The Trees by Percival Everett
‘No one achieves true catharsis, because, in order to experience catharsis, one must experience justice; and justice, Everett seems to say, is still only to be found in fiction. The Trees is a bold and compelling examination of racism in America: an uncomfortable read and a vital one.’
Here is the Beehive by Sarah Crossan
‘Like its protagonist, the story is what it is and, thankfully, it makes no apologies for it. To that end, it is reminiscent of Eimear McBride’s Strange Hotel from earlier this year: a similarly sharp and humanistic tale of grief and self-discovery in middle-age, that re-casts motherhood as an off-shoot of the female experience, rather than its traditional place as the central pillar. ‘