The Dream Life Of Sukhanov
Olga Gushin  
ISBN: 978-03-99152-986

Thousand Cranes
Yasunori Kawabata
ISBN: 0-679-76265-5

Russian literature has always been a tasty read. In her debut novel, Olga Grushin tackles the circumstance of modern Russia as it moved away from its days as the U.S.S.R. circa 1985. Grushin was born in 1971 Moscow, she knows the iron curtain from the inside and living this reality moved her to write about it. Exploring these transitions and setting it against the art world is no small feat. Protagonist Anatoyla Sukhanov battles to keep buried all his dreams, fears and regrets, but the successfulness of his efforts remains in question. What is known is that Sukhanov made a choice, a betrayal of passion if you will, in 1967 and has to face it twenty-three years later. If you did the same, how would you fare? Would your life twist out of turn?

It is one of the quietest books I have ever read and its beauty is as loud as it is quiet. The story is simple - a man comes home after his father dies. His father had a mistress, or two. The son is unmarried and somewhat wealthy. There are young girls of marriage age available. There are older women who have designs on who they should marry. This description tells you little about how the language and thoughts play out but know that this story revolves around, and everyone bends to, the traditions of the tea ceremony. Written by a well-respected Nobel Prize winning Japanese author, this book may be the beginning of your life with him.

What do you think you know about Genghis Khan? This book isn’t so much a biography as it is a study and exploration of Mongolian culture. For a culture that conquered most of Europe and parts of Asia and Africa centuries ago, there was a lot that was implemented that modern day society takes advantage of: i.e. religious tolerance, international trade, propaganda and media- all were cultivated by Genghis’ empire.

Two Cities
John Edgar Wideman
ISBN: 0-618-00185-9

They Shall Run: Harriet Tubman Poems
Quraysh Ali Lansana
ISBN: 088378257X

This two-time Pen/Faulkner award winning Rhodes Scholar can write. This particular story focuses on love and redemption and circles around the lives of three people: a divorced woman, an older man and a still older man and his photographs. Not giving any secrets away on this one, just enjoy this African-American story by a dynamic African-American writer.

An amazing work, this collection of poems are interpretations of what might have gone through Harriet Tubman’s mind as she prepared to become Black Moses. Told first person in dialect, the poems bring Tubman’s humanity, pain, grief and faith to the forefront in a specific and emotionally charged way. Truly a gem and worthy work to add to any library.