"My first Helen Garner novel, and it had a profound effect on me. Hot, fresh, plain Australian language. I finally read something that felt familiar."

"I’d bring James Baldwin’s evergreen “The Fire Next Time,” to my island to remember how elegantly language can portray ferocity, honesty, and uncompromising social criticism."

"I love words and the English language. I love finding out where words come from and, in this case, why the dictionary is the way it is."

"It’s one of the most spatially poetic novels ever. Each room Maud Martha lives in is grown by the very cautious and awesome pace of her language."

"I've been personally interested as a student of Chinese culture, history and language. I'm looking forward to reading Paulson's perspective on what China's rise means for the world."

"With her unique combination of detached irony and a clear love of language, Ms. Smith captures the angst of assimilation in this story of immigrant identity in the diaspora."