Front Table Newsletter 11/18

On this week’s Front Table, dive into the poetic clash of heritage and myth in Jamaica, explore the urgent fight to save endangered bears worldwide, and immerse yourself in the raw energy of 1970s Tokyo’s underground club scene. Then, uncover the complex journey of a Palestinian born in 1948 Israel, experience a genre-defying work that blends mysticism and Black poetics, and explore the resilience of revolutionary regimes. Finally, explore the misunderstood choices of artistic women who left their children through historical, literary, and contemporary lenses. Find these titles and more at semcoop.com. 

Far District, the stunning debut by Ishion Hutchinson, takes readers on a poetic journey through the tension between two worlds: the rooted culture of Jamaica's bush people and the alluring yet perilous realm of myth. Through vivid memories of his youth, Hutchinson explores the West Indian skepticism of European literature and mythology, while capturing a speaker torn between loyalty to his heritage and a longing for intellectual and spiritual escape. Blending traditional and free verse, and written in both English and Jamaican patois, Far District offers an intimate, urgent reflection on identity, imagination, and the power of art.


Eight Bears: Mythic Past and Imperiled Future
(W. W. Norton & Company)
Gloria Dickie

Eight Bears takes readers on a fascinating global journey to explore the lives of the world’s eight bear species, many of which are now threatened by climate change and human encroachment. From the jungles of India to the Arctic ice floes, Dickie meets with conservationists, biologists, and local experts working to protect these iconic animals. Along the way, she weaves together history, mythology, and her own experiences, offering a compelling look at our complex relationship with bears. A powerful reminder of what’s at stake, Eight Bears is an urgent call to protect these magnificent creatures before they vanish forever.


Set My Heart on Fire: A Novel
(Verso Fiction)
Izumi Suzuki; Helen O'Horan, trans.

Hope I'm in for a good time, I thought. Even if it's just for tonight.

Set My Heart on Fire is a raw, electrifying dive into 1970s Tokyo's underground club scene. Through a series of candid, sometimes messy vignettes, Izumi Suzuki paints a vivid portrait of Izumi, a young woman navigating love, loss, and self-discovery amidst unreliable men, powerful drugs, and the highs and lows of her twenties. As she weaves through fleeting relationships and a constant search for meaning, music—everything from the Zombies to Japanese psychedelia—provides the pulse. A striking exploration of desire, regret, and the complexity of human connection, Set My Heart on Fire will captivate anyone who's ever been young, wild, and searching for something real.


The Abandoners: On Mothers and Monsters 
(W. W. Norton & Company)
Begoña Gómez Urzaiz; Lizzie Davis, trans.

What kind of mother abandons her child? During the pandemic, trapped at home with young children and struggling to find creative space to write, journalist Begoña Gómez Urzaiz became fixated on artistic women who overcame both society's condemnation and their own maternal guilt to leave their children--at will or due to economic or other circumstances. The Abandoners is sharp, at times slyly humorous, and always deeply empathetic. Using famous examples such as Ingrid Bergman, Muriel Spark, Doris Lessing, and Maria Montessori as well as fictional ones like Anna Karenina and the many roles of Meryl Streep, and interrogating modern trends like "momfluencers," Gómez Urzaiz reveals what our judgement of these women tells us about our judgement of all women.

The Mundus
(Primary Information)
N.H. Pritchard

N.H. Pritchard's The Mundus is a groundbreaking, genre-defying masterpiece that blends poetry, mysticism, and experimental literature. Written over six years (1965–1971), this long-lost work has remained unpublished for over 50 years—until now. Subtitled *"a novel with voices,"* The Mundus pushes boundaries with its fractured, sonic text, often centered around the letter "o," creating an immersive, almost otherworldly experience. Drawing on Pritchard's deepening interest in theosophy and his roots in Black poetics, this radical work demands to be felt as much as read, engaging the mind, body, and soul. A must-read for those seeking something truly unique and transformative.


Revolution and Dictatorship: The Violent Origins of Durable Authoritarianism
(Princeton University Press)
Steven Levitsky and Lucan Way

Revolution and Dictatorship by Steven Levitsky and Lucan Way delves into why dictatorships born from social revolutions—like those in China, Cuba, Iran, and the Soviet Union—prove so resilient, even amid economic collapse, widespread discontent, and external pressure. Drawing on comparative history, the authors argue that radical revolutions spark intense counterrevolutionary conflict, which, despite initially threatening the regime, ultimately strengthens it. This prolonged conflict creates a unified ruling elite and a loyal state apparatus, making these regimes resistant to coups, defections, and mass uprisings. A thought-provoking exploration of why revolutionary governments, though often weak at first, can endure through adversity.

The Children of the Ghetto: II: Star of the Sea
(Archipelago)
Elias Khoury; Humphrey Davies, trans.

The Children of the Ghetto: II is an unforgettable journey through personal and cultural memory, offering a deeply human portrayal of the Palestinian experience. Adam Dannoun, born into the chaos of 1948 Israel, dreams of becoming a writer despite the trauma of losing his father in the Nakba. As he grows, Adam reinvents himself, fleeing a stifling home life to find new beginnings in Haifa, where he takes on a new identity as Adam Danon. As he navigates the complexities of love, family, and survival, Adam must confront the dark past he’s tried to escape. The second book in a powerful trilogy, The Children of the Ghetto: II is a moving exploration of identity, resilience, and the haunting echoes of history. It deepens the emotional and historical landscape of its predecessor, weaving together themes of love and loss that resonate long after the final page.