Back from Stockholm (more of which later in the week) with March’s second batch of new fiction. I’ve already read Theft, Abdulrazak Gurnah’s first novel since winning the 2021 Nobel Prize for Literature. Described as ‘one of the world’s most prominent postcolonial writers’ by the chairman of the Nobel committee, Gurnah continues to explore that theme through three young people in 1990s Zanzibar whose lives become closely intertwined: bright, ambitious Karim, who falls in love with Fauzia, and forms a friendship with Badar, a servant in his stepfather’s household with an oddly ambiguous position. Themes of family and obligation underpin the narrative with postcolonial Zanzibar providing the backdrop, now a destination for tourists with its beautiful archipelago. From its title onwards, Theft is a subtle, many-layered piece of fiction which offers a great deal to think about. Review to follow…
There have been many novels written about the AIDS pandemic but I think Anthony Passeron’s autofiction, Sleeping Children, is the first French one I’ve come across. In 1981, a Parisian doctor is presented with a case of what will come to be known as HIV/AIDS while in rural France another epidemic grips a small village as young people succumb to heroin addiction, one of whom is Passeron’s uncle. These two narratives become interwoven as more is learnt about this frightening new virus and how it is passed on. ‘Sleeping Children is a moving and eye-opening book about shame and the slow poisoning of a family by the secrets it keeps. Exploring the stories of the heroic few who fought for a cure for AIDs and for justice for a community abandoned, it is a radical vision of a history reshaped, retold and remembered’ says the blurb of a book which sounds well worth investigating.
I didn’t get around to Sophie Haydock’s The Flames about Egon Schiele’s muses, probably because I’m not very keen on his 
That’s it for March’s new fiction. As ever, a click on a title will take you to a more detailed synopsis should you want to know more, and if you’d like to catch up with part one it’s here. Paperbacks soon…
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Some promising new titles here that I look forward to your reviews on. I have Abdulrazak Gurnah’s By the Sea on my shelf. I really enjoyed Admiring Silence, the humorous undertones and clever way he has of depicting characters who dig themselves deeper into complications setting the novel up for its reveal, thought provoking and entertaining.
I Hear You sounds excellent too, it reminds me of Donal Ryan’s Heart, be at peace, that delving into local areas the author’s grew up in.
By the Sea is still my favourite Gurnah but I’ve admired everything I’ve read by him. Looking forward to the McVeigh. Yet another brillant Irish writer!
I’ve reserved the ones comimg into our library service: the Abdulrazak Gurnah and the Sophie Haydock, though I’m going to be on the look-out for the Anthony Passeron (Perhaps I’ll be brave and try it in French, which I’m quite lazy about reading) and the Paul McVeigh. This looks a good little haul. Looking forward to hearing about Stockholm. I’m sorry Sweden is missing from my haul of travel destinations.
It’s another good month, isn’t it. Let me know if you give the Passeron a try.
The weather was much nicer in Stockholm!
That wasn’t a hard bar to overcome. And yes, I will.
Sadly, not!
I love Verve Books so A Language of Limbs sounds very promising.
It does, doesn’t it. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read from their list.
An interesting list! For me, particularly, Haydock’s Madame Matisse stands out. Aside from liking novels featuring artists, it arrives just as I’ve read a few articles on an upcoming exhibition at Paris’ Musée d’Art Moderne that feature Matisse’s paintings of his daughter Marguerite, one of his favorite models. (if you’re interested, the Feb 8, 2025 Guardian has one of the articles)
It is, isn’t it. Thanks for the info. I wonder if the publishers were clever enough to time the publication appropriately.
I Hear You sounds excellent – I do like Salt as a publisher.
Me, too. I have I Hear You to read so I’ll be posting a review next month.
Sleeping Children appeals and I have Paul’s collection lined up next in preparation for Reading Ireland Month! I lover his book The Good Son.
Sleeping Children sounds well worth reading if harrowing. Looking forward to reading the McVeigh.
More new writers to explore. Although I am familiar with Paul McVeigh. Very energetic and entertaining writer. A regular visitor to Listowel Writers Week.
I’ve not read anything by McVeigh. Is there anything of his you’d particularly recommend?
His award winning The Good Son from a few years back. Working class theme, like Kit de Waal’s work.
Adding it to my list. Thanks, Lucy.
I had meant to read Afterlives (Gurnah) at the end of last year, but its arrival from the library didn’t suit the concurrent reads. Theft sounds very good too. I’m not sure what I think about a collection of stories written with radio in mind? But I suppose there have always been commissions…since when did I get so suspicious?! heh
I can heartily recomend Theft. There’s a daily spot on one of the BBC’s radio channels which has to be filled!
Theft sounds interesting – I shall await your review with anticipation!
Well worth your time!
I’ve had The Flames by Sophie Haydock to read on Kindle for ages and haven’t yet got around to it either. I’m not keen on Egon Schiele either, but I rather think it’s the fact of having too many unread books that’s got in the way! But despite that, I do like the sound of Madame Matisse. The art world is having a moment in fiction, it feels. I’m up for that!
Me, too. I find Matisse’s work much more to my liking than Schiele’s although I’m sure his life makes for interesting fiction.
The first two are the most instantly attractive to me. And I know Schiele is a hard sell – I hated him as a child, especially when compared to Klimt, but I’ve started appreciating his work more in recent years.
Perhaps I should try again with Schiele. I saw some of his work in the Albertina but couldn’t warm to it.
Theft appeals to me for its setting and Madame Matisse for its subjects. Must look them up. Thanks for another wonderful set of choices, Susan!
You’re welcome, Mallika. Highly recommend Theft!