her about her work and her perspective on translation – translation as a political act, a form of violence, and a tool to foster dialogue when used responsibly.
more...Max Czollek’s Versöhnungstheater (Theatre of Reconciliation) is an equally confident and lively intervention in current debates as his previous books. Despite the specific focus on post-national socialist continuities, some aspects discussed in the book bear similarities with postcolonial aims.
more...African Europeans is an academic book about the history of Black Europeans that builds on existing research. Otele looks back as far as the 3rd century to explore questions about identity, citizenship, resilience and human rights, and considers how this legacy is important for Black European activism and alliances today.
more...It took some time, but in the end, The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida won me over with its combination of absurd scenes, magical realism, and critical engagement with the civil war in Sri Lanka.
more...The Most Distant Memory of Men is a stirring celebration of literature. The novel mischievously holds up a mirror to the European literary establishment.
more...An American Marriage has been Tayari Jones’ literary breakthrough. She takes her readers to the US-American South and offers detailed insights into an unfortunate turn in the lives of a middle-class African-American couple.
more...With Queenie, Candice Carty-Williams became known for the humour and effortlessness of her tone. She managed to incorporate important issues such as racism and mental health into her novel despite its superficial lightness. People Person, her second novel, is only similar in style and tone.
more...If you’re looking for an intelligent novel in which a fascinating subject has been made into a memorable story by way of excellent research, you probably can’t go with Amitav Ghosh. The Calutta Chromosome is an extremely suspenseful medical thriller about malaria research.
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