Quote by Jesmyn Ward: “Home is a complicated word.”

This simple yet profound phrase reveals that 'home' is rarely straightforward, often carrying layers of complex emotions, memories, and sometimes pain, rather than just being a place of comfort. It suggests a deeper, often conflicted, relationship with one's origins.

The early 2010s, particularly in the aftermath of natural disasters and economic downturns, brought into sharp focus the precariousness of 'home' for many. Literary works explored themes of displacement, belonging, and the lasting impact of place.

American novelist and editor who became the first woman to win the National Book Award for Fiction twice, for Salvage the Bones and Sing, Unburied, Sing. Her work centres the lives of Black Americans in the rural Mississippi Gulf Coast.