“Island” by Aldous Huxley (U.K.) One of Nicola’s 100 Best Books for Inspiration in the 21st century! Synopsis and Review “Island”: pregnant with novel ideas! For over a hundred years the Pacific island of Pala has been the scene of a unique experiment in civilisation. Its inhabitants live in a society where western science has been brought together with eastern philosophy to create a paradise … Continue reading Island
“Mr Potter” by Jamaica Kincaid (Antigua) Synopsis and Review “Mr Potter”: a long lament for an absent father In this semi-autobiographical novel, Jamaica Kincaid tells the story of an ordinary man, his century, and his home. The island of Antigua comes vibrantly to life under the gaze of Mr. Potter, an illiterate taxi chauffeur who makes his living driving along the wide-open roads which pass … Continue reading Mr Potter
“Pilgrim” by Timothy Findley (Canada) Book Club Favourite of Season 3 Synopsis and Review “Pilgrim”: a journey well worth taking Pilgrim is a man who cannot die. On 17 April 1912, he fails, once again, to commit suicide, his heart miraculously beginning again, hours after he is found hanging from a tree. Admitted to the Burgholzi Psychiatric Clinic in Zurich, Pilgrim begins a battle of … Continue reading Pilgrim
“Black Waltz” by Patricia Melo (Brazil) Synopsis and Review “Black Waltz”: a dance spiralling into insanity Jealousy is the focus of this classic psychological thriller by one of Brazil’s most acclaimed writers. A successful conductor of a major symphony orchestra is married to a gifted violinist close to thirty years his junior. But he is haunted by a voice that gnaws at his trust, his … Continue reading Black Waltz
“Some Prefer Nettles” by Junichiro Tanizaki (Japan) Synopsis and Review “Some Prefer Nettles”: each to their own taste Written in 1929 and generally considered one of Tanizaki’s finest works, “Some Prefer Nettles” deals with the ramifications of a collapsing marriage. Within this context, which seems to be autobiographical, it also examines the conflict between traditional and modern (i.e. Westernised) culture in Japan. The protagonist, Kaname, … Continue reading Some Prefer Nettles
“The Book of Proper Names” by Amélie Nothomb (Belgium) Synopsis and Review “The Book of Proper Names”: a Modern Fairy Tale for Adults “The Book of Proper Names” by Amélie Nothombe is a modern fairy tale for adults complete with an orphan girl, a wicked stepmother, a prince charming, and a happy ending. But like all fairy tales, beneath the surface is a story which … Continue reading The Book of Proper Names
“Welcome to Paradise” by Mahi Binebine (Morocco) Book Club Favourite of Season 2 Synopsis and Review “Welcome to Paradise”: a Difficult but Inescapable Journey “Welcome to Paradise” opens with a group of people waiting on a beach for the signal to start their crossing of the Strait of Gibraltar for the shores of Spain. They are a disparate group but all are seeking the ‘promise … Continue reading Welcome to Paradise
“Desertion” by Abdulrazak Gurnah (Tanzania) Abdulrazak Gurnah’s seventh novel “Desertion” transports the reader to East Africa with an exciting and captivating story that portrays a continent in upheaval through the lives of its characters. The first part is set in a small coastal town near Mombasa in 1899. Early one morning, Hassanali, a local shopkeeper, sets out for the mosque, but he never gets there, … Continue reading Best Summer Read 2005 – Desertion
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