The Shortest History of India (2022) by John Zubrzycki
John Zubrzycki’s *The Shortest History of India* (2022) offers a rapid‑read overview of India’s millennia‑long story, from the Bronze‑Age Harappan civilization to contemporary Hindu nationalism. The book highlights the mystery of undeciphered Harappan seals, the brutal human toll of Partition, and the contested legacies of figures like Gandhi, Nehru and Jinnah. While it succeeds in prompting deeper exploration of India’s complex past, the reviewer notes frequent typographical errors and disjointed organization. Ultimately, the volume serves as a provocative primer rather than a definitive scholarly work.
The Fortunes (2016), by Peter Ho Davies
Peter Ho Davies' 2016 novel The Fortunes reimagines American history through four interwoven Chinese‑American lives, spanning from 19th‑century railroad labor to a modern adoption story. The book blends fact and fiction, drawing on real figures such as a Chinese film...
A Guardian and a Thief (2025), by Megha Majumdar
Megha Majumdar’s *A Guardian and a Thief* has earned a rare sweep of literary honors, including a longlist spot for the 2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction, a shortlist for the 2025 National Book Award, and the 2026 Andrew Carnegie Medal...
Empathy (2025), by Bryan Walpert
Bryan Walpert’s novel *Empathy*, longlisted for the Ockham NZ Book Awards, follows marketing executive Alison Morris and game‑developer husband Jim as they attempt to commercialise empathy through a perfume and a video‑game called *EmPath*. The story intertwines their idealistic ambitions...
2026 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards Shortlist
The 2026 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards have released the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction shortlist, featuring four titles: *The Book of Guilt* (Catherine Chidgey), *All Her Lives* (Ingrid Horrocks), *How to Paint a Nude* (Sam Mahon) and *Hoods Landing* (Laura Vincent). The article notes the...
The Minstrels (2026) by Eva Hornung
Award‑winning Australian author Eva Hornung releases her first novel since 2017, *The Minstrels*. The sweeping narrative follows Gem, a farmer navigating climate‑driven dystopia, Indigenous language revival, and urban‑rural conflict. Hornung blends literary fiction with speculative elements to explore identity remaking...
Once the Deed Is Done (2025), by Rachel Seiffert
Rachel Seiffert’s new novel *Once the Deed Is Done*—longlisted for the 2026 Walter Scott Prize—examines the chaotic aftermath of World War II through the lens of displaced persons in a northern German town. The narrative weaves together the voices of local...