Exit West- Mohsin Hamid, was my major foray into the backlists during early July. The story of two refugees, Nadia and Saeed, from an un-named Middle? Near? Far? Eastern country who manage to flee to the West. The book is short, but packs in a lot of ideas and events .It speaks about war, conflict, refuees, culture, nationalism, sexism, Moslem social mores, family ties, the concept of home, and above all the fluidity of modern life in the troubled times of the 21st century. It’s a genre bending book, partly speculative fiction because of the mysterious doors through which refugees transit from one life to a new life in another country, which lends a magical realism to the story. And there’s plenty of realism in the gritty, dangerous, difficult life of refugees.
The book lingers in my mind, and will probably do so for some time to come. South Africa attracts many refugees from the continent, and their problems feature often in our news bulletins. The novel is definitely a book of and for our times.
North and South – Mrs Elizabeth Gaskell. I think this can be labelled My Reading Challenge of 2020! I’m proud to announce that I persevered to the long and exhausting end. Its an early Victorian novel, that contrasts the old, bucolic, peaceful country life of the South with the growing, bustling, rapidly industrializing life of the North, particularly in the textile industry. I grew very weary of the many chapters delving into the endless agonies of conscience, whether over religious beliefs, or over correct social behaviour for young, unattached, middle class ladies. Oh the paroxysms of tears, the fainting fits, the prostrations upon sofas! Thank goodness I live now. The restrictions placed upon Victorian women by society were legion, and a spirited woman like Margaret Hale had to constantly rein in her energetic passions.
Another spirited woman: Tannie Maria, resident of the Ladismith district, in the Little Karoo, in the Western Cape. She’s one of my favourite literary characters, down to earth with a heart as big as the Karoo sky. I love her Agony Aunt weekly column in the local paper and I love her cooking. I snacked constantly while reading the book – the constant talk of food made me hungry! That said, this is #3 in the series, and in a sense, Tannie M grows up – among other things she learns to change a car tire! But she also is exposed to contemporary and historical South African issues. This book has more substance than the other two, plus an action charged plot. I think it may be the best in the series to date.
I Re-read one of my lifelong favourites: Kim by Rudyard Kipling. Yet again, it enchanted me.
FICTION
Exit West- Mohsin Hamid. A genre-bending novel, speculative fiction/magical realism /love story mixture that combines in a thought provoking story about refugees and global migration. Recommended.
North and South – Mrs Elizabeth Gaskell. A long, challenging read. But a fascinating portrait of social and industrial change during the early Victorian era.
Death on the Limpopo – Sally Andrew. Tannie Maria cooks and charms her way from the Little Karoo to the Limpopo. An action filled adventure, & the recipes are to die for. Heartily recommended.
Vows, Vendettas & a Little Black Dress – Kyra Davis. Ebook . Sophie Katz is on the hunt – someone shot her best friend Dena; hence the Vengeance in the title. And the LBD? The antidote to the planned Disneyland wedding featuring peach taffeta bridesmaids’ dresses. Oh the horror! Madness, mayhem, her sexy Russian boyfriend – hugely entertaining.
Kim – Rudyard Kipling. Master storyteller Kipling writes a wonderful book brimming with adventure, unforgettable characters and a panoramic background of the colourful, chaotic, turmoil of daily life in the India of the British Raj.
NON FICTION
The Last Train to Zona Verde – Paul Theroux. A clear-eyed, pull-no-punches account of his journey through South Africa, Namibia & Angola. Published 2013. Definitely not a feel-good read, but a pretty accurate account about post-millenial Africa. Thanks to all the gods I don’t live in Angola.
I didn’t spend much time between the pages this month, due to ongoing eyesight problems, but I did read two print books : The Tim Winton memoir, and a re-read of Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant – Confessions of Cooking for one and Dining Alone; edited by Jenni Ferrari-Adler. It’s a collection of writing by foodie writers, and a perfect dipper (pun intended).
THE BOOKSMITH 