Huffington Magazine Issue 85 | Page 77

Exit CULTURE 01 Family Life by Akhil Sharma The heartbreaking story of a boy whose brother suffers brain damage after diving into a swimming pool is told in spare, deliberate language. It’s no wonder it took Sharma 13 years to compose this stunning story about the Indian immigrant experience. 02 Leaving the Sea by Ben Marcus Marcus’s acclaimed The Flame Alphabet showcased his ability to write fascinating experimental fiction, and we expect this short story collection to be no different. The title story, for example, is composed of a single sentence. 03 Perfect by Rachel Joyce Joyce’s novel is both a comingof-age story about a boy who becomes concerned when the British government adds two seconds to the year, and the tale of a man with OCD. The author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry welds the two together seamlessly. 04 Another Great Day at Sea by Geoff Dyer When Dyer delves into a specific topic, he delves deeply, which is why we’re looking forward to his latest exploration: what life aboard an air- craft carrier is like. As always, he laces his observations with comedy and captivating storytelling. 05 Orfeo by Richard Powers Powers fuses science and music via his good-guy-turned-fugitive protagonist, Peter Els. His attempt to discover musical patterns in nature raises suspicions. 06 Silence Once Begun by Jesse Ball Jesse Ball is the author of this literary crime novel; it’s also the name of the narrator, a journalist attempting to get to the bottom of mysterious disappearances, and the silent man who has turned himself in. HUFFINGTON 01.26.14