Build Your House Around My Body: 'Loved this epic book - beautiful, brilliant, powerful' - Madeline Miller, bestselling author of Circe

In her debut novel, Violet Kupersmith explores the history of Vietnam's colonial past and the lives of two young Vietnamese women who go missing decades apart. The novel is a must-read for fans of Cecile Pin, NoViolet Bulowayo, and Ruth Ozeki.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 03 March 2022
Publisher: Oneworld Publications

The Sunday Times has hailed Violet Kupersmith's debut novel, Circe, as a "fantastic" and "beautiful, brilliant, and powerful" masterpiece. The novel, which blends elements of ghost story, historical exploration, and revenge narrative, has garnered critical acclaim for its captivating storytelling and vivid portrayal of Vietnam's colonial past.

Set in two different time periods, 1986 and 2011, the novel follows the lives of two young Vietnamese women, Nguyen Thi Anh and Nguyen Thi Hien, who are both fearless and lost in their own ways. While Anh, a teenage daughter of a wealthy Vietnamese family, gets lost in an abandoned rubber plantation during her escape from her angry father, Hien, a Vietnamese-American woman, disappears from her new home in Saigon twenty-five years later.

What connects these two women across time and space is a web of past generations, ghosts, and ancestors, as well as the history of possessed bodies and possessed lands. Violet Kupersmith skillfully weaves these elements into a heart-pounding fever dream of a novel, creating an immersive and unforgettable experience for readers. The novel's exploration of Vietnamese history is both searing and poignant, offering a fresh perspective on a complex and often overlooked period.

Critics have praised Violet Kupersmith's writing for its daring and accomplished nature, comparing it to the works of acclaimed authors such as Cecile Pin, NoViolet Bulowayo, and Ruth Ozeki. The novel's vivid characters, intricate plot, and rich cultural backdrop have drawn comparisons to classic literary works like The Odyssey and The Tempest.

Circe is a must-read for fans of historical fiction, literary fiction, and those who are intrigued by the complexities of human relationships and the power of revenge. With its stunning prose and unforgettable characters, this debut novel promises to launch Violet Kupersmith onto the literary scene as a force to be reckoned with.

Weight: 354g
Dimension: 129 x 195 x 35 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780861542147