The World of Books

North and South America

It’s often hard to know where to start when looking for foreign books to try. Books has put together a five-part guide to our favourite authors out there now. This week, we visit North and South America

Andrew Kaufman

All My Friends are Super Heroes

Telegram

Tom isn’t a super hero, but all his friends are. Even his wife is a superhero. Her name is the Perfe-ctionist, and her super power is the ability to will order with her mind.

Scattered throughout the book are numerous super heroes; the Stress Bunny has the ability to absorb stress in a fifty foot radius, producing instant relaxation, while the Frog Kisser can turn social outcasts into winners.

The book tells the story of Tom, who has become invisible to the Perfectionist. Disillusioned with Tom’s absence, the Perfectionist decides to board a plane, and Tom has until the plane lands to make himself visible again or he will lose his love forever.

Kaufman’s short novel is beautifully written and tenderly funny, an affirming tribute to love which even helps to find the superhero within you and everyone.

Tom Williams

Paulo Coelho

The Alchemist

HarperSanFrancisco

Paulo Coelho arrived quietly on the literary scene. After three failed novels, The Alchemist was met with no great applause.

However, on the brink of going out of print, the book soared to become one of the best-selling Brazilian books of all time.

The Alchemist combines the distant mysteries of the desert with a deeply mythological atmosphere. It follows the story of Sandiago, a young boy who has a dream he is desperate to pursue.

It is a novel full of optimism that seeps discretely into the rambling lyrical prose. Avalyn Beare

David Guterson

Snow Falling on Cedars

Bloomsbury

David Guterson was born in Seattle, USA. Snow Falling on Cedars is his most famous novel, and was awarded the 1995 PEN/Faulkner Award.

The novel follows the trial of a Japanese-American accused of the murder of an American man. Guterson delves into the memories and emotions of the characters in the courtroom, bringing to light issues such as the cruel and hypocritical treatment of Japanese-Americans during World War Two, the experiences of soldiers, cross-cultural love, obsession, racism, and justice. With echoes of Harper Lee, this is a rich and powerful novel that does not fit in any one genre. In a recent interview, Guterson stated that presenting moral questions is a very important obligation for a writer, in this novel he presents a case, and a story in which humanity goes on trial. Emily Khan

Frank Miller

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns

Titan Books Ltd

Redefining a genre and a character with such a rich and established history is not an easy task, but it is one which Frank Miller took on boldly, and succeeded in brilliantly.

This mini-series, now a graphic novel, revolutionised the superhero ethos, transforming Batman from the camp crusader of the 60s into a troubled and reluctant hero. The story takes place in the near future and documents Bruce Wayne’s return as Batman after ten years of retirement following the death of Robin. Gotham City is plagued with crime, and the re-emergence of Two-Face prompts Bruce to once more don his mask and cape. Miller also succeeds in transforming his arch-enemy the Joker from a mischievous clown into a psychotic killer. The dialogue and plot here are tremendous, something all too rare in comic books from this period, while the art work is gritty and heavily influenced by noir. Miller’s version of Batman is revolutionary, and a success on every level.

Tom Williams