The Recent East By Thomas Grattan

The Recent East by Thomas Grattan

The Recent East by Thomas Grattan is a lyrical and emotionally charged debut novel exploring family, identity, and the legacy of history. When a mother uproots her American-born children to reclaim her inherited home in post-Cold War East Germany, the family finds itself caught between past traumas and the unfamiliar tensions of a newly unified nation.

As the siblings grow into young adults, their personal awakenings are shaped by a landscape scarred by war, communism, and cultural reinvention. This is a novel about what it means to belong to a place, a family, and to oneself.

Book Bundle

Perfect for fans of The Great Believers, A Little Life, and Homegoing this is literary fiction that balances personal stories with historical backdrop.

Why The Recent East is a Must-Read:

• Multigenerational Narrative: Explores three decades of transformation and growth.

• Queer Identity & Self-Discovery: Beautifully rendered with depth and honesty.

• Evocative Setting: East Germany’s history seen through intimate, human stories.

• Critically Acclaimed: A debut praised for its prose and emotional complexity.

Memorable Quote (from the book)
"Some places are not meant to be escaped, only understood."

Translation (Sinhala):
"සමහර තැන් පලා යාමට නොව, තේරුම් ගැනීම සඳහා පමණක් වේ."

Translation (Tamil):
"சில இடங்கள் தப்பிக்க அல்ல புரிந்து கொள்ளவே உருவாகியவை."

Availability at Booxworm.lk
You can order The Recent East by Thomas Grattan online from Booxworm.lk or visit our Colombo store for a reflective and moving literary journey across borders, decades, and identities.

180, W.A. Silva Mawatha, Wellawatte, Colombo 06, Sri Lanka
+94 768 46 2551
 Visit: www.booxworm.lk

• Title: The Recent East

• Author: Thomas Grattan

• ISBN: 9781250829580

• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

• Published Year: 2021

• Number of Pages: ~384 Pages (Paperpack)

• Genre: Literary Fiction / Historical / LGBTQ+