Find the striking first lines from two recent novels in our latest installment of Page One: Casualties of Truth (Atlantic Monthly Press, 2025) by @laurenfsharma.bsky.social and Optional Practical Training (Graywolf Press, 2025) by @shubhasunder.bsky.social. at.pw.org/PageOne2025xMarchApril
The cover of Shubha Sunder's novel "Optional Practical Training" has a see-saw tipping to the left, with a small red square on one end and a larger green square on the other end. The title appears in black font (except for the first letter of each word, which is in green) against a cream background. The author's name appears at the bottom in red. The cover is shown against a teal background, with Graywolf's logo in the bottom right corner.
The cover of Mai Der Vang's poetry collection "Primordial" shows a densely illustrated forest scene, with the saola animal appearing in the bottom right corner. The illustration uses green and dark brown tones. The title appears in a pale yellow font, and the author's name in an orange font.
Happy pub. day to @shubhasunder.bsky.social's OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING and @maidervang.bsky.social's PRIMORDIAL! 🎉🎉
www.instagram.com/p/DGgFLhCMDm...
Shubha Sunder on tour for "Optional Practical Training" 3/7 @ 7 PM | Brookline, MA Brookline Booksmith w/ Neema Avashia 3/12 @ 7 PM | Minneapolis, MN Magers & Quinn w/ Mark Haber 3/19 @ 7 PM | Washington, DC Politics & Prose w/ Koye Oyedeji 3/23 @ 6 PM | Providence, RI Riffraff Bookstore w/ E. C. Osondu 3/27 @ 12:10 PM | LA, CA AWP Conference: “New Styles for the Immigrant Novel” 4/4 @ 6 PM | Brooklyn, NY Center for Fiction w/ Aria Aber & Kate Folk 5/1 @ 7:00 PM | Cambridge, MA Harvard Book Store w/ Michelle Min Sterling 5/2–5/4 | Manchester Center, VT Booktopia Festival, presented by Northshire Bookstore
Mark your calendars! @shubhasunder.bsky.social is taking OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING on the road this spring.
www.graywolfpress.org/events
great to be on this booksellers’ list!
OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING is now available for preorder through Tertulia for a special discount if you order before March 4! tertulia.com/book/optiona...
