Contemporary Literature

Best of Friends explores the enduring yet complex friendship between Zahra and Maryam, set against the backdrop of socio-political upheaval in Karachi and their adult lives in London.

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman is a heartwarming and humorous novel about a curmudgeonly old man whose life is transformed by the unexpected friendships he forms with his neighbors.

David Chariandy's 'Brother' is a poignant exploration of brotherhood, race, and loss set against the backdrop of 1990s Toronto, highlighting the struggles and shattered dreams of two Trinidadian-Canadian brothers.

'The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart' by Holly Ringland is a poignant tale of a young girl overcoming family trauma and discovering her own strength through the language of Australian native flowers.

A tale of guilt and redemption, 'Whirligig' follows Brent Bishop's journey across the U.S. to build whirligigs as a form of atonement, impacting many lives along the way.

American Street is a powerful tale of immigration, identity, and the American dream seen through the eyes of Fabiola Toussaint, a Haitian teenager navigating life in Detroit after her mother is detained by U.S. immigration.

I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb is a multigenerational saga exploring themes of family bonds, mental illness, and forgiveness through the lives of Dominick and his schizophrenic twin brother, Thomas.

Gabrielle Zevin's 'Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow' is a profound exploration of the lives of two video game designers, Sam and Sadie, whose creative partnership leads them through fame, tragedy, and the complexities of human connection.

Eight strangers are taken hostage by a failed bank robber during an open house, leading to unexpected revelations and connections among them.

Maria Semple's "Where'd You Go, Bernadette" is a captivating tale of a mother-daughter relationship that explores themes of mental health, family dynamics, and the quest for identity amidst societal pressures.