A Compass On The Navigable Sea: 100 Years of World Literature, An Anthology Edited by Daniel Simon

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

A global chorus from the archives of World Literature Today, this landmark collection of fiction, essays, and poetry commemorates a century of exploration through pen and ink.

The Night Closes, the Sky Opens is a bold, global anthology of stories that cross borders and essays that reshape worlds, reimagining what international writing can be. From Nobel laureates to dissident poets, iconic novelists to fresh contemporary voices, this collection brings together powerful essays, visionary lectures, and urgent reflections that speak to the heart of literature’s role in a rapidly changing world.

Spanning four dynamic sections—from foundational manifestos to groundbreaking critical takes, from national literatures to transnational identities—this anthology offers readers a vibrant map of how stories cross borders, bridge histories, and shape futures. Alongside works by Octavio Paz, Elie Wiesel, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, Toni Morrison, Dubravka Ugrešić, and many others. Ultimately, this collection bridges genre, time, and location, and asks What can literature do in a time of crisis?

my thoughts:

Love, love, loved this beautiful book! A Compass On the Navigable Sea is an anthology by Daniel Simon, and it encompasses 100 Years of World Literature. How awesome is that? Voices from all over brought together to share their love, consideration, and urgent concerns regarding this vast and ever-changing world we all call home. We get history and contemporary ideas all together, which makes for such a refreshing view on the ways in which the world has changed, or barely moved forward. It's fascinating, powerful, and thought-provoking. I would happily recommend this book to everyone - it's a definitely must-read that will provide plenty of food for thought. Make sure to grab a copy ASAP! You won't want to miss out on such a wonderful collection. 

Thank you to Restless Books for providing me with a copy of this book!

Monday Musings...

Brr...it's freezing! This crazy winter weather seems to be lining up with all the horror happening in the world lately. Yikes! Not sure that bodes well for 2026, eh? Then again, the astro-cartographers have been predicting this year to be chock full of drama. I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed that they are all wrong. Hope springs eternal, or something like that, right? 

All this cold makes me want to eat brownies and read books. Thankfully my aunt made brownies - yum! And, I'm reading two books:

The first one is a re-read of an old favorite. I love Toews' writing and this one breaks my heart. It's such a beautiful book - the writing, dark humor, and sadness. Whoa! As for the second book, it's for the JLC19 and I am really enjoying it so far - an intriguing mystery that has me trying to guess whodunit. I love the straightforwardness of the story and the feeling that I'm reading a detective show play out 'in real time.' It's fascinating. 

I'm still watching Psych - I'm on season 3 and LOLing all of the time with it. Gus and Shawn are hilarious together and I love watching their antics. I'm also rewatching A Different World - such a great show! I'm loving Whitley and Dwayne's relationship - always my favorite. Plus, I heard that they are creating a sequel to the show that will focus on Dwayne and Whitley's daughter. So cool! I can't wait to watch it. 

And now, I'm off to journal for a bit and start the week off on the right note - leaving all of my anxieties  on the page. Here's a great week! Happy reading! Stay warm!

My Friday Five...

1. Weather. This arctic freeze is wreaking havoc on everyone. Talk about a frosty start to the year.

2. Books. I finished one book this week that raised my blood pressure- it was so tense! It's Tracy Sierra's new book, Warning Signs - it'll be released on February 10th. And, it was riveting! I found myself hooked right from the start and did not put the book down for anything - I gobbled it up all in one and go and LOVED it!

3. Psych. I'd never seen the TV show, but I remember my cousin loving it. So, after being overwhelmed with anxiety lately, I decided to give it a go. And, I am really enjoying it. It's fun and ridiculous and makes me laugh out loud every episode. 

4. Lent. I'm thinking of giving up sugar. Ugh.

5. 100 Day Project. I think I have an idea. It's easy and won't take up too much time every day. It's a scrap a day journal - basically, I would punch out a square from a paper ephemera and paste it down in a book. I've seen artists creating scrap a day journals and they look amazing. Hmm...it's an idea. We'll see. 

Anyhow, wishing you all a warm and safe weekend. Happy reading!

Akiko's Quiet Happiness: The Japan Trilogy, Vol. 1 by Jan-Philipp Sendker, translated by Daniel Bowles

(Thank you Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

Two lonely former classmates reconnect in Tokyo and unravel a family secret in this touching new novel from the internationally bestselling author of The Art of Hearing Heartbeats.

Still grieving the death of her mother, 29-year-old Akiko is single and lives in self-imposed isolation in Tokyo. Then one evening, she unexpectedly runs into Kento, her first love from school. Kento now leads a reclusive life as a hikikomori, only venturing out at night.

At the same time, Akiko discovers evidence that her mother had been lying to her about their family, causing her to doubt everything. She has to admit to herself that she doesn’t know who she is.

With Kento’s help, Akiko embarks on a journey into her own history, which takes her life in surprising directions and leads her to questions she had never dared to ask herself How do I want to live? And do I have the courage to love?

my thoughts:

Love, love, loved this emotional and powerful read. Akiko's Quiet Happiness is the first volume in Jan-Philipp Sendker's The Japan Trilogy and it is amazing. The story is mesmerizing, quiet, and, deep in its exploration of isolation, family, and, love. I couldn't help but get caught up in Akiko's story - I was captivated right from the start. I had to know what she would do and what would happen next in her journey of self-discovery. It was fascinating and thought-provoking. I loved it! I look forward to the next volume. And, I would happily recommend this amazing book to anyone and everyone looking for their next great read. You are going to fall in deep with Akiko's Quiet Happiness.  

Thank you Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!

We Should Have Left Well Enough Alone: Twenty Haunting Stories by Ronal Mali

(Thank you Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

A new mother is pursued by mysterious men in black. A misguided youth learns the dark secrets of the world from an elderly neighbor on Halloween night. A housewarming party where the guests never leave. A caretaker tends to his rusted relic of a god deep in the desert... 

In his debut short story collection, Bram Stoker Award finalist Ronald Malfi mines the depths and depravities of the human condition, exploring the dark underside of religion, marriage, love, fear, regret, and hunger in a world that spins just slightly askew on its axis. Rich in atmosphere and character, Malfi's debut collection is not to be missed.

my thoughts:

I'm a huge fan of Ronald Malfi's novels. They are creepy, thrilling, and unputdownable. So, I was thrilled to get a copy of his short story collection, We Should Have Left Well Enough Alone. The book was originally published in 2017 and has be re-released by Titan Books today - January 27th, 2026. How exciting! 

Grabbing a huge cuppa, I settled down in a cozy spot, and dove right in. Right from the start I was hooked. How could I not be? A woman with a baby trying to make dinner, all the while wondering about the men in black outside her house, and a horrible smell that she can't seem to figure out - suffice it to say, that first story was disturbing, intriguing, riveting, and unforgettable. Wow! Oh, and there's a story about a married couple on a vacation who go out on a boat. Sharks abound and that is all I will say. Just know that you are in for a spooky treat with this gem - We Should Have Left Well Enough Alone - is a definite must-read!

I would happily recommend this book to fans of Malfi and anyone looking for their next horror book - you are going to LOVE this one to bits! Make sure to grab a copy ASAP! 

Thank you Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book!