*****Things That Fall From the Sky by Selja Ahava

Finnish Literature

Ahava’s novel centers around two main interconnecting themes:  grief – our need to make sense of, and clearly define, life and death; and the randomness of life – its haphazardness, whether good or bad. These themes overlap and converge and are affected by the weight of time.  The author explores our human desire to fully comprehend the incomprehensible; to define what cannot be fully defined. 

Ahava’s skill at normalizing the very randomness of life is both intuitive and sensitive.  She has created a highly relatable novel with nuance and subtlety. I enjoyed this work and look forward to future translations by this talented author.

****City of Jasmine by Olga Grjasnowa

An intensely moving novel that shares the fictionalized experiences of individuals who live and lived under Assad in wore-torn Syria. The violence, despair, ruined dreams, escape experiences, and then their lives as refugees is nothing less than horrifying.  Ms. Grjasnowa’s writing style is unpretentious and direct, yet not overbearing. She writes with fluidity and care.  This is a relevant read considering today’s national and international political climate. City of Jasmine is an interesting, well thought out novel, that tells a story and informs.