Iraq’s former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki resurfaces – but at what cost?

In 'Hillbilly Elegy,' J.D. Vance recounts his life growing up in a dysfunctional family in Middletown, Ohio, with roots in Kentucky's Appalachia. The book details his experiences with poverty, addiction, and family violence, as well as his journey to joining the marines and eventually graduating from Yale Law School. Vance provides a personal and insightful look into the decline of the white working class in America, exploring themes of family, culture, and the loss of the American dream. The memoir also touches on the political swing of the region, particularly in relation to the 2016 presidential election and the appeal of Donald Trump to this demographic.

'The Farming of Bones' by Edwidge Danticat vividly depicts the horrific Parsley Massacre of 1937, when thousands of Haitians living in the Dominican Republic were murdered under the orders of dictator Rafael Trujillo. The story is told through the eyes of Amabelle, a young Haitian woman, and explores themes of displacement, memory, and the brutal consequences of prejudice and political violence. Amabelle's personal journey of love and loss is intertwined with the larger historical tragedy, illustrating the human cost of intolerance. Danticat's powerful narrative captures the resilience and dignity of those who suffered, while also highlighting the enduring scars of this forgotten act of genocide.