After five years and 85,000 daily readers, The Asian Review strips away all images, adopts black-on-cream minimalism, and mandates 900-word minimums. Our globally trademarked black logo signals permanence: we’re desensitising readers from image-focused clicking, resensitising them to sustained thought. Not algorithm-chasing, but resistance training for attention itself. Literary culture demands depth.
What an Editor Can Do for Your Manuscript
Writers finish a draft and believe they see their work clearly. They don’t. Months spent inside a narrative create blindness to its faults. An editor arrives with fresh eyes and finds what […]
When Democracy Drowns: The Terrifying Prescience of Prophet Song
10:52Paul Lynch’s Booker Prize-winning Prophet Song is a literary gut-punch that transforms contemporary Dublin into a totalitarian nightmare. This isn’t escapist fiction—it’s a mirror held up to our fragile democracies, asking the most terrifying question: how would you know when it’s time to leave?
Reflection of the Soul: An Analysis of ‘Darpan: Khud Se Mulakat’
Darpan: Khud Se Mulakat emerges as a profound exploration of the self and the world. The title, which translates to “Mirror: An Encounter with Oneself,” serves as a literal and metaphorical gateway into the poet’s psyche.
Dabi Aas (Diary) by Shaikh Sarafat Ali: A Chronicle of Youthful Expectations and Emotional Turmoil
Shaikh Sarafat Ali’s debut Hindi novel, Dabi Aas (Diary), is a profoundly introspective work that captures the subjective emotional landscape of contemporary Indian youth navigating the treacherous waters of love, ambition, and […]
Dumped!
You see, sometime in 2010 (I think – I forget, now), an agent had accepted the manuscript for The Age of Smiling Secrets and we signed a contract. When publishers were keen-but-not-keen, I suggested we stop submitting and consider reworking the novel. A few days after Christmas 2012, I received an email that shocked me to the core. Let me set the scene for you.
A Warm and Witty Return: Catherine Newman’s “Wreck” Delivers More of What Made “Sandwich” Irresistible
Catherine Newman’s “Wreck” brings back beloved narrator Rocky for a funnier, more poignant sequel. Facing a health scare and local tragedy in western Massachusetts, Rocky navigates family life with Nora Ephron-esque wit. Newman brilliantly blends domestic comedy with meditations on mortality, creating intelligent comfort reading that resonates deeply.
The Asian Prize for Poetry 2025 Shortlist Announced
The Asian Prizes has revealed the shortlist for the inaugural Asian Prize for Poetry 2025. Five exceptional poems from Ukraine, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Malaysia have been selected from the longlist, each powerfully engaging with this year’s theme, “The Earth,” through distinct cultural perspectives and artistic excellence.
Hungarian Writer László Krasznahorkai Wins 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature
Hungarian novelist László Krasznahorkai has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature for his apocalyptic vision and distinctive prose style. Known for sentences that run for pages, the 71-year-old becomes Hungary’s second Nobel laureate in literature, following Imre Kertész who won in 2002.
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature: Predictions and Contenders
As October 9 approaches, the literary world anticipates the 2025 Nobel Prize announcement. Australian novelist Gerald Murnane leads predictions, while Mexican writer Cristina Rivera Garza emerges as a surprise contender. The Swedish Academy’s selection will likely favor experimental voices over mainstream favorites, potentially honoring underrepresented regions and innovative storytelling approaches.
The 2025 Booker Prize Shortlist: ‘Novels for Grown-ups…’
The 2025 Booker Prize shortlist champions literary maturity over novelty, featuring established authors including previous winner Kiran Desai. These six novels explore identity uncertainty and family disruption, from Susan Choi’s multi-generational Flashlight to Katie Kitamura’s thought-provoking Audition. Though predominantly middle-age narratives, they’re anything but safe or comfortable reading.
Want Your Book Discussed at Sri Lanka’s Premier Weekly Sinhala Literary Forum? Here’s How to Submit to Asian Review Sinhala
The Asian Review Sinhala offers Sri Lankan authors a prestigious weekly literary platform in Gampaha. Submit 6 weeks before your desired event date with video clips, author photos, and biography to theasianreviewsinhala@gmail.com. All events are free and open to authors regardless of location, publishing history, or reputation.
The Asian Review Sinhala: Meet Our New Team as We Enter Our Third Year
After two years in Sri Lanka, The Asian Review Sinhala transitions into an independent literary platform under The Asian House of Literature. Meet our dynamic new team—Rasika Solanga arachchi (Country Coordinator), Pathum Punchihewa (Lead Moderator), and Oshini Jayarathna (Creative Coordinator)—as we continue fostering Sri Lanka’s vibrant literary community.
The Asian Prize for Poetry 2025 Long List Announced
The Asian Prizes announces the long list for the inaugural Asian Prize for Poetry 2025, featuring ten works from nine countries exploring the theme “The Earth.” The international jury, chaired by Ukrainian poet Iryna Vikyrchak, selected diverse voices spanning Ukraine, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Botswana, Vietnam, India, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
In-Depth Analysis: Deceptive Murders by Amitav Ganguly
“Deceptive Murders” is an engaging, fast-paced crime mystery with deceptive twists and a reader-friendly structure. It excels as a focused page-turner, ideal if you enjoy concise thrillers that keep you guessing.
Nirmala Govindarajan Joins The Asian Literary Agency’s Editorial Team
The Asian Literary Agency has announced a notable addition to its editorial board with the appointment of author and cultural curator Nirmala Govindarajan. The writer will take charge of the fiction segment as Literary Editor for subcontinental authors, bringing her extensive expertise in contemporary South Asian literature to the agency’s expanded operations.
Before The Genocide
Today marks the International Day of Remembrance of the Genocide in Srebrenica, commemorating the victims of this atrocity. The UN General Assembly adopted the resolution establishing 11 July as this day of remembrance in May 2024, despite opposition from Serbia, China, Russia, Belarus, and Nicaragua.
‘She, the island’
She looked at him, frozen. Everything stopped. There was only this moment when his hand slid down her neck, shoulders, chest, gently and tenderly followed her contours, wrapped her waist and pulled her close. Her body flared under the movement of his hand. She felt his lips, their butterfly touch.
Beyond Boundaries: The Liberating Art of Cross-Genre Writing
The Asian Review, in collaboration with The Asian Prizes, proudly presents The Asian Writing Lab—an ambitious series of interconnected articles designed to nurture and elevate emerging literary voices across the globe.
Sri Lankan Author Shehan Karunatilaka Wins Eighth Émile Guimet Prize for Asian Literature
Sri Lankan author Shehan Karunatilaka has won the eighth Émile Guimet Prize for Asian Literature for “Les sept lunes de Maali Almeida.” The Booker Prize winner’s novel beat strong competition from Chinese and Korean works. The ceremony also launched the inaugural Inalco Student Prize for Manga, expanding recognition of Asian literary forms.
The Asian Review 