In recent decades, Korean literature has emerged from relative obscurity to claim its rightful place on the world stage, bringing with it distinctive narrative approaches, thematic concerns, and aesthetic sensibilities that have significantly expanded the palette of global literature
The Asian Book Eye is committed to amplifying the voices that have been marginalised, overlooked, or deliberately silenced across the vast tapestry of Asian literary communities, from South Asian powerhouses to East Asian markets, from Southeast Asian emerging voices to Central Asian storytellers whose narratives rarely cross borders.
The story of how South Asian writers claimed their space in global English literature represents one of the most successful cultural appropriations in literary history. By transforming a colonial imposition into a medium for decolonial expression, these writers have not merely secured recognition but have fundamentally altered the landscape of English literature itself.
“Ernaux’s literary project transcends traditional memoir by situating personal experience within broader social contexts. Her deceptively simple prose transforms intimate family portraits into profound meditations on class mobility and generational change. Through rigorous self-examination, she creates literature that serves as both artistic achievement and essential sociological document of contemporary France.”
As The Asian Review Sinhala prepares to enter this new phase on 1st June 2025, it stands as a testament to the enduring value of literature and the importance of community-driven cultural initiatives. In choosing independence and forging international partnerships, the publication is not merely ensuring its own sustainability but is actively contributing to the enrichment of Sri Lanka’s literary landscape.
Oksana Zabuzhko’s groundbreaking novel ‘Field Work in Ukrainian Sex’ addressed gender issues and national trauma, while Yuri Andrukhovych’s ‘Recreations’ explored Ukraine’s cultural positioning between Eastern and Western influences. Serhiy Zhadan’s poetry and prose captured the gritty realities of post-Soviet transition, particularly in eastern Ukraine.
Paul Lynch occupies a singular position in contemporary Irish literature—a writer who has consistently pushed against the boundaries of conventional storytelling to excavate the darkest corners of human experience. His 2023 Booker Prize victory for Prophet Song represents acknowledgement of a literary project building momentum for over a decade.
In recent years, Sri Lanka’s once-respected translation landscape has undergone a troubling transformation. What was once a domain of skilled professionals dedicated to the meticulous art of cross-cultural communication has increasingly come to resemble what some critics describe as an “asylum shelter”
Ukraine’s rich literary heritage suffered systematic suppression under Soviet rule. The policy of Russification meant that Ukrainian writers were often forced to write in Russian or face severe consequences. The “Executed Renaissance” of the 1920s-30s saw an entire generation of Ukrainian intellectuals and writers eliminated through Stalin’s purges.
Anappara’s fiction is deeply rooted in the bustling, chaotic landscape of modern India, where gleaming shopping centres cast shadows over sprawling slums, and where children navigate between hope and despair with remarkable resilience. Her writing demonstrates a profound understanding of class dynamics, urban inequality, and the particular vulnerabilities of India’s most disadvantaged communities.
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s revolutionary decision to abandon English for Gikuyu represented more than linguistic choice—it constituted a radical political act challenging European cultural hegemony. His transformation from James Ngugi symbolises the broader decolonisation project that has defined his career, fundamentally reshaping postcolonial literature and inspiring indigenous language movements worldwide.
Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ emerges as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary African literature, establishing herself through work that interrogates Nigerian society whilst maintaining unflinching commitment to authentic storytelling. Her nuanced exploration of marriage, family dynamics, and societal expectations creates literature that resonates both locally and globally.
The fact that Café Europa was born during the war is telling. Poetry and war should walk separate paths. Yet it is from their intersection that the word-in-action, or poesis, arises. The Greek root of this word is close to the Sanskrit term for compassion – karuna.
n important challenge for Café Europa today is to build a new bridge of encounter leading to Asia. That is why I would like to initiate the program “Café Europa: A Fly To Asia” with this text. The place where the “flying literary café” will be hosted this time is “The Asian Literary Journal”.
Perhaps most significantly, physical books offer a rare commodity in contemporary life: genuine escape from digital surveillance and commercial imperatives. Unlike e-readers that track reading habits, collect data, and interrupt with advertisements or notifications, paper books provide an untraceable, unmonitored intellectual refuge.
The Asian Journal of Literature is an annual publication by The Asian Group, the published edition of The Asian Journal, which is located in Gargaon, India. The Asian Journal offers two distinct editions: one for Literature and another for Science. The Journal for literature is now open for submissions.
Dominique Lapierre’s City of Joy transforms statistical poverty into visceral human experience through meticulous research and compelling storytelling. Yet this powerful narrative of Calcutta’s slums raises uncomfortable questions about Western perspectives on Eastern suffering, embodying both the possibilities and profound limitations of cross-cultural understanding in contemporary literature.
What can be done about it? More than one thing. Every form of solidarity and help is essential. It is important to understand that military aid in Ukraine is not a separate form of support, but part of humanitarian aid, which determines the existential to be or not to be.
A summarised interpretation of the country’s ocean economy and marine habitat since the end of colonialism is as follows. To date, the use of the Indian Ocean has been limited to what it was used since antiquity, namely trading and fishing. Many natural riches on the oceanfront have been neglected while the communities that should have been reaping the benefits are stuck in a vicious financial cycle.
Kawaguchi’s magical café serves as more than a setting—it becomes a metaphor for the human condition, where we are forever bound by our choices whilst yearning for impossible opportunities to revisit significant moments. His gentle approach to magical realism offers healing rather than alienation, affirming connection’s transformative power.
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