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.
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?
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.
A Journey through Memory and Magic: An Expanded Look at Vidya Math’s “The Book of Gems”
Vidya Math’s “The Book of Gems” emerges as a captivating new entry in the magical fantasy genre, serving as the much-anticipated sequel to her earlier work, “The Book of Stamps.” While the first novel introduced readers to the enchanting world of Zohor through the innocent eyes of a little girl named Othelia, this new installment delves into a more mature and introspective chapter of her life.
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.
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.
‘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.
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.
Under the Eye of the Big Bird: A Haunting Vision of Humanity’s Twilight
Mieko Kawakami’s Under the Eye of the Big Bird defies categorisation as part novel, part interlinked stories. Set in humanity’s distant future, this ambitious work explores extinction through fragmented narratives that gradually coalesce. Despite its bleak premise, moments of love and humour shine through, creating something genuinely original and haunting.
Submissions Open for 2025 Wells Festival of Literature International Competitions
Writers can compete for £5,000 in prizes across four categories: Open Poetry, Short Story, Book for Children, and Young Poets. Submit your original, unpublished work by 30 June 2025. Prize winners receive professional recognition worth its weight in gold. Visit wellsfestivalofliterature.org.uk for guidelines.
Seán Ó Faoláin Competition Opens for 2025 Entries
Seán Ó Faoláin International Short Story Competition opens for 2025 submissions, offering a €2,000 first prize and featured reading at Cork International Short Story Festival. Running until 31st July, the competition welcomes unpublished stories up to 3,000 words from writers worldwide, judged by acclaimed Australian author Laura Jean McKay.
My Life, My Text : Episode 12
Charu Nivedita is a South Indian Author. He has published six works of fiction, six works on cinema and numerous non-fiction. His novel Zero Degree was long listed for the 2013 edition of Jan Michalski Prize for Literature. It is a lipogrammatic novel in Tamil.
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