New Novels from Ireland and South Africa Address Themes of Shame and Land Dispossession

**Stations: A Novel**

By Louise Kennedy

Riverhead Books, 288 pp., $28, November 2026

Louise Kennedy’s second novel, *Stations*, opens with a tale of unrequited love set against the backdrop of the Troubles in 1982 County Kildare, Ireland. The narrative follows Roisin McCaffrey, an “actively unpopular” teenager, who befriends her charismatic classmate, Redmond “Red” Camelin. Both teenagers grapple with difficult relationships with their fathers. Roisin’s father, an alcoholic with a history in the Royal Ulster Constabulary, leaves the family, leading Roisin to feel marked by his absence.

Red’s family situation is more ambiguous; he runs away from home, suggesting deep-seated troubles within his household. As Roisin and Red navigate teenage life, their friendship deepens but remains unconsummated, despite Roisin's efforts. After leaving Ireland for London, Roisin experiences both romantic encounters and heartbreak while Red becomes entangled in drug use, prompting her to sever ties with him.

The story leaps forward to 2007, where Roisin finds herself at her father’s funeral and begins a quest to locate Red. This search unveils harsh truths about Red’s circumstances and family. Their individual traumas—due to the sectarian conflict, immigration issues, and personal struggles—reflect broader Irish historical themes. Roisin and Red’s longing to escape the social norms imposed by their heritage contrasts starkly with their realities in an unforgiving London.

Kennedy artfully highlights the burdens of their pasts, connecting themes of identity and societal expectations. *Stations* continues the exploration of the Catholic Church’s impact on Irish life, reminiscent of Claire Keegan’s *Small Things Like These*, yet approaches the subject through Roisin and Red's troubled lives.

**We Belong to the Trees: A Novel**

By Keletso Mopai

Seven Stories Press, 224 pp., $18.95, November 2026

Keletso Mopai’s debut novel, *We Belong to the Trees*, explores the contentious issue of land ownership in post-apartheid South Africa. Set in the mid-1990s in Tzaneen, the narrative revolves around the murder of a young Black security guard at a farm owned by an Afrikaner family. The story unfolds through multiple perspectives, revealing the tensions surrounding land claims and race relations.

Mopai draws from personal history, inspired by her father's attempts to reclaim their family's land. The Afrikaner farmer in the novel expresses frustration over shifting power dynamics, reflecting the lingering disparities that persist in South Africa, even decades after apartheid ended. The narrative intricately presents characters grappling with their identities amidst societal inequalities, adding depth to the ongoing debate about land and its significance in the country.

Both novels serve as poignant explorations of their respective histories, addressing how personal and collective experiences shape identities within the frameworks of societal expectations and political struggles.

**Other Notable November Releases** include works such as *Camera Obscura* by Enrique Vila-Matas, *No Such Thing as Monday* by Sian Hughes, and *This Impossible Life* by Chinelo Okparanta, among others, showcasing a diverse range of narratives and themes.