A rojak* of items that caught my
eye this week…
The Vegetarian / Man Booker
This week saw the announcement that The
Vegetarian, by Han Kang, translated into English by Deborah Smith, had won the
Man Booker International Prize. For the
announcement from Man Booker Click here.
Here are 3 places where you could begin to explore press
coverage:
'The Vegetarian' says life is just another dream / The Korea Times (South Korea)
Han Kang and Deborah Smith: ‘It is fascinating to ponder the possibilities of language’ / The Guardian (UK)
South Korean author Han Kang wins Man Booker International Prize / The Star (Malaysia)
Quick notice
Great Fortune Dream: The
Struggles and Triumphs of Chinese Settlers in Canada, 1858-1966 by David
Chuenyan Lai and Ding Guo
About the book: Great Fortune
Dream describes Chinese migration, and Chinese migrants’ lives in Canada, from the first great driver of migration – the gold rush of the mid
19th century - to the
introduction of a universal immigration policy in the 1960s. This ended a
period when discriminatory laws had worked against Chinese migration. Great Fortune Dream is also the story of Canada's changing
relationship with China, both for Chinese migrants and for other Canadians.
What began as a population of displaced Chinese migrants working to save their
great fortune for a better life back in China evolved into a community of
Chinese Canadians, one with roots firmly planted in the history and culture of Canada.
About the authors: Academic Professor
David Chuenyan Lai has written extensively about Chinatowns across North
America. Journalist Ding Goo has contributed
to publications in both the West and in China. He has also worked as a politics
commentator for Shanghai Eastern Radio, and a variety of other broadcasters.
Details: Great Fortune Dream is
published by Canada-based Caitlin Press, in paperback, priced in local
currencies.
This week in Asian Review of
Books
See the Asian Review of Books for
ever-interesting discussion. Here are links to its newest reviews, excerpts,
letters, essays, listings, translations, news items, and round ups:
Collected Poems by Jeet Thayil reviewed by Agnes Bun
Restless Continent: Wealth, Rivalry and Asia’s New Geopolitics by Michael Wesley reviewed by Peter Gordon
Culture of Encounters: Sanskrit at the Mughal Court by Audrey Truschke reviewed byNigel Collett
Postcards from Stanland: Journeys in Central Asia by David H Mould reviewed by Peter Gordon
Thirsty Dragon: China’s Lust for Bordeaux and the Threat to the World’s Best Wines by Suzanne Mustacich and A Decent Bottle of Wine in China by Chris Ruffle reviewed by Jonathan Chatwin
History reviews in brief: End of Empire: 100 Days in 1945 that Changed Asia and the World, David P Chandler, Robert Crib and Li Narangoa (eds); Feeding Manila in Peace and War, 1850-1945 by Daniel F Doeppers reviewed by Peter Gordon
Restless Continent: Wealth, Rivalry and Asia’s New Geopolitics by Michael Wesley reviewed by Peter Gordon
Culture of Encounters: Sanskrit at the Mughal Court by Audrey Truschke reviewed byNigel Collett
Postcards from Stanland: Journeys in Central Asia by David H Mould reviewed by Peter Gordon
Thirsty Dragon: China’s Lust for Bordeaux and the Threat to the World’s Best Wines by Suzanne Mustacich and A Decent Bottle of Wine in China by Chris Ruffle reviewed by Jonathan Chatwin
History reviews in brief: End of Empire: 100 Days in 1945 that Changed Asia and the World, David P Chandler, Robert Crib and Li Narangoa (eds); Feeding Manila in Peace and War, 1850-1945 by Daniel F Doeppers reviewed by Peter Gordon
Lion City lit notes
Asian Books Blog is based in
Singapore. Our regular column Lion City Lit explores in-depth what’s going on
in the City-State, lit-wise. Lion City lit notes provides quick insights and
links. This week, The Straits Times, Singapore’s
English language daily, carried this interesting piece on the flourishing state of local literary endeavours.
Twitter spot
Each week I make a suggestion of
an interesting Twitter account you may like to follow. This week,@camphorpress. Camphor Press is a publishing house focused on non-fiction works about
Taiwan and the surrounding region.
