Owusu, Derek

Despite its sometimes hard-to-follow stream-of-consciousness, this title is ideal for readers who prefer novels that expand on thematic questions instead of answering them.

Published earlier in the UK, Owusu’s slight novel was awarded the 2020 Desmond Elliott Prize for debut fiction. Short chapters, some merely a paragraph in length, propel the narrative. Don’t be fooled by its slight size, however; this poetic story packs a big emotional punch and will engage a range of readers.