This is a very great liberation for the suffering, struggling person, who always thinks that he is alone. This is why art is important.
” The whole point of art/literature is to encourage people to question everything.” Megha Rao
Madonna in a Fur Coat
Turkish Author Sabahattin Ali’s “Madonna in a Fur Coat”, originally published in 1943, tells the story of Raif Efendi, a young Turkish man who journeys to 1920s Berlin to learn a trade and ends up finding himself through a chance encounter with an artist named Maria Puder. The novel, initially overlooked by critics as just another love story, has since become a celebrated work in Turkish literature, lauded for its poignant exploration of love, longing, and the complexities of the human soul.
“It’s a mistake to think that ‘fiction’ and ‘truth’ are opposites.” Dirk Collier
It is a romanced attempt by a twenty-first-century Western European to read into the mind of a 16th-century Indian monarch
Maybe Tomorrow by Penny Parkes
For readers seeking a lighthearted romance novel, Maybe Tomorrow by Penny Parkes might seem like the perfect choice. However, this novel offers something far more profound—a compelling exploration of societal challenges, single motherhood, and the power of female friendships. Unlike traditional romantic fiction, Maybe Tomorrow takes a deeper dive into themes of hardship, resilience, and personal growth.
The Asian Prize for Poetry 2025 is now open for submissions
The Asian Group of Literature is pleased to announce the launch of The Aisan Prize for Poetry’s inaugural edition. The Asian Prize for Poetry is a non-monitory award that aims to create a global platform of appreciation for the outstanding work of poetry by writers around the world.
The White Noise Lullaby, By Natasha Sharma
I dream of lakes again. Not lakes, but of a specific lake. Roopkund Lake. Strange to dream in such vivid details about a place one has never visited. This time, my buddh dadda, my Hari, also makes an appearance. I have not thought of my paternal great-grandfather for ages.
The Alexander Nderitu Prize for World Literature announces the shortlist…
Themed on “Peace”, the short-story contest received a total of 72 entries from Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, Kingdom of Eswatini, South Sudan, Zimbabwe, Poland, Malawi, The Gambia, Sri Lanka, USA, Botswana and Tanzania. The jurors include Dr. Paula O. M. Otukile (Botswana), Camilla Bauer (Sweden), Henry Akubuiro (Nigeria), Rupasinghe D. Pramudith (Sri Lanka), and Alexander Nderitu (Kenya).
Gia Finds a Love: A Tale of Love and Fighter Jets in the Pacific War
“Gia Finds a Love” is a fourth story in the book, ‘The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Aviation Girls’ written by Tom Durwood. The book boasts of nine amazing long stories that look beyond the history, but sheds light on the working mechanism of jet fighters, and evolution of aviation and manned flights along with personal struggles of the heroines of the book.
The Asian Prize for Short Story 2025 is now open for submissions.
The Asian Group of Literature has immense pleasure in announcing that the secound edition of The Asian Prize for Short Story is now open for submissions. The Asian Prize for Short Story is introduced in order to create a global platform of appreciation for outstanding work of short stories written by writers around the world.
The Asian Prize For Fiction 2024, Now Open For Submissions
Besides the nominations by the affiliated bookclubs of The Asian Group, the Prize is now open for submissions by the publishers. The submissions will be accepted till 15th February 2025.
Whale: A Review of Cheon Myeong-kwan’s Audacious Epic
The novel traces the remarkable life of Geumbok, a woman who rises from abject poverty to become a powerful entrepreneur in a remote coastal village. Her journey spans decades of Korean history, from the Japanese occupation through the Korean War and into the nation’s rapid industrialisation period.
The Asian Trio come to Sinhala…
The Asian Group plans to launch the translations of the books selected for the super shortlist in the year 2025 itself, while the rest of the books made to the shortlist will come to Sihala in early 2026.
Died and Back by Vandana Srivastava Piques Readers to Recognize Their Divine Faith
Engaging pictures and poetic verses in English and Hindi, a perfectly organized memoir with spiritual morality…this book is surely to enthrall readers while giving them a window of opportunity to take a look at their relationship with their divine powers.
Lost In The Woods, by Maria A Perdomo
Maria A Perdomo is an emerging Venezuelan poet who has penned two poetry collections so far. She writes in both Spanish and English. Currently based in Valencia, Venezuela, Maria is a medical professional who has shown an unyielding passion for literature. She is working on her first novel and a new poetry collection. Her writings are known for their boldly honest nature, soulfulness and intimacy.
V.V. Ganeshananthan unifies three literary landscapes by winning The Asian Prize for Fiction 2023.
V. V. Ganeshananthan’s win in The Asian Prize for Fiction highlights her remarkable talent and connects her work to a vast global audience. This achievement not only celebrates her literary artistry but also unifies three different literary landscapes. Her work has garnered significant recognition, as evidenced by winning three esteemed prizes: the 2024 Carol Shields Prize for Fiction, the 2024 Women’s Prize for Fiction, and The Asian Prize for Fiction in 2023. This commendation speaks to the impact of her writing on readers around the world.
Indian Writer Natasha Sharma wins The Asian Prize for Short Story 2024
fter a seven-month-long evaluation process, the Jury of The Asian Prize for Short Story announced the winner on December 15, 2024. Out of over 900 submissions, three stories made it to the shortlist: Litter by Shikhandin, The Perfect Lifeby Kushboo Shah, and The White Noise Lullaby by Natasha Sharma. Among them, Indian writer Natasha Sharma won The Asian Prize for Short Story 2024 for her work, The White Noise Lullaby.
The Most Anticipated The Asian Trio Announced
The highlight of November was the eagerly awaited announcement of the Super Shortlist for The Asian Prize of Fiction, delivered by The Asian Committee on November 13, 2024. Out of six outstanding works of seamlessly woven prose that delve into unexplored themes and relevant social issues, three authors made it to the final list: Indian author Arefa Tehsin, Nepali-Indian author Smriti Ravindra, and American fiction writer V.V. Ganeshananthan.
‘At that time, we considered the Brahmins as outsiders…’ Charu Nivedita
At that time, we considered the Brahmins as outsiders. The Tamil they spoke was different. However, they treated us students like their own children. There was only one exception—our maths teacher, whom we called Arkay Saar. Despite being fond of us, on Mondays and Thursdays, if anyone hadn’t done their homework, he would grab his bamboo wand and beat the boy severely.
‘Art has always been a powerful tool for driving social change…’ Bodhini Samaratunga.
Bodhini Samaratunga is an accomplished emerging writer from Sri Lanka who is now based in Sweden. Her writing is firmly centred on social change, powered by her extensive experience as a medical professional working with marginalised populations. Bodhini is a strong advocate for purposeful writing, asserting that it transcends mere leisure.
Opportunities and Threats in the Oceanic Future of Sri Lanka
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.
The Asian Review 