Category: Booker Prize

This Mournable Body – Tsitsi Dangarembga

READ FOR BOOKERTHON This Mournable Body is the story of Tambudzai, a disillusioned native woman who has lived through the long and devastating guerrilla war between the white Rhodesian army and native black nationalists. Now in the 1990s, the nation has gained independence and… Continue Reading “This Mournable Body – Tsitsi Dangarembga”

The Shadow King – Maaza Mengiste

READ FOR BOOKERTHON Set during Mussolini’s 1935 invasion of Ethiopia, The Shadow King portrays the first real conflict of World War II, casting light on the women soldiers who were left out of the historical record. ✚ “Early on in The Shadow King I… Continue Reading “The Shadow King – Maaza Mengiste”

The New Wilderness – Diane Cook

READ FOR BOOKERTHON A group of strangers escape a polluted city and learn to live in the wild as part of a study  ✚ “This dystopian-type novel features a polluted and over populated city and a location which is the only place in which… Continue Reading “The New Wilderness – Diane Cook”

Burnt Sugar – Avni Doshi

READ FOR BOOKERTHON A story of love and betrayal between a woman and her mother.  ✚ “Though dementia is the vehicle for the plot, the real story in Burnt Sugar is the toxic co-dependent relationship between Tara and her daughter Antara. Despite Antara’s sense… Continue Reading “Burnt Sugar – Avni Doshi”

Real Life – Brandon Taylor

READ FOR BOOKERTHON A biochemistry student’s experiences of life as a gay, black man captured over one weekend ✚ “What started off as a fairly innocuous read soon became anything but. Reading Real Life after Burnt Sugar and The Shadow King I was more… Continue Reading “Real Life – Brandon Taylor”

The Man Who Saw Everything – Deborah Levy

READ FOR BOOKCLUB Chosen by Rachel In the opening pages of The Man Who Saw Everything, Saul Adler, a young historian, steps onto the famous Abbey Road pedestrian crossing and is hit by a vehicle. This is the key event of the story, against… Continue Reading “The Man Who Saw Everything – Deborah Levy”

2019 Bookerthon

Wow, what a year! The books on the (now named Booker Prize, without the Man) shortlist this year are gigantic, in every expression of the word. There are books of many pages, books written by literary giants, books that deal with the huge topics… Continue Reading “2019 Bookerthon”

Ducks, Newburyport – Lucy Ellmann

READ FOR BOOKERTHON Written in stream of consciousness style, an Ohio housewife worries about the state of the world ⚑ “the fact that Lucy Ellmann has written an absolutely remarkable novel with what will be perceived by some as an entirely unremarkable protagonist, the fact… Continue Reading “Ducks, Newburyport – Lucy Ellmann”

Girl, Woman, Other – Bernadine Evaristo

READ FOR BOOKERTHON A story of modern Britain and black womanhood told through the eyes of 12 different women ⚑ “This is a beautifully paced novel which at first I thought was a collection of separate stories. However the links and interwoven threads soon… Continue Reading “Girl, Woman, Other – Bernadine Evaristo”

Quichotte – Salman Rushdie

READ FOR BOOKERTHON A modern re-write of Don Quixote that broaches traditional elements as well as the current state of the world.  ⚑ “Confession time: I have not read Don Quixote. While I know the premise I don’t know its intricates nor how cleverly… Continue Reading “Quichotte – Salman Rushdie”