海角大神

This story was produced as part of the Dec. 23, 2024 issue of the Monitor Weekly.听

Apartment Women,听by Gu Byeong-mo, translated by Chi-Young Kim

Four families living in a government-run communal apartment complex in Seoul, South Korea, confront the challenges of, well, communal living. Gu Byeong-mo鈥檚听multiple-perspective story offers an affecting look at women鈥檚 work both in and out of the home, the division of labor in relationships, and the tensions between individual achievement and the collective good.

Gabriel鈥檚 Moon,听by William Boyd

In 1960s London, successful travel writer听Gabriel Dax is hard at work on his next book when a mysterious spy lures him into a series of pickup-and-delivery jobs for MI6. Gabriel鈥檚 efforts to determine why he鈥檚 been recruited 鈥� and untangle his past 鈥� move the story beyond James Bond tropes into more surprising and meditative territory.

Sweet Vidalia,听by Lisa Sandlin

In 1964, recently widowed Eliza Kratke faces a startling reality: Her husband left her nothing but sour surprises and a nearly empty bank account. To save money, the 50-something听Eliza moves into a cheap motel on the other side of her Texas town and enrolls at the local community college. Lisa Sandlin鈥檚 tale offers a satisfying take on reinvention, courage, and dropping judgment.

Rental House,听by Weike Wang

Weike Wang鈥檚 portrait of a multiracial couple navigating marriage in midlife plays out over two family vacations. Also in the mix: in-laws, unexpected guests, and a large sheepdog. It鈥檚 an insightful, thought-provoking, and humorous novel.

Songs for the Brokenhearted,听by Ayelet Tsabari

When bereaved Zahara returns to Israel from the United States after her mother鈥檚 death, she discovers startling secrets about her family鈥檚 past. Ayelet Tsabari poetically captures the community of Yemeni Jews living in Israel, who must negotiate political and social tensions to carve out meaningful lives. Tsabari highlights the power of women鈥檚 stories, the importance of forgiveness, and the wonders of song.听

The Champagne Letters,听by Kate MacIntosh

鈥淜now your worth and tell your own stories.鈥� So begins Kate MacIntosh鈥檚 delightful historical novel that parcels out wit and wisdom from widow Barbe-Nicole Clicquot in 1805. In letters, Madame Clicquot describes building a champagne empire after her husband鈥檚 death. In the present day, Natalie, reeling from a divorce, travels to Paris and buys a book of Madame Clicquot鈥檚 letters. She gains inspiration from the widow鈥檚 words and finds her comeback spirit.

The Miraculous From the Material,听by Alan Lightman

From the bestselling author of 鈥淓instein鈥檚 Dreams鈥� comes a collection of mini essays on 36 of the universe鈥檚 most awe-inspiring phenomena. Alongside familiar wonders 鈥� glaciers, hummingbirds, auroras, and spiderwebs 鈥� sit lesser-known marvels. As Alan Lightman, a scientist, lauds the math, physics, and chemistry underlying his subjects, his appreciation for 鈥渢he amazement and majesty of the spectacle鈥� comes through.

Custodians of Wonder,听by Eliot Stein

While we are quick to celebrate the first person to achieve something, author Eliot Stein notes that we rarely honor the last. With an abundance of awe and respect, he travels to five continents to tell the stories of 10 artisans practicing ancient crafts 鈥� and asks what we might lose if they prove to be the last.

Ingrained,听by Callum Robinson

A Scottish writer and fine-furniture craftsman notches a first-rate memoir about understanding his master woodworker father, running a business, and 鈥� at the edge of financial disaster 鈥� reorienting himself to nature, beauty, and objects that last.听听

Sisters in Science,听by Olivia Campbell

Journalist Olivia Campbell鈥檚 vivid group听biography follows four women physicists in Nazi Germany as they lose their hard-won academic positions after Adolf Hitler comes to power. The compelling account is both a suspenseful story of survival and a recognition of the women鈥檚 unheralded contributions to modern physics.