While I have been busy elsewhere, the Dublin Literary Award Shortlist of six novels has also been announced.

Chosen from a diverse longlist of nominations from libraries around the world, this award gives us an insight into what books readers from around the world are being engaged by thanks to books being lent by public libraries.

You can see the entire longlist of 78 novels in my earlier post here.

Of the six shortlisted titles below, four are in translation. The novels chosen explore a range of issues including the power of books, racially-inspired hate crimes, relationships, ageing, toxic masculinity, the impact of war, and span many locations and eras.

Shortlisted titles:

Cloud Cuckoo Land (Science Fiction/Fantasy) by Anthony Doerr (US)

The Trees (Dark Murder Mystery/Social Satire) by Percival Everett (US)

Paradais (Dark Underbelly of Humanity Literary Fiction) by Fernanda Melchor (Mexico), translated by Sophie Hughes

Marzahn, Mon Amour (Uplifting Working Class fiction) by Katja Oskamp (Germany), translated by Jo Heinrich

Love Novel (Intense Domestic Fiction) by Ivana Sajko (Croatia), translated by Mima Simić

Em (War Effect & Displacement fiction) by Kim Thúy (Canada/Vietnam), translated by Sheila Fischman

I’m intrigued to read Percival Everett, a writer I’ve been aware of for some time but not read.

I highly recommend Marzhan, mon amour, I absolutely loved it.

I’ve read Kim Thúy before, so I’m eyeing her novel too, despite how traumatic much of the story seems, based on realife stories of happenings in Vietnam, but uniquely, being told from a woman’s perspective and covering many of the subjects rarely written or spoken if elsewhere.

The winning novel will be announced on the 25th of May.

Let me know if you’ve read and enjoyed any of these titles, or are tempted by anything here.