Page 23 - Reader's House Magazine Issue 52

NOVEL • STORY • LITERATURE
EDITOR’S CHOICE
THE HOUSE FILLER
by Tong Ge
A beautifully written, emotionally powerful novel that captures resilience, love, and survival amidst the turmoil of war and political unrest.
The House Filler is a deeply moving and richly layered novel that captures the personal cost of war and political upheaval through the eyes of a resilient woman, Golden Phoenix. Set against the backdrop of China’s civil war and Japanese occupation, Tong Ge’s narrative is both heart-wrenching and inspiring.
Golden Phoenix is a formidable protagonist. Following her husband’s premature death, she is left to raise her children amidst chaos and uncertainty. Her struggle to preserve her family through famine, violence, and separation forms the emotional core of the novel. The most harrowing moments come during the Japanese occupation, where she and her adopted son face unimaginable suffering. Yet, through it all, her spirit never truly breaks.
Ge’s prose is elegant and evocative, immersing the reader in both the beauty and brutality of 20th-cen- tury China. The historical detail is meticulously researched, giving the story a powerful sense of authenticity without ever feeling like a history lesson. Characters are vividly drawn, especially the twin daughters and the son who joins the Nationalist army, each of whom adds depth to the family’s fractured portrait.
Ending in 1965, on the eve of the Cultural Revo- lution, the novel leaves readers with a haunting sense of what is still to come. The House Filler is not just
a tale of survival—it’s a tribute to maternal love, endurance, and the quiet strength required to hold a family together in the darkest of times.
Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction with emotional depth.
FROM GREEN TO BLUE
by Jonathan Cox
Authentic, witty, and deeply human—Cox delivers a masterclass in storytelling that captures the heart and grit of real policing.
Jonathan Cox’s From Green to Blue is a gripping and candid dive into the world of policing, told with the kind of authenticity only a seasoned officer could offer. As the first instalment in The Nostrils Series,
it introduces readers to Chris Pritchard, a lonely 18-year-old orphan who stumbles into the Metropol- itan Police seeking structure, companionship, and a sense of belonging.
Set in London’s gritty East End, the novel strikes a fine balance between dark humour and emotional depth. Chris’s experiences, shadowed by the sharp- tongued yet oddly nurturing WPC Dawn Matthews, unfold in a series of poignant, often hilarious, and occasionally absurd episodes. Each chapter offers
a glimpse into the harsh realities of policing, from violent confrontations to touching human moments, all portrayed without sensationalism.
Cox writes with clarity, wit and emotional intelligence, inviting readers into the camaraderie and chaos of police life in a bygone era. The tone
is refreshingly unpretentious, capturing both the mundanity and madness of life on the beat. What makes this book particularly compelling is its quiet honesty—there’s no glamorisation, only gritty truths softened with sharp observational humour.
With over 5,000 glowing reviews and a run as
a No.1 bestseller across multiple genres, From Green to Blue more than earns its acclaim. Whether you’re a fan of police procedurals or simply enjoy character-driven narratives with heart, this is a standout read that lingers long after the final page. Cox delivers realism with charm—and that’s a rare badge of honour.
THE TROUBLESEEKER
by Alan Lessik
A bold, lyrical journey blending myth and memo- ry—The Troubleseeker is a masterful, moving tale of love and liberation.
In The Troubleseeker, Alan Lessik blends mythol- ogy, magical realism, queer identity, and political struggle into an unforgettable tapestry of divine intervention and human resilience. Set against the vivid backdrop of Havana, Cuba, the novel imagines a semi-divine Emperor Hadrian returning to Earth two millennia after his death to seek redemption
by guiding a young boy, Antinio, through perilous challenges in his quest for freedom.
Hadrian, haunted by the loss of his lover An- tinous, allies with gods from Greek and Santería traditions to aid Antinio. Yet each act of interference weakens his celestial powers, raising the stakes with every choice. As Antinio journeys from oppression towards the promise of the United States, Lessik explores themes of destiny, sacrifice, and love with lyrical poignancy.
This richly layered tale, inspired by the life of René Valdes, is both intimate and epic—equal parts political memoir and mythological fable. Lessik’s prose is vibrant and often laced with humour, balancing the heavy realities of exile, identity, and repression. The novel’s fusion of the sacred and profane, the mythic and the modern, invites com- parisons to Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, yet retains a voice entirely its own.
The Troubleseeker is not only a daring reimag- ining of queer history but a powerful meditation on the cost of liberation. Enthralling and thought-pro- voking, it’s a novel that deserves both praise and reflection.
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