Must-read Asian Australian books (2024 edition)
Posted on
The Lunar New Year signifies a period for loved ones to come together, exchange good wishes, and rejoice in life’s blessings as well as the prospects for the year ahead.
It also presents as an ideal opportunity to discuss the Asian Australian books slated for release in 2024.
So, as the Year of the Dragon approaches, remember to incorporate some fresh titles into your TBR stack!
A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang
Now, I’m not much of a fantasy reader but I simply CANNOT wait for this book to come out later this year. Inspired by the legend of Xishi, A Song to Drown Rivers is an epic historical fantasy that weaves a tale of Xishi, a young woman from Yue. She possesses remarkable beauty, which she uses as a weapon under the guidance of Fanli, a skilled military advisor. Her mission: infiltrate the enemy kingdom of Wu as a spy, seduce their immoral king, and weaken them from within to avenge her sister’s murder and benefit her people. As Xishi’s beauty becomes her deadliest asset, a complex relationship develops between her and Fanli. Inside the Wu palace, she grapples with the king’s advisers, all while the king’s affection hides a brutal side. If her true identity as a traitor is exposed, it could spell disaster for both kingdoms.
Ann Liang is a University of Melbourne graduate and acclaimed author of YA novels. (Which you should absolutely add to your list, too!)
The Burrow by Melanie Cheng
Melanie Cheng, an author residing in Naarm/Melbourne, has garnered acclaim for her literary works. Her collection of short stories, Australia Day, achieved recognition when it won the 2016 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for an unpublished manuscript and later clinched the 2018 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for fiction. Additionally, her novel, Room for a Stranger made it to the longlist of the 2020 Miles Franklin Award and was a finalist for the 2020 NSW Premier’s Multicultural Award.
The Burrow delves into the lives of Amy, Jin, and Lucie, who are leading secluded lives within the confines of their partially renovated inner-city home. Although discontented, they are gripped by fear when it comes to embracing change. The family’s dynamics shift when they decide to introduce a pet rabbit into their home for Lucie. Subsequently, Amy’s mother, Pauline, pays them a visit, triggering the revelation of long-buried secrets. As they open their hearts to the rabbit, the family faces a crucial question: Will this act of vulnerability help them heal, or will it usher in further tragedy?
Ghost Cities by Siang Lu
Ghost Cities, inspired by the desolate and deserted megacities of China, weaves together multiple narratives. Among them is the story of Xiang, a young man abruptly dismissed from his role as a translator at Sydney’s Chinese Consulate. His shocking secret is revealed: he doesn’t possess any knowledge of the Chinese language and has solely relied on Google Translate for his work. As the tale unfolds, we gradually uncover how his relocation to one of these ghostly cities is intricately linked to parallel journeys.
If you enjoy the works of Haruki Murakami and Italo Calvino, then Ghost Cities is a must-read!
Siang Lu is the acclaimed author of The Whitewash that secured the title of Audiobook of the Year at the 2023 Australian Book Industry Awards and received the Glendower Emerging Writer Award at the Queensland Literary Awards. It was also shortlisted at the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards.
36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem by Nam Le
Nam Le, known for his award-winning and best-selling work, The Boat, presents his first international release in the form of a book-length poem that pays homage to the conventions of diasporic literature. In the vein of notable authors like Claudia Rankine, Cathy Park Hong, and Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, 36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem delves into the urgent and disquieting exploration of identity and the violence inherent in it.
For Le, a Vietnamese refugee in the Western world, this violence encompasses not only the assumed racism, oppression, and historical trauma but also the violence of being perpetually viewed as an outsider in one’s own home, country, culture, or language. The complex violence of language itself is another facet of this narrative.
Light Traps: A History by Grace Yee
Light Traps: A History, authored by Grace Yee, is a poignant exploration of the stories of early Chinese settlers in Australia and New Zealand. Grace Yee, a poet, writer, and researcher based in Melbourne, brings her unique perspective and expertise to this collection.
The book explores the compelling stories of early Chinese settlers, primarily from the Canton region in the mid-nineteenth century, who unexpectedly found themselves establishing roots in Australia, particularly in Victoria, New South Wales and Aotearoa, New Zealand. These settlers originally arrived with the intention of temporary sojourns, but circumstances such as poverty, illness, business endeavours, family connections, and love led them to remain in their newfound homes.
This collection of poems draws inspiration from the lived experiences of these Chinese settlers and their descendants, shedding light on their resilience and triumphs in the face of enduring colonialist and orientalist stereotypes that have marginalised and exoticised Chinese communities across the Pacific Rim, dating back to the gold rushes of the nineteenth century. Light Traps is a tribute to the author’s ancestors, revealing how they survived and thrived despite the challenges presented by a world marked by ‘life’s implacably white horizons.’ It underscores the idea that the past continues to exert a profound influence on the present, reminding us that historical events resonate persistently in our contemporary lives.
To stay up to date with the latest Asian Australian book news, consider following these accounts on Instagram:
