{"title":"Fiona Sze-Lorrain","description":"\u003cp\u003eFiona Sze-Lorrain is a multifaceted author celebrated for her evocative storytelling and lyrical prose. An accomplished voice in contemporary literature, she enchants readers with her ability to weave intricate narratives that explore deep emotional landscapes and complex human experiences.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHer works, including titles like \u003cem\u003eDear Chrysanthemums\u003c\/em\u003e, reflect her adeptness in merging cultural nuances and universal themes. Drawing from her rich background as a poet, translator, and performer, Fiona's stories resonate with a melodic rhythm and vivid imagery, inviting readers to immerse themselves in her vibrant fictional worlds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn the realm of General Fiction, Sze-Lorrain's books offer insightful reflections on identity, memory, and the ties that bind us across time and place. Each book in this collection is a testament to her literary prowess and her profound understanding of the human condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDiscover Fiona Sze-Lorrain's collection and be captivated by her delicate balance of artful sensitivity and compelling narrative. Whether you are a seasoned reader or new to her work, her books promise a literary journey that is both enlightening and enriching.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"dear-chrysanthemums-by-fiona-sze-lorrain-9781668012987","title":"Dear Chrysanthemums","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eLonglisted for the 2024 Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction,\u003c\/b\u003e this is a startling and vivid debut novel in stories from acclaimed poet and translator Fiona Sze-Lorrain, featuring deeply compelling Asian women who reckon with the past, violence, and exile—set in Shanghai, Beijing, Singapore, Paris, and New York.\n\n\u003cp\u003eComposed of several interconnected stories, each taking place in a year ending with the number six, ironically a number that in Chinese divination signifies “a smooth life,” \u003ci\u003eDear Chrysanthemums\u003c\/i\u003e is a novel about the scourge of inhumanity, survival, and past trauma that never leaves. The women in these stories are cooks, musicians, dancers, protestors, mothers and daughters, friends and enemies, all inexplicably connected in one way or another.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Cooking for Madame Chiang,” 1946:\u003c\/b\u003e Two cooks work for Madame Chiang Kai-shek and prepare a foreign dish craved by their mistress, which becomes a political weapon and leads to their tragic end.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Death at the Wukang Mansion,” 1966:\u003c\/b\u003e Punished for her extramarital affair, a dancer is transferred to Shanghai during the Cultural Revolution and assigned to an ominous apartment in a building whose other residents often depart in coffins.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“The White Piano,” 1966:\u003c\/b\u003e A budding pianist from New York City settles down in Paris and is assaulted when a mysterious piano arrives from Singapore.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“The Invisible Window,” 2016:\u003c\/b\u003e After their exile following the Tiananmen Square massacre, three women gather in a French cathedral to renew their friendship and reunite in their grief and faith.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith devastating precision, a masterly ear for language, and a profound understanding of both human cruelty and compassion, Fiona Sze-Lorrain weaves \u003ci\u003eDear Chrysanthemums\u003c\/i\u003e, an evocative and disturbing portrait of diasporic life, the shared story of uprooting, resilience, artistic expression, and enduring love.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Arotahi Agency","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46670486470892,"sku":"9781668012987","price":35.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/24347883482781.jpg?v=1752771483"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/fiona-sze-lorrain.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}