The theme of this year’s Summer Reading Group was Crime, Murder Mysteries, and Thrillers. Readers had very differing opinions on all four shortlisted books which made for a highly interesting discussion. Not surprisingly, the Best Summer Read was chosen by a narrow margin. “Gaslight” by Femi Kayode (Nigeria) was voted Best Summer Read 2025. A crime novel set in Lagos, the protagonist Philip Taiwo, an … Continue reading Best Summer Read 2025 – Gaslight
Readers found all four shortlisted books in this year’s Summer Reading Group enjoyable and easy to read. One reader even said that she had a difficult time choosing one as a favourite because they all made an impression on her. With their 2-word titles, some readers also noticed other dualities: in two of the books, the protagonists are 2 sisters; and in the other two … Continue reading Best Summer Read 2024 – Crooked Plow
Review “We Trade Our Night for Someone Else’s Day” is a compelling novel that weaves a story around a female protagonist navigating a landscape marred by corruption and post-war trauma in Croatia. The book begins at a slower pace, which some readers found challenging initially, but it gradually draws you in with its intriguing plot and well-developed characters. The narrative follows Nora, a journalist whose … Continue reading “We Trade Our Night For Someone Else’s Day” by Ivana Bodrožić (Croatia)
Review “Mr. President” is a haunting journey through a surreal landscape that mirrors the absurdity of real-world politics. As our book club delved into its pages, we found ourselves immersed in a world where power corrupts absolutely and where the line between reality and fantasy blurs in unsettling ways. One aspect that struck us all was Asturias’s masterful prose. The book is undeniably well-written, with … Continue reading “Mr. President” by Miguel Angel Asturias (Guatemala)
Review “Midnight Blue” takes readers on a journey through 17th-century Holland, blending historical elements with a modern twist. The novel sparked mixed reactions among our book club members, resulting in a range of comments that highlight both the strengths and weaknesses of the book. Readers felt that it was an easy, light read that didn’t demand much intellectual engagement. Described by one reader as a … Continue reading “Midnight Blue” by Simone van der Vlugt (Netherlands)
Review Ismailov’s “The Devils’ Dance” is a novel that demands patience and perseverance from its readers. Initially daunting and complex, this novel gradually unfolds its layers to reveal a multi-faceted narrative that both frustrates and fascinates. At first, the book may feel like wading through mud, as one reader aptly described it. The intricate web of characters and the poetic prose were found to be … Continue reading “The Devils’ Dance” by Hamid Ismailov (Uzbekistan)
“Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi (Ghana) Synopsis Effia and Esi: two sisters with two very different destinies. One sold into slavery; one a slave trader’s wife. The consequences of their fate reverberate through the generations that follow. Taking us from the Gold Coast of Africa to the cotton-picking plantations of Mississippi; from the missionary schools of Ghana to the dive bars of Harlem, spanning three continents … Continue reading Homegoing
“The Guru of Love” by Samrat Upadhyay (Nepal) Synopsis Ramchandra is a math teacher earning a low wage and living in a small apartment with his wife and two children. Moonlighting as a tutor, he engages in an illicit affair with one of his tutees, Malati, a beautiful, impoverished young woman who is also a new mother. She provides for him what his wife, who … Continue reading The Guru of Love
Nicola's Book Club 