The Winter issue of The Brussels Review has arrived, carrying a mix of jubilation for the exceptional writers featured and a pang of regret for those we couldn’t include. Among the standout pieces, Victor Oluwalana’s “Ebele” demands attention—a stark narrative of violence, survival, and the quest for identity in a harsh world. This story distinguishes itself through its raw emotional and visceral storytelling.
In nonfiction, Lindsay Nash’s “Nem! Is Not A Bad Word But Hungary Can Howl” meticulously explores the complex interplay of linguistics, politics, and culture. It’s a compelling examination of how language functions as a powerful instrument for both expression and exclusion.
All 7 poems of this issue are like pieces of souls scattered by the wind, but Gabriel Simone’s “gold leaves” is a painful yet beautiful read.
The cover art by Ardit Boriçi, titled “She was like that, an apparent tranquility, and inside, a disarming chaos,” perfectly embodies the thematic depth brought by all 28 authors featured in this edition.
I extend my deepest gratitude to our Editorial Team for their exemplary work; thank you girls—you are truly the best.
Get it on Amazon everywhere and enjoy the read!
TBR Winter 24
Fiction:
- Subha Roychowdhury: “Your Existence and Me”
- Madhumati Dutta: “Brothers”
- Victor Oluwalana: “Ebele”
- David Levine: “Blood Brother Jack”
- Isabella Mori: “Threading The Needle”
- J.R. Gerow: “In the Garden”
- Jawahara K. Saidalluah: “Wild Song of Grief”
- A.D. Capili: “The Appointment”
- Zach Murphy: “The River Is A Mirror,” “Orbits,” “Good Evening, My Friend”
- Lucie Bonvalet: “Aurora’s hair”
- Dave Hangman: “My Husband Is an Emoticon”
- Michael Lithgow: “The Taxidermy Lesson”
- Mandy Ruthnum: “The Snow Castle”
- Jim Wasserman: “The lineman”
- John Carneson: “The Bar, the Scar, and Bambi”
- David Labi: “Lord of the Manor”
- Peter Newall: “Landscape With Birds”
- Ken Reimer: “Two Final Cups of Tea”
- Maggie Nerz Iribarne: “Stigmata”
Poetry:
- Gabriel Simone: “gold leaves”
- Arthur Henry Ginsberg: “The Bones are Singing”
- Stan Sanvel Rubin: “War Requiem”
- Jean-Paul Thuot: “A Substantive Change of Circumstance”
- Mohammad Mansournejad: “It’s obvious”
- Ace Boggess: “Fire and Water”
- Martin Rieser: “Flood”
Nonfiction:
- Lindsay Nash: “Nem! Is Not A Bad Word But Hungary Can Howl”
- Matthew Phillips: “The Bush”