As 2024 draws to a close, it’s clear that the year has been a golden one for short fiction. These concise yet powerful novels have captivated readers with their ability to deliver complex stories, emotional depth, and fresh perspectives. In this roundup, we celebrate the year of brief but brilliant narratives.
Rosarita by Anita Desai
At the age of 87, Desai has returned to the literary scene with her first novel in a decade. Rosarita explores the gulf between a mother and daughter in around hundred pages. The protagonist, Bonita, meets a stranger, who hurls memories of Bonita’s mother’s life in Mexico, which Bonita initially dismisses. However, her little knowledge of her mother’s life throws her into a torrent of questions and grief, leading to her unwilling engagement with the stranger. Drawing on the history of Partition and the migration of refugees to Mexico, Desai weaves a labyrinth of questions, grief, loneliness, and the immigrant experience—all explored through an unexpected encounter.
Orbital by Samantha Harvey
In this year's Booker-prize winning novel, six astronauts aboard the International Space Station grapple with existential questions about life beyond Earth and Earth's fate without humanity. As they orbit the planet, witnessing its stunning beauty and observing its changing landscapes, their isolation deepens their connection to their home. News of personal tragedies and natural disasters reaches them, stirring thoughts of returning and intensifying their sense of vulnerability and responsibility. Through their reflections and fears, they come to realize how profoundly they remain tied to the fragile life they left behind.
Chronicle of an Hour and a Half by Saharu Nusaiba Kannanari
In the remote village of Vaiga, nestled in the foothills of the Western Ghats, an unprecedented storm rages: unending rain, fallen trees, a swollen river, and persistent power outages. But beneath this natural calamity, a more sinister storm brews. It starts with a rumor of an affair, prompting Saud and his sons to come to Vaiga searching for Burhan. As the rumor spreads through feverish WhatsApp messages, it ignites chaos and violence, with a mob taking to the streets, demanding retribution.
More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
In Tokyo's Jinbocho neighborhood, known for its abundance of bookstores, the Morisaki bookshop stands out as a cozy family-run store crammed with books. Satoru, the owner, is always ready to assist customers alongside his wife Momoko and their niece Takako. But unexpected visitors and mysteries, like Satoru's strange behavior and a woman with a red umbrella, begin to unravel, revealing the shop's hidden stories and treasures.
Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel
Headshot is an electrifying debut that takes readers into the world of teenage girl boxing, unfolding over the course of a championship tournament. Through a series of intense face-offs, the novel explores the radical intimacy of physical competition, capturing the joy, violence, and sheer pleasure of the sport. As the lives of eight young women intersect, Headshot delves into themes of envy, perfectionism, and the wild abandon of pushing one’s body to its limits. Funny, propulsive, and intense, it’s a sharp, evocative portrait of the strange and exhilarating bond formed through physical rivalry.
Parade by Rachel Cusk
From Rachel Cusk, the author of the Outline trilogy, comes Parade, a startling novel that redefines the possibilities of fiction. The story centers on G, an artist who, midway through his life, begins to paint upside down—eventually painting his wife in an unflattering, inverted form. The success of his art contrasts with the complex, often painful relationships that unfold around him, including an attack on a woman in Paris and the strained legacy of a mother’s death. Parade disrupts traditional storytelling, offering a fragmented narrative that explores identity, art, and the ways we shape and are shaped by others. Cusk’s visionary prose challenges the limits of character and plot, revealing the hidden truths of our world.
Words Platform Desk
Date 11.12.2024