Reading recommendations: Saneh Sangsuk, Birgit Weyhe, and Khue Pham

In the literary world, a new voice has emerged, captivating readers with its ambitious narrative and quick-paced plotting. "Brothers and Ghosts," the debut novel by Khuē Pham, is a compelling exploration of diaspora, the immigrant experience, and family dynamics, set against the backdrop of the anthropocene and ecological disaster.

Khuē Pham, a debut novelist known for "Brothers and Ghosts," weaves a family saga across decades, spanning between Berlin, South Vietnam, and "Little Saigon" in Orange County, California. The story begins after a mysterious message from an uncle, setting the stage for a journey that ping-pongs across various locations.

The novel's protagonist is Kieû, a journalist in contemporary Berlin, who finds herself entangled in a web of secrets and family history. In the Thai village of Praeknamdang, once a jungle, the boundaries between humans and tigers, two species of hunters, begin to break down. Here, Luang Paw Tien, a 93-year-old local Buddhist monk, is the only person who remembers the forest in Praeknamdang. He tells stories of his encounters with elephants, fish, monkeys, and tigers to the village's children each night.

Priscilla Layne, a Black American woman of Caribbean parentage, is another central character in this intricate narrative. "Rude Girl," an engrossing graphic biography, tells her story. Priscilla had to navigate racism, classism, misogyny, and sexual violence on her way to finding herself in the left-skinhead scene of Chicago and then academia.

Two other noteworthy works by different authors are also worth mentioning. "The Understory," a translation by Berlin-based Mui Poopoksakul, deals with major themes of the anthropocene, ecological disaster, and the human-animal binary. Meanwhile, "Brothers and Ghosts" is available from Scribe Publications, while "The Understory" is available from Deep Vellum Publishing.

While the novel's scope and interweaving storylines sometimes leave little room for fully fleshing out characters or relationships, "Brothers and Ghosts" is a testament to Khuē Pham's storytelling prowess. With its richly layered narrative and thought-provoking themes, it promises to resonate with readers long after the final page is turned.