International Fiction
Read beyond our borders with these international fiction titles selected by a librarian at The Seattle Public Library. Annotations from review sources, as cited. (February 2025)
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Enter Ghost
(Palestine/England) After a tumultuous break up, Sonia, a London-dwelling actress and daughter of Palestinian refugees, decamps to Haifa for a visit with her sister. Gradually, she is drawn into joining an Arabic-language production of Hamlet ... Hammad presents a lyrical meditation on Palestinian endurance, the role of theater as political protest, and the undeniable pull of home. (Booklist)
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We Do Not Part
(South Korea) Kang delivers an indelible exploration of Korea’s historical traumas through the story of a writer who discovers how her friend’s family was impacted by the 1948–1949 Jeju Massacre, in which U.S.-backed Korean forces killed over 30,000 Jeju Island residents suspected of aiding insurgents. The result is a meticulously rendered portrait of friendship, mother-daughter love, and hope in the face of profound loss. Kang is at the top of her game. (Publishers Weekly)
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Canoes
(France) De Kerangal’s masterful collection (after Eastbound) examines alienation and grief at pivotal moments in her characters’ lives. This understated volume packs a powerful punch.
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The Djinn Waits A Hundred Years
(South Africa) Hoping for a fresh start after tragedy, Sana and her father move into a South African apartment building with a host of quirky neighbors. Sana becomes fascinated by the story of Meena, a former resident when it was the estate of a wealthy, troubled family. A lonely girl, a heartbroken djinn, and long-buried secrets come together in this gorgeously gothic tale of love and grief. (LibraryReads)
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Blood of the Old Kings
(South Korea) In an empire where dead sorcerers are drained of their magic to fuel the empire and dragons have been enchained, a sorcerer, a swordswoman, and a man bent on vengeance collide as they each seek a way to forge their own destinies. (staff annotation)
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Berlin Atomized
(Argentina) Three siblings from Buenos Aires weather the eventful unfolding of the 21st century. Kornberg’s debut novel, which she stylishly co-translates from Spanish with Rockwell, is presented as a collection of diaristic writings assembled and edited in 2063 by a childhood friend of the Goldstein family. A striking debut from a new global voice. (Kirkus)
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The Silver Bone
(Ukraine) In the first of a projected series, the prominent Ukrainian novelist Kurkov introduces Samson Kolechko, an unemployed electrical engineer who lands a detective job in 1919, launching him into the investigation of a theft that evolves into the pursuit of a murderer that almost claims his life. An atmospheric police procedural whose protagonist battles personal tragedy and a tangled system to solve his first case. (Kirkus)
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A History of the Big House
(Lebanon) In this sweeping family saga, the Nassar family establishes themselves and family orange plantations outside of Beirut, weathering both family tragedy and the tumultuous events of the 20th century. (Staff annotation)
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Highway Thirteen
(Australia) A fictional Australian serial killer is at the heart of this remarkable collection of 12 linked stories—yet he is not actually featured in any of them. The stories are told from the viewpoints of a disparate collection of characters who encountered him before, during, and even long after his crimes. Each story in McFarlane’s second collection stands alone beautifully. Woven together, they illustrate the long-reaching, often unexpected ripple effects evil has on every life it touches. (Booklist)
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Sister Deborah
(Rwanda) Rwandan French writer Mukasonga (Kibogo) delivers a dazzling and witty narrative of a Black Christian cult in early 20th-century Rwanda. It’s a master class in post-colonial feminist storytelling. (Publishers Weekly)
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