Paradise | 
so-soA complicated book following 12yo Yusuf sold by his parents for the repayment of their debt & follows his journeys emotional, metaphorical and geographical across the African continent as he grows up. A commentary on the social and power dynamics of Africa. Gives a view into the lives of those rarely discussed. But I found the narrative a tad cluttered so it didn‘t leave me with the impact I wished it did. But Gurnah remains an excellent writer.
It was exactly as it would have been in the stories his mother used to tell him. In those stories the craziness would have been because of love gone wrong, or bewitchment in order to steal an inheritance, or unfulfilled revenge. Nothing could be done about the craziness until matters had been put right, until the curse had been lifted. He wanted to say that to Khalil. Don't worry about it so much, it will all be put right before the story ends.
#Alphabetgame #LetterP @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
I finally read this novel last year, after Gurnah won the Nobel Prize. I loved it. It‘s a perfect P recommendation.
Other terrific P‘s:
Persepolis-Marjane Satrapi
Persuasion & Pride and Prejudice-Austen
Pnin-Vladimir Nabokov (his most charming novel)
Poetry Magazine 75th anniversary edition (October-November 1987)-this is a special edition
The Prospector-J-M G. le Clézio (my intro to his magic)
pickI‘ve been thinking about this novel for a week and I‘m still not sure whether I truly enjoyed it or not. The glimpse into precolonial east Africa was interesting, but I felt like it took half the book to focus in on the principle narrative. Once it got moving, it was gripping. The end was not expected (yay!) and my take away is don‘t eat sh*it others dish out. Be brave and make your own course.
#12Booksof2021
#October was another terrific reading month, much better than August & September. I read seven books, including a lovely reread of Romeo and Juliet. And I finally read this wonderful book by the latest Nobel Prize winner, easily one of favorite books of the year.
Happy day! 👏🏾 Found this at my local indie after dropping off that boatload of kids‘ books. They are going toward a school teacher fund/program, so I‘m pleased.
Anyway, anything East African catches my eye. I‘ve never read this author so I‘m eagerly anticipating this short novel.
pickSimply wonderful.
(I‘ll try to write an actual mini review in the comments.)
Waiting for a new car battery and getting into a 1994 novel by the new Nobel laureate. Oddly I own two books by Gurnah, but have never read him before. (1st 20 pages were slow. Next 20 absolutely wonderful.)
