Intimacies, by Katie Kitamura

Starting with its perfect title, this seemingly simple story written in a simple and clear language (one with a European sensibility I can personally relate to) has the power of a remarkable, even magical novel. In it Kitamura explores the gap between getting close to people and really understanding what's going on under the surface--a theme reinforced by the quiet melancholy of a narrative that reflects on the past decade's political and cultural chaos, yet ends with the promise of home and connection.