“The News From Paraguay” by Lily Tuck (U.S.) Synopsis and Review “The News from Paraguay”: Not That Good Set in the mid 19th century at the time of the war of the Triple Alliance that pitted Paraguay against its neighbours, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, “The News From Paraguay” recounts the love affair between Ella Lynch, Irish courtesan, and Francisco Solano Lopez, future dictator of Paraguay. … Continue reading The News From Paraguay
“Empress Orchid” by Anchee Min (China) Book Club Favourite of Season 1 Synopsis To rescue her family from poverty and avoid marrying her slope-shouldered cousin, seventeen-year-old Orchid competes to be one of the Emperor’s wives. When she is chosen as a lower-ranking concubine she enters the erotically charged and ritualised Forbidden City. But beneath its immaculate facade lie whispers of murders and ghosts, and the … Continue reading Empress Orchid
“Purple Hibiscus” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigeria) Favourite Quote Some months ago, he wrote that he did not want me to seek the whys, because there are some things that happen for which we can formulate no whys, for which whys simply do not exist and, perhaps, are not necessary. Synopsis Fifteen year-old Kambili lives in fear of her father, a charismatic yet violent Catholic … Continue reading Purple Hibiscus
Nicola's Book Club 