Ruth Ozeki
Following a career in filmmaking American-Canadian Ruth Ozeki published her debut novel
My Year of Meats in 1998. She has since written a further three novels as well as a work of nonfiction and received a number of awards including the Kiriyama Prize and the WILLA Literary Award. In 2013 she made the Man Booker Prize shortlist for
A Tale for the Time Being and in 2022 won the Women's Prize for Fiction for 2021's
The Book of Form and Emptiness.
Here she recommends some of her favourite books. She says, "When I was a young writer and filmmaker and needed a boost, I was lucky to have older women friends and mentors who helped and encouraged me. Now, as an older writer, I want to do the same, and in that spirit, the books I'm recommending are debut or breakout novels, all stunning, by a new generation of young, gifted women writers."
Here she recommends some of her favourite books. She says, "When I was a young writer and filmmaker and needed a boost, I was lucky to have older women friends and mentors who helped and encouraged me. Now, as an older writer, I want to do the same, and in that spirit, the books I'm recommending are debut or breakout novels, all stunning, by a new generation of young, gifted women writers."
Build Your House Around My Body
Build Your House Around My Body
by Violet Kupersmith
"The first on my list is Build Your House Around My Body, a gripping first novel by Violet Kupersmith about the intertwined lives of two young Vietnamese women who, decades apart, who go missing in mysterious ways. Both women are strong and fearless, both are haunted and lost, and both will have their revenge. Spanning more than half a century of history marked by war, colonization, violence, and intergenerational trauma, the novel is certainly epic in scale, but at the same time, intricate in design, and magical in execution. I was entranced by Violet’s first book, a celebrated collection of short stories called The Frangipani Hotel, and so was eager to return to this lush, rich, scarred and ghost-filled landscape of her imagination."
"The first on my list is Build Your House Around My Body, a gripping first novel by Violet Kupersmith about the intertwined lives of two young Vietnamese women who, decades apart, who go missing in mysterious ways. Both women are strong and fearless, both are haunted and lost, and both will have their revenge. Spanning more than half a century of history marked by war, colonization, violence, and intergenerational trauma, the novel is certainly epic in scale, but at the same time, intricate in design, and magical in execution. I was entranced by Violet’s first book, a celebrated collection of short stories called The Frangipani Hotel, and so was eager to return to this lush, rich, scarred and ghost-filled landscape of her imagination."
Nightcrawling
Nightcrawling
by Leila Mottley
"The second novel is Nightcrawling, by Oakland, CA, writer, Leila Mottley. Leila was a student at the college where I teach, and in her first year, she applied for my advanced fiction writing class. As soon as I read her writing sample, I knew she was exceptionally gifted, but I didn't dream that a few years later, her novel would be an Oprah pick and debut on the NYT bestseller list! Based on a true story, Nightcrawling is about a young Black women who is trying to keep a roof over her brother's head while her mother is in prison, and gets caught up in a prostitution ring, run by the Oakland police. Leila is blessed with a documentarian's keen eye and the voice of a poet. This is a novel you will not forget."
"The second novel is Nightcrawling, by Oakland, CA, writer, Leila Mottley. Leila was a student at the college where I teach, and in her first year, she applied for my advanced fiction writing class. As soon as I read her writing sample, I knew she was exceptionally gifted, but I didn't dream that a few years later, her novel would be an Oprah pick and debut on the NYT bestseller list! Based on a true story, Nightcrawling is about a young Black women who is trying to keep a roof over her brother's head while her mother is in prison, and gets caught up in a prostitution ring, run by the Oakland police. Leila is blessed with a documentarian's keen eye and the voice of a poet. This is a novel you will not forget."
The Bread the Devil Knead
The Bread the Devil Knead
by Lisa Allen-Agostini
" The Bread the Devil Knead, shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction, is not exactly a debut novel—Trinidadian author Lisa Allen-Agostini was more widely known for her YA fiction—but I had to include her breakout adult novel here because it blew me away twice, first when I read it on the page, and later, when I listened to Lisa read the audiobook in Trinidadian Creole. It's the powerful story of a fiercely independent woman, Alethea Lopez, caught up in an abusive relationship, who is coming to terms with her past and forging a future. Don't be deterred if you don't catch every word right from the start. Your ear will become attuned to the language, which is pure music. Let it wash over you, enter your ears, enter your soul."
" The Bread the Devil Knead, shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction, is not exactly a debut novel—Trinidadian author Lisa Allen-Agostini was more widely known for her YA fiction—but I had to include her breakout adult novel here because it blew me away twice, first when I read it on the page, and later, when I listened to Lisa read the audiobook in Trinidadian Creole. It's the powerful story of a fiercely independent woman, Alethea Lopez, caught up in an abusive relationship, who is coming to terms with her past and forging a future. Don't be deterred if you don't catch every word right from the start. Your ear will become attuned to the language, which is pure music. Let it wash over you, enter your ears, enter your soul."
Listens by Ruth Ozeki
Ruth's coming of age novel won the 2022 Women's Prize for Fiction. It follows 14-year-old Benny who, having recently lost his father, seeks solace in the silence of a library. While his mother's hoarding clutters home and mind Benny discovers his own story.
"This book is sublime." - Kindle customer
"There are stories within stories and a unique cast of characters, all wrapped up in a tale of love and family, grief and growing up. It's a book with many layers, and complex concepts, which would lend itself well to re-reading and discussion." - Sarah Faichney, Audible listener
"Ozeki blends a crackerjack story and vivid characters with jazz-like riffs that play with philosophy, Zen Buddhism, history, politics, the vagaries of time, and, perhaps above all, beauty." - M. Y. Mim, Audible listener
"This book is sublime." - Kindle customer
"There are stories within stories and a unique cast of characters, all wrapped up in a tale of love and family, grief and growing up. It's a book with many layers, and complex concepts, which would lend itself well to re-reading and discussion." - Sarah Faichney, Audible listener
"Ozeki blends a crackerjack story and vivid characters with jazz-like riffs that play with philosophy, Zen Buddhism, history, politics, the vagaries of time, and, perhaps above all, beauty." - M. Y. Mim, Audible listener
A Tale for the Time Being
A Tale for the Time Being
Beautifully interwoven stories across time and geography
My Year of Meats
My Year of Meats
Romance, humour and intrigue in this Man Booker longlisted debut
All Over Creation
All Over Creation
"Smart, funny, irreverent" -
The Guardian
Timecode of a Face
Timecode of a Face
A profound encounter with memory and the mirror