21st Century Literature discussion

Some great presses and interesting books in this list from Electric Lit:
https://electricliterature.com/best-small-press-books-2020/

Any of our members read any of these (posted below in case you don't feel like checking out the descriptions/link)?

- The Schrödinger Girl by Laurel Brett (Akashic)
- You Exist Too Much: A Novel by Zaina Arafat (Catapult)
- Sansei and Sensibility by Karen Tei Yamashita (Coffee House Press)
- The Disaster Tourist by Yun Ko-Eun, translated by Lizzie Bueler (Counterpoint Press)
- The Ancestry of Objectsby Tatiana Ryckman (Deep Vellum)
- The Snow Collectors by Tina May Hall (Dzanc Books)
- The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree by Shokoofeh Azar (Europa Editions)
- Apsara Engine by Bishakh Som (Feminist Press)
- Barn 8 by Deb Olin Unferth (Graywolf Press)
- Subduction by Kristen Millares Young (Red Hen Press)
- The Hole by Hiroko Oyamada, translated by David Boyd (New Directions)
- Beside Myself by Sasha Marianna Salzmann, translated by Imogen Taylor (Other Press)
- The Emotional Load: And Other Invisible Stuff by Emma, translated by Una Dimitrijevic (Seven Stories)
- Where the Wild Ladies Are by Aoko Matsuda, translated by Polly Barton (Soft Skull Press)
- A Girl Is a Body of Water by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi (Tin House)
- Include Me Out by María Sonia Cristoff, translated by Katherine Silver (Transit Books)
- A History of My Brief Body by Billy-Ray Belcourt (Two Dollar Radio)
- Lake Like a Mirror by Ho Sok Fong, translated by Natascha Bruce (Two Lines Press)
- A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers (Unnamed Press)
- Burn It Down!: Feminist Manifestos for the Revolution edited by Breanne Fahs (Verso Books)

A Girl is a Body of Water (published in Europe as The First Woman by Oneworld) should be mandatory reading - I am not exaggerating.

Robert wrote: "A Girl is a Body of Water (published in Europe as The First Woman by Oneworld) should be mandatory reading - I am not exaggerating."

Now that's a recommendation!

The only one I have read is The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree - I don't think many of these are readlily available in the UK.

Like Hugh, I have read only The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree. I'm not sure I should thank you Marc for the list though, as I noted at least 8 books I think I must read! I guess supporting small presses is a justification .....

It's interesting. I ordered Where the Wild Ladies Are during the pandemic, but from a different small press (Tilted Axis). I read the first story or two and really liked it but my head wasn't in the right place for reading it at the time (because I also wanted to look up each original story to see the differences with the retellings). I need to get back to it!

(Edited to add: Tilted Axis is a UK press, so the book would be available there through them. The other book I ordered through them at the time is one of my favorites so far this year: One Hundred Shadows.)

I haven't read any of these, but if I did, I'd have to pick the Yamashita work, as her I Hotel is one of my absolute favorites. It's great to see her continuing to put out new work.

Stacia wrote: "It's interesting. I ordered Where the Wild Ladies Are during the pandemic, but from a different small press (Tilted Axis). I read the first story or two and really liked it but my head wasn't in th..."

I follow Tilted Axis too, I've enjoyed quite a few of the books on their list including One Hundred Shadows and the Matsuda.

I’ve read seven- I agree with Robert. A Girl is a Body of Water is the best of the ones I’ve read. Greengage Tree was good, too.

Tracy wrote: "I’ve read seven- I agree with Robert. A Girl is a Body of Water is the best of the ones I’ve read. Greengage Tree was good, too."

I expected The First Woman to win every existing book prize in 2021 but that never happened :(

Robert wrote: "Tracy wrote: "I’ve read seven- I agree with Robert. A Girl is a Body of Water is the best of the ones I’ve read. Greengage Tree was good, too."

I expected The First Woman to win every existing boo..."

It’s one of those books that will hopefully receive the recognition it deserves by word of mouth!

Marc wrote: "Some great presses and interesting books in this list from Electric Lit: ..."

What gives with the date of May 23 on this post? Responses after 7 come in September? Or just, yes, the way things sometimes get noticed/posted?

Yes, there is nothing to stop anyone commenting on an old thread, however long it has been dormant.

Hugh wrote: "Yes, there is nothing to stop anyone commenting on an old thread, however long it has been dormant."

I knew that, have done it myself. I figured such could be the case here, but I haven't noticed it happening very often. For some reason, I guess I caught it on this one.