“Matigari” by Ngugi wa Thiong’o (Kenya) One of Nicola’s 100 Best Books for Inspiration in the 21st century! Synopsis Who is Matigari? Is he young or old? Dead or living… or even Jesus Christ? These are the questions asked by the people when a man who has survived a war for independence emerges from the mountains. Matigari is in search of his family, the rebuilding of … Continue reading Matigari
“Sleepwalking Land” by Mia Couto (Mozambique) One of Nicola’s 100 Best Books for Inspiration in the 21st century! Extract and Comment It isn’t the story which fascinates him, but the spirit within it. And listening to Tuahir’s dreams, with the noises of war in the background, he begins to think: they should invent a gentle, more affable gunpowder, capable of exploding men without killing them. … Continue reading Sleepwalking Land
“This Blinding Absence of Light” by Tahar Ben Jelloun (Morocco) Favourite Quote Life: it’s being able to raise your arm, rub the back of your neck, stretch for the pure pleasure of it, get up and stroll along aimlessly, watch people go by, stop, read a newspaper – or simply stay sitting at your window because you have nothing to do and it’s nice to … Continue reading This Blinding Absence of Light
“Autobiography of a Geisha” by Sayo Masuda (Japan) Extract and Comment That child will be grown up by now, and if he hasn’t forgotten me, whenever he sees a crying child he’ll want to say a kind word and wipe the kid’s nose. And when that kid grows up, he’ll do the same. To do something kind for another is never a bad feeling; it … Continue reading Autobiography of a Geisha
“Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress” by Dai Sijie (China) Favourite Quote We were beside ourselves. My head reeled, as if I’d had too much to drink. I took the novels out of the suitcase one by one, opened them, studied the portraits of the authors, and passed them on to Luo. Brushing them with the tips of my fingers made me feel as if … Continue reading Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress
Nicola's Book Club 