I have re read this book as I have developed an interest in Simone recently. The book ends with her emancipation and the death of her best friend. Such different times the pressure of bourgeois values and Catholicism on women and girls.

Here‘s to another brilliant book by a female Trinidadian writer. A series of portraits of characters that are all relatable and interesting, all having their distinctive voices and dilemmas. I have been so impressed by female Trini writers: Ingrid Persaud, Monique Roffey, Lisa Allen-Agostini… very keen to discover more writers. Any recommendations?

I enjoyed this book. Written in 1963 it gives an insight in life in the German Democratic Republic and what happens to families when some leave for the West and some stay. I liked how the relationship between sister and brother was described, how it evolved from childhood to young adulthood, how different political views play out.

Annie Ernaux is a very original writer. She mixes her own life with collective events. I enjoyed the book sometimes funny other times sad written from her perspective with courageous lucidity. Question for English readers the book is full of French references (history, pop culture, politics) I wonder if you still related to it? For me it was a trip down memory lane, including my parents‘ lives who like Ernaux were teachers.

Well I am very very pleased with my book club choice. (Not a modest statement). Thank you to the Dulwich bookshop who made me aware of this book. Amazing book. Not an easy read perhaps? I would say push through the first 50 pages. The writing is beautiful, very creative blending narrative, legends, metaphors. Looking forward to discussing it with my book club.

Wow totally blown away by this book discovered at my local bookshop. I don‘t want to give any hint. Metaphorical.

Heart breaking at times it‘s a beautifully written book that centres on three generations of women including their relationships. I loved the Vietnamese proverbs.

Funny subversive cringe and disturbing at times. A very well written book which will keep me thinking for a while.

Historical novel about Sao Tomé and Principe set at the turn of the 20th century around the cocoa trade and forced labour. Beautifully written - in a French translation. The main character is given an impossible mission to convince plantation owners to abandon slavery.

Mixed about this one. It was difficult to get into. The writing can be at times beautiful, the siblings relationships are well explored in their complexity and the small town life is evocative. I did find it repetitive plot wise and this led me to switch off.

Poignant, funny and tragic - this is is the autobiography of Tove Ditlevsen, famous Danish writer. No legend or heroine. I really loved this book and loved The Faces - fiction.

This was a little gem of a book. Really well written, good plot, finely tuned characters, great observations of the impact of Vivek on family and friends. Very poignant.

Imaginative and interesting. Liked the setting - a dystopian future? - which retains enough mystery for me to want to read more. However there was something missing for me - is that because the story is told through Klara‘s eyes who after all is not human. I found it a bit sad.

Well that was amazing. Loved it - writing (different voices - diary, poetry) - the characters - themes. I liked how Monique Roffey writes about love, romantic love and desire. I will look for the magic around me.

I enjoyed this but it took a while to get into it. The end is great - a coming of age novel. I liked how betrayal was a theme throughout in the love lives of the adults in Gianni‘s life.

That was so good! Apart from educating me on trans and transwomen experience it was very cleverly written with witty well built dialogues and salient observations. I really loved Reese, such a clever interesting character. It made me think about what it means to be a mother, mother without wombs, how people who transition need mothering (baby trans) too. I hope Torrey Peters wins the prize. She gets my top vote.

Very interesting book: WW1, experience at the front and at home, how women‘s lives changed, masculinity, class...I think the first book Regeneration is the best and most impactful.

Lise, a children‘s book writer with a writing block has a breakdown. We follow her experience in hospital and her journey out of it. What I liked about the book is that it‘s told from her experience, her internal world, the voices she hears blurring external and internal reality. I am finding it difficult to review this book. The writing is very creative and unusual, sometimes funny.

I really enjoyed this book. It‘s full of humour and kindness towards his characters. It was a great comfort read during lockdown. I recognised much of myself in the elder sister which made me reflect on my tendency to “organise” other peoples‘ lives.

Evocative, creative and thought provoking this novel is very rich. I loved the metaphors. Possible spoiler here: the style of the novel moves to poetry halfway which left me a bit lost. However the author explains it by wanting to create a fracture in the narrative. It‘s enlightening reading what inspired Ocean Vuong writing : https://lithub.com/ocean-vuong-the-10-books-i-needed-to-write-my-novel/

Here is a good example of the writing - which I liked

Mixed thoughts and feelings about this one. Hence the So So rating. Well written but disturbing themes. It‘s about grief and I like how it‘s described, the impact on the family and the children. Another unusual thing is the very religious farming community viewed through the eyes of a child.

Reading this for both personal and professional interest. Enjoying it although enjoy is not the right word - appreciating the authenticity

This was brilliant. No spoilers. I agree it‘s a psychological thriller. Unloved Eileen is a complex character, disturbing, strange, funny and touching. There is a real wintery atmosphere and the setting in X ville small suburban US town works really well. I found this book better than My year of rest and relaxation.

I found this book really moving and loved it. It opened my eyes to the experience of a black lesbian migrant woman in the US, the invisibility she experiences. There is a lot to tell about this book which is also about love, friendships. I loved how Dennis-Benn described the experience of the female characters including in their bodies. I found it really powerful. A must read.

Hmmm not a cheerful lockdown read. I found the pace of the novel very slow. What drives ordinary people to commit crimes? Interesting read

I really enjoyed the book and the siblings‘ obsession with the Dutch House. The ending disappointed me.

It‘s the first book by Mabanckou I read and I really enjoyed it. I felt I was in central Africa again (Congo Brazzaville, Cameroun). I enjoyed young Michel‘s voice and outlook.

(One not to suggest to with my feminist book club?) it‘s such a well observed book. The characters are all flawed, irritating and worth my empathy. Agree with other reviews: a good book should spark debates and divide opinions

What an ingenious inventive fun book! I celebrate Bernardine Evaristo‘s creativity and skills in giving her characters so much life with so much love for them. She deserved the Booker Prize all to herself! I will miss Barry‘s verve and gift of the gab!

Hmmm not sure it was the right first novel of hers to read. I like the style, observations and minutiae of the interactions. But something was missing for me.

70 years later a response to Camus from the other Algerian side of the story. I connected more with the main protagonist and the themes. The book is a dialogue with L‘Etranger - with humour and respect. It highlights Camus‘ blind spots, borrowing and twisting the plot, offering different view points, meeting and disagreeing. Daoud writes beautifully. Amazing.

I read this first when I was 15. What a strange book. I don‘t embrace the philosophical stance of Meursault - main character. What I liked most was the sensory descriptions of the sun, the sea and nature. Reading the commentary included in this edition helped.

Healing recent reading trauma with a proper book

Very rich. Difficult to resume. Complex Cross-cultural relationships Asia US, post colonial, war and being a refugee, mixed race identity etc. What I think is an achievement is the tone of the novel which mixes grief and humour. Well worth it‘s prize. It opened my eyes to a different cultural political context

Well written with humour and attention to details. It‘s a light French comedy in fact. I enjoyed it. I thought the portrayal of love, falling in love were very arresting and original, quite subtle. Delicate in fact. Distillation délicate du sentiment amoureux.

I thought the beginning very intriguing but lost interest a bit midway. The characters are caricatures which made the main protagonist difficult to gel with. What I found most interesting is the premise that you can sleep and sedate yourself to erase your past and re-birth yourself. A sign of our times but worrying.

Second book syndrome? No way. This is at the beginning plot driven but then it settles in a powerful exploration in the psychology of Circe. Reflections on mortality and how stories are told and from whose perspectives. I slowed my reading to make it last longer.

Great project and moving stories. This is a story made of different stories written by non professional writers. I love how the stories make a coherent story and the whole process to create the book. It‘s about Palestinian refugee experience.

Book group choice. And I won‘t disclose my thoughts.

Just finished it. It will take time to leave this book. Not an easy read I confess but so rich in themes and so original in its use of language. I have become very attached to Middle Sister‘s stream of consciousness. I have never read anything like it. Well worth its prize. I am not sure what read should and can follow this one - might be « beyond the pale »

Ready for book club discussion tonight - I don‘t tab my book - just couldn‘t read this book in full a third time. Had to tab the key scenes

The whole religious theme feels dated - the book was written in the 1930s / my mum‘s 1960s copy. However the structure of the novel is interesting offering 2 views on the same story and a story/fantasy within the story. Green gives powerful experience of the characters‘ inner worlds which i found oppressive. I would like to read his other novels. Was it the best one to start with?