issue 49 - AsiaLIFE Magazine

ookshelfAbsolutionPatrick FlaneryRiverhead HardcoverAbsolution takes place in the years around South Africa’sfirst free election in 1994. It’s a time of great change andgreat confusion, and in the midst of this is renownednovelist Clare Wald. Confronting her regret and remorse,Wald is in the process of penning her confessions – in awork also called Absolution – while simultaneously beingwritten about by a young biographer. What are the liesthey tell themselves? What can be trusted? What hauntsthem both? The novel unravels along the themes ofmemory, guilt and forgiveness.The ExpatsChris PavoneCrownA debut from author Chris Pavone, The Expats tells thestory of two Americans overseas. Kate and Dexter moveto Luxembourg when the latter receives a well-paidjob offer. While her husband is kept busy at work, Kate– who left behind a career in Washington, DC – soongrows weary of the expat-wife life. But this is no typicalchallenge of being abroad scenario. It turns out that Kateis a former C.I.A. assassin, whereas Dexter and some oftheir new acquaintances also have a few secrets up theirsleeves. As Kate makes discoveries, readers will alsomake a few surprising revelations of their own.A Game of Thrones:The Graphic Novel:Volume OneGeorge R. R. MartinBantamYou may have read the original books, and likely seen thehit HBO television series, now the epic fantasy tale Gameof Thrones has been released as a graphic novel. Adaptedby acclaimed novelist Daniel Abraham and illustrated byTommy Patterson, volume one comprises the initial sixissues of the graphic series. It again brings to life all theintrigue and scheming among the various kingdoms in thefictional land of Westeros. This full-colour graphic novelis the first in what will surely complete any Game of Tronesfan’s collection.Religion for Atheists:A Non-Believer’sGuide to the Uses ofReligionAlain de BottonPantheon BooksWhat place does religion have in our lives today? Frenchwriter and philospher Alain de Botton explores notions ofcontemporary secular society and the absence of spiritualguidance. Though he doesn’t advocate for religious beliefsand practices, de Botton pushes for agnostics and atheiststo learn from religion. He sees a current crisis of thesoul, as cultural and intellectual institutions fail to providepractical instruction on how we should live our lives inmeaningful ways. The ideas taught in religions – such ashow to be moved by art, manage complicated feelings andbuild community – can be of value to the non-believingworld.asialife HCMC 85