Author Janika Oza presents her debut novel A History of Burning

New Canaan Library is pleased to welcome award-winning author Janika Oza in conversation with Ellen Sullivan Crovatto to celebrate Oza's debut novel A History of Burning, an epic novel about how one act of rebellion can influence a family for generations. 

Chosen by The New York Times for the 100 Notable Books of 2023 list, A History of Burning is "remarkable... a haunting, symphonic tale", an unforgettable tour de force and an intimate family saga of complicity and resistance, about the stories we share, the ones that remain unspoken, and the eternal search for home. This compelling narrative spans a century of time, four generations of family, five continents and multiple languages, while centering on one individual’s desperate, destructive act that continue to haunt his family. A must-read to understand the immigrant experience and for those who love multi-generational stories.

Following a discussion and audience Q&A, Janika will be signing copies of A History of Burning available for purchase onsite by Elm Street Books. 

Janika Oza is the author of the novel A History of Burning, winner of the 2024 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, a finalist for the 2023 Governor General's Award for Fiction, a finalist for the 2024 Carol Shield’s Prize, and a New York Times Editor’s Choice. She is the winner of a 2022 O. Henry Award and the 2020 Kenyon Review Short Fiction Award.