The Sunday Post

A rojak* of items that caught my eye this week…

The Vegetarian  / Man Booker International 

This week saw the announcement that The Vegetarian, by Han Kang, translated into English by Deborah Smith, had won the Man Booker International Prize.  For the announcement from Man Booker Click here.

Here are 3 places where you could begin to explore press coverage:

'The Vegetarian' says life is just another dream / The Korea Times (South Korea)

Han Kang and Deborah Smith: ‘It is fascinating to ponder the possibili­ties of language’ / The Guardian (UK)

South Korean author Han Kang wins Man Booker International  Prize / The Star (Malaysia)

Quick notice

Great Fortune Dream: The Struggles and Triumphs of Chinese Settlers in Canada, 1858-1966 by David Chuenyan Lai and Ding Guo

About the book: Great Fortune Dream describes Chinese migration, and Chinese migrants’ lives in Canada, from the first great driver of migration – the gold rush of the mid 19^th century -  to the introduction of a universal immigration policy in the 1960s. This ended a period when discriminatory laws had worked against Chinese migration. Great Fortune Dream is also the story of Canada's changing relationship with China, both for Chinese migrants and for other Canadians. What began as a population of displaced Chinese migrants working to save their great fortune for a better life back in China evolved into a community of Chinese Canadians, one with roots firmly planted in the history and culture of Canada.

About the authors: Academic Professor David Chuenyan Lai has written extensively about Chinatowns across North America.  Journalist Ding Goo has contributed to publications in both the West and in China. He has also worked as a politics commentator for Shanghai Eastern Radio, and a variety of other broadcasters.

Details: Great Fortune Dream is published by Canada-based Caitlin Press, in paperback, priced in local currencies.

This week in Asian Review of Books

See the Asian Review of Books for ever-interesting discussion. Here are links to its newest reviews, excerpts, letters, essays, listings, translations, news items, and round ups:

Collected Poems by Jeet Thayil reviewed by Agnes Bun
Restless Continent: Wealth, Rivalry and Asia’s New Geopolitics by Michael Wesley reviewed by Peter Gordon
Culture of Encounters: Sanskrit at the Mughal Court by Audrey Truschke reviewed byNigel Collett
Postcards from Stanland: Journeys in Central Asia by David H Mould reviewed by Peter Gordon
Thirsty Dragon: China’s Lust for Bordeaux and the Threat to the World’s Best Wines by Suzanne Mustacich and A Decent Bottle of Wine in China by Chris Ruffle reviewed by Jonathan Chatwin
History reviews in brief: End of Empire: 100 Days in 1945 that Changed Asia and the World, David P Chandler, Robert Crib and Li Narangoa (eds); Feeding Manila in Peace and War, 1850-1945 by Daniel F Doeppers reviewed by Peter Gordon

Lion City lit notes

Asian Books Blog is based in Singapore. Our regular column Lion City Lit explores in-depth what’s going on in the City-State, lit-wise. Lion City lit notes provides quick insights and links.  This week, The Straits Times, Singapore’s English language daily, carried this interesting piece on the flourishing state  of local literary endeavours.

Twitter spot 

Each week I make a suggestion of an interesting Twitter account you may like to follow.  This week,@camphorpress. Camphor Press is a publishing house focused on non-fiction works about Taiwan and the surrounding region.

*A rojack is a Singaporean salad. Like Asian Books Blog on Facebook, or follow it on Twitter.  And if anybody knows how I can switch off the blog's comments function, please get in touch: asianbooksblog@gmail.com. I'd love to hear from people who like reading, but I'm fed up with all the rubbishy spam.