“The Woman in the Dunes” by Kobo Abe (Japan) Review The first impressions of members of the Book Club were very mixed: some liked the book, whereas some did not like it all! They found the situation the protagonist finds himself in very depressing. The repetitive shovelling of sand daily made them think about the absurdity and seeming futility of life. His acceptance of the … Continue reading The Woman in the Dunes
“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
“Love in the Time of Cholera” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Colombia) Review Members of the Book Club enjoyed the story a lot, though some said it took them a while to get into it. For others, it was their second or third reading: they found that it got better each time and described it as a very generous and kind novel. Everyone liked the descriptions … Continue reading Love in the Time of Cholera
“A Confederacy of Dunces” by John Kennedy Toole (U.S.) Review Members of the Book Club enjoyed this book, some really loving it and finding it hilarious, others slightly more reserved in their feelings and finding it sad and monotonous at times. Everybody thought the characters were funny and fascinating and were able to visualise them easily thanks to the vivid descriptions. Readers loved the dialogues, … Continue reading A Confederacy of Dunces
Members of the Summer Reading Group enjoyed the selection of books this year, though they found the themes of each one quite melancholic! They voted “The Dream Life of Sukhanov” by Olga Grushin the Best Summer Read 2007. This is a first novel by a young Russian author, which was shortlisted for the Orange Award for New Writers in 2006. Readers found heart-breaking this complex … Continue reading Best Summer Read 2007 – The Dream Life of Sukhanov
“The Zahir” by Paulo Coelho (Brazil) Synopsis and Review “The Zahir”: we can think of nothing else One day a renowned author discovers that his wife, a war correspondent, has disappeared leaving no trace. Though time brings more success and new love, he remains mystified – and increasingly fascinated – by her absence. Was she kidnapped, blackmailed, or simply bored with their marriage? The unrest … Continue reading The Zahir
“From a Crooked Rib” by Nuruddin Farah (Somalia) Synopsis and Review “From a Crooked Rib”: And if anyone tries to straighten it, he will have to break it Set in the months leading up to Somalia’s independence in 1960, “From a Crooked Rib” is the story of Ebla, an orphan of eighteen, who escapes from her nomadic encampment in rural Somali when she discovers that … Continue reading From a Crooked Rib
“Beyond Illusions” by Duong Thu Huong (Vietnam) Synopsis and Review “Beyond Illusions”: where life twists and turns to reveal fresh new blossoms Linh, a beautiful young woman, married her professor because she so admired his idealism. When he sells out everything he believes in so as to support her and their daughter, her love goes. The book follows Linh and Nguyen through Hanoi society after … Continue reading Beyond Illusions
Nicola's Book Club 