A Harlem Renaissance Editor Up Close

Harlem Rhapsody

by Victoria Christopher Murray

"For me, Victoria Christopher Murray's Harlem Rhapsody is the quintessential historical novel. It is based on true events, is entertaining, and provided a learning opportunity. I enjoyed reading this book that centered on Jessie Redmon Fauset, the literary editor of The Crisis — the magazine created and edited by Dr. W. E. B. Du Bois, civil rights activist. The struggle of Fauset to be seen as a talented writer, editor, and activist in her own right was hampered by her on and off again affair with Du Bois." —Janice A. (Colfax, WI)

"Fauset introduced the world to such luminaries as Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, and Nella Larsen; and those are only a few of the more famous names that she discovered and published...the reader is exposed to how Fauset finds, influences, and shapes the lives and works of her luminary stars. She also finds time to write a novel which is met with acclaim. She truly is a remarkable woman and one that I hope the world will celebrate when Harlem Rhapsody hits the shelves and gets the readership it deserves." —Mary S. (Bow, NH)

"Fans of historical fiction will enjoy this and it would make for a great book club discussion as well! There's so much to unpack." —Ticey G. (Andover, KS)

This issue of The BookBrowse Review contains reviews and "beyond the book" articles for 14 titles, including We Do Not Part by Han Kang, Gliff by Ali Smith, and Dark Laboratory by Tao Leigh Goffe.

We also bring you an article on the writing trend known as LitRPG, book club recommendations, and much more.

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We Do Not Part

by Han Kang

We Do Not Part, originally published in 2021 and now available in an English translation by e. yaewon and Paige Aniyah Morris, is the 11th novel of Han Kang, winner of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature. It illuminates a dark time in Korean history while following the friendship between two women. The story, told in three parts, opens with our main character, Kyungha. Recurring dreams have been haunting her for years, having started after she began research for a book about a massacre in a city she refers to as "G–" and continued even after the book's publication.

Spending her days alone in an apartment just outside of Seoul, Kyungha is agonized by a cycle of migraines, stomach spasms, and caffeine-rich painkillers. Out of the blue, she receives a text message from her friend Inseon, asking to meet her urgently. She complies, and learns Inseon has sawed off her fingers in a woodworking accident. Inseon asks Kyungha to look after her pet bird as she recovers in the hospital, before it dies of starvation and dehydration.

However, Inseon's home is located miles from the nearest bus stop, and a harrowing and suspenseful journey in a blizzard awaits Kyungha, followed by a jumbling of reality and dream, past and present. ... continued

Review by Letitia Asare

Authorial Pseudonyms

I've joked on more than one occasion that, should I ever write a novel of my own, it will have to be under a pseudonym to save myself from the ire of all the real people I'll be turning into fiction. Many famous and acclaimed writers have used a pseudonym (also known as a pen name, nom de guerre, and nom de plume). The name Mark Twain is infinitely more well known than Samuel Clemens, his real-life counterpart. The French novelist George Sand used her male pseudonym to publish and to advocate for women's rights in 19th century France. Louisa May Alcott used multiple aliases—the most famous being "A.M. Barnard"—because they allowed her to write about more controversial subjects and in "lurid" genres, unlike the domestic fiction she was known for.

But an author hiding their true identity can also backfire. In The Three Lives of Cate Kay, Annie Calahan uses the name Cate Kay to publish a bestselling trilogy and also to reinvent herself after a terrible mistake she made as a young girl. The novel is presented, in part, as her decision to abandon anonymity, acknowledge her mistakes, and live openly again as Annie. This works out for Annie, but not every author in the real world has been as fortunate. ... continued

Article by Sara Fiore

Han Kang's We Do Not Part, featured in our latest e-zine, is one of 150+ titles in our Books in Translation category. Check it out to discover more recommended books originally written in languages other than English — from all over the world!

This is one of 100+ themed categories you can explore on BookBrowse to find the perfect read for your book club or yourself. Members can access all categories and filters to narrow their browsing, while non-members have limited access.

Discussions are open to all, so please join us! If you would like to receive a message when a particular discussion opens, you can sign up for a one-time notification. You can also find inspiration for your book club among our more than 200 past discussions.

Currently, our members are discussing Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye and Ariel Lawhon's The Frozen River, among other books. Starting this week, we feature Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange.