As the ancient Chinese proverb goes, a good book is like a garden carried in your pocket. But with the never-ending new releases rolling out, it may seem daunting to take the first step in cultivating said garden. This year, a new selection of titles from the buzziest contemporary Asian authors have arrived, from seasoned novelists to debut writers. Be it modern classics or translated titles, the breadth and depth of Asian voices in literature only continue to grow.
From Han Kang, the first Asian woman to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, comes We Do Not Part, a compelling examination of the horrific atrocities that took place on Jeju Island in 1948. Recently translated into English, the Human Acts author brings forth a powerful reflection of how we continue to live in a world concurrently filled with immense pain and beauty.
Singaporean author Jemimah Wei is slated to release her debut novel The Original Daughter, where two girls navigate a tumultuous relationship growing up against the backdrop of turn-of-the-millennium Singapore. Also on our shortlist is Mother Mary Comes to Me by Booker Prize-winning author Arundhati Roy. In this deeply introspective memoir, Roy delves into her complex relationship with her single mother Mary, and the onslaught of feelings Roy experienced when she passed away.
From social satire and dark academia fantasy novels to powerful and revelatory memoirs, here is a roundup of the best new titles from Asian authors to add to your reading list this year.
1 / 9
We Do Not Part by Han Kang
From the 2024 winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature comes a tender tale of friendship while uncovering a forgotten tragedy of the past. Kyungha travels to Jeju Island on behalf of her friend Inseon and is forced to contend with the legacy of a horrific massacre that took place on the island.
2 / 9
The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong
As 19-year-old Hai is about to jump off a bridge one late summer evening, an old woman with dementia stops him in his tracks and urges him to reconsider. An unlikely bond develops between the two as Vuong’s latest novel depicts a tale of empathy, heartbreak and the power of found family.
3 / 9
Katabasis by RF Kuang
It took Alice Law years of hard work and sacrifice to reach her level of recognition in Cambridge. But when the final step hinges on rescuing her professor from the literal gates of hell, how much further will she go? This twisted yet enticing novel features fantastical drama, a sprinkle of enemies-to-lovers and Kuang’s signature cynical wit.
4 / 9
Saving Five: A Memoir of Hope by Amanda Nguyen
As a second-generation immigrant, it was Amanda Nguyen’s dream to attend Harvard University. But after one fateful night in 2013 when she was raped at a fraternity party, the course of her life took a dramatic turn. A revelatory and inspirational memoir of hope and survival, Saving Five follows Nguyen’s journey of recovery and activism, paying tribute to tenacity and illustrating a powerful lesson on healing.
5 / 9
They Bloom at Night by Trang Thanh Tran
The town of Mercy, Louisiana, has been left in shambles, plagued with mutated wildlife and mysteriously disappearing residents. Simmering with longing and danger on every page, this haunting novel follows Noon, a teen searching for a future free from monsters.
6 / 9
The Original Daughter by Jemimah Wei
From Singaporean author Jemimah Wei comes a brilliant debut on ambition, abandonment and sisterhood. When an unexpected addition to the family arrives, Genevieve Yang is forced to re-evaluate her understanding of herself and the world around her. The novel traces the complexities of family, betrayal and the pursuit of perfection in a rapidly evolving society.
7 / 9
Goddess Complex by Sanjena Sathian
It’s been a year since Sanjana Satyananda left her husband Killian after a conflict about having children. But when Killian goes missing before their divorce is finalised, Sanjana must track him down while confronting a potential life she would have led if she had become a mother.
8 / 9
Audition by Katie Kitamura
A young man and an accomplished actress meet for lunch in a restaurant in Manhattan. A seemingly normal scene quickly disintegrates into two opposing narratives. Katie Kitamura’s mesmerising and disorienting novel is a story about identity—who we are to others, who they might be to us, and how it may be possible to be two things at once.
9 / 9
Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy
Booker Prize-winning author Arundhati Roy presents an intimate and insightful account of her upbringing and literary journey in this highly anticipated memoir. Harbouring a convoluted relationship with her single mother Mary, the memoir unveils the onslaught of recollections and emotions Roy experienced when her mum passed away.
Vogue Singapore’s April ‘Movement’ issue is out on newsstands and available to purchase online.
