Cozy, whimsical novels — often featuring magical cats — that have long been popular in Japan and Korea are taking off globally. Fans say they offer comfort during a chaotic time.

The six authors on the short list for this year's Booker Prize in mid-September are doubtless waiting to see who emerges triumphant on Nov. 12, when the winner is announced at a ceremony in London.

The huge 17th-century painting shows the Infanta Margarita, her young ladies-in-waiting, a dwarf, a buffoon with a dog, a nun, a mysterious man exiting through a door, a mirror reflecting King Phillip ...