APRIL 2024 BOOK SELECTIONS
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KLARA AND THE SUN
For our first book of the evening Shumoos gave a whole sales pitch on why this 2021 sci-fi novel by Japanese-British (or British-Japanese) author Kazuo Ishiguro must be discussed at book club. She did so well it was chosen as our book for May 2024.
Readability: 7.5/10
Discuss-ability: 10/10 -
LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY
Shumoos’ second book selection was this far less impressive novel by American author Bonnie Garmus, which she thought had no real character growth, and showed a complete blindness to its own time setting, with 1950s characters sounding like millennials in the 2020s.
Readability: 4/10
Discuss-ability: 6/10 -
S.
Dew couldn’t help but gush over this title conceived by J.J. Abrams (of Star Trek) and written by American novelist Doug Dorst. Framed as a book within a book (or a book on the margins of another book) the novel chronicles a discussion between two strangers about The Ship of Theseus.
Readability: 9/10
Discuss-ability: 2/10 -
LORD OF THE FLIES
In his ever keenness for titles with big ideas about human nature, Yazan picked this 1950s classic by British novelist William Golding about a group of schoolboys attempting to forge their own society after their plane crashes on an uncharted island.
Readability: 7/10
Discuss-ability: literally-started-a-heated-discussion-right-then-and-there/10 -
HUMAN KIND: A HOPEFUL HISTORY
Driven not-in-small-part by her disagreement with Lord of the Flies, Samawiyah presented us with this non-fiction title by Dutch historian Rutger Bregman arguing for the belief that people are good, and that when we think the worst of others, it brings out the worst in our politics and economics too.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 10/10 -
NO ORDINARY ASSIGNMENT
Tasha shared with us this her old dream of becoming a war correspondent along with this memoir by Irish journalist Jane Ferguson chronicling her thirteen year career covering war around the world.
Readability: 9/10
Discuss-ability: 6/10 -
BABEL
Tasha’s second pick for this month was this 2022 fantasy novel by American novelist R. F. Kuang about the magic of the words whose meanings are lost in translation.
Readability: 8/10
Discuss-ability: 7/10 -
THE THREE-BODY PROBLEM
Omar shared his complete frustration with this Physics textbook posing as a science fiction novel from Chinese writer Liu Cixin, after constantly hearing about it for over a month.
Readability: 4/10
Discuss-ability: in class? 10/10. Book club? 0/10 -
The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories
As a better alternative to the Three-Body Problem, Omar highly recommended this collection of speculative fiction and fantasy stories by American author Ken Liu, striking a perfect balance between the wholly heartwarming and the brutally disturbing.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 10 x (15 stories)/10 -
My Brilliant Friend - (L’amica geniale)
On her first meeting with the #2 Qatar Book Club, Monica shared this book by Italian novelist Elena Ferrante (pseudonym) telling the story of a life-long friendship between two women.
Readability: 12/10 (!)
Discuss-ability: not-really-sure/10 -
Paths of glory
Faiz’s pick for this month was this novel by British author Jeffrey Archer based on the life of English mountaineer George Mallory and his three attempts to climb Mount Everest during the 1920s.
Readability: 9/10
Discuss-ability: 10/10 -
Camino island
Bobby’s first of three book selections this month was this novel by American author John Grisham about a novelist, a bookstore owner, and a plan to heist a vault below Princeton University’s Firestone Library.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 0/10 -
Noli Me Tángere - (Touch Me Not)
Bobby’s second book was none other than “The great novel of the Philippines” by writer, political activist, and martyr - José Rizal; viewed by some as the first major artistic manifestation of Asian resistance to European colonialism.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 7/10 -
HIDDEN FACES
Bobby’s third and final pick was this surprising only novel by Spanish surrealist painter Salvador Dalí, which he considers as pompous as the artist himself.
Readability: 3/10
Discuss-ability: 10/10 -
The Apothecary Diaries - (薬屋のひとりごと)
Andrea recommended the Manga adaptation of this Japanese light novel by writer Natsu Hyūga based on Imperial China and following a young girl working as an apothecary in the red-light district.
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INANA
This first installment of a fantasy trilogy by writer Emily H. Wilson re-telling The Epic of Gilgamesh and centered around Inanna; the ancient Sumerian goddess of love, and the blueprint of goddesses Ishtar and Aphrodite, also came recommended by Andrea.
Readability: 6-8/10
Discuss-ability: 8/10 -
Murder in Samarkand
This tell-all memoir by former British ambassador to Uzbekistan, and non-Hugh-Grant-lookalike Craig Murray took Kerry only two days to read from cover to cover.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: nope/10 -
The Fire Next Time
This nonfiction bestseller from 1963 by American civil rights activist James Baldwin deeply touched Baraah who couldn’t hide her passion while sharing this book with the group.
Readability: 7/10
Discuss-ability: 1000/10 (Omar’s rating) -
The four agreements
Brought to us by Kaki, this self-help book by Mexican author Don Miguel Ruiz discusses the Four Agreements from ancient Toltec wisdom: Be Impeccable With Your Word, Don't Take Anything Personally, Don't Make Assumptions, Always Do Your Best.
Readability: 12/10 (again!)
Discuss-ability: 8/10 -
HELLO BEAUTIFUL
Despite being late, Sindhu still managed to share her love for this story by American writer Ann Napolitano about the loyalty and love between four sisters.
Readability: 20/10 (new high score!)
Discuss-ability: very much/10
DECEMBER 2023 BOOK SELECTIONS
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THE WOMAN FROM TANTOURA - (الطنطورية)
Omar’s first book selection for this month was this novel by Egyptian author Radwa Ashour, which he described as the prototype after which “Mornings in Jenin” was modeled.
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A DAY IN THE LIFE OF ABED SALAMA
This novel from October 2023 by American author Nathan Thrall impressed Omar by its ability to paint a big picture of the difficulties faced by present day Palestinians through focusing on one specific incident that happened in 2012.
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MINOR DETAIL - (تفصيل ثانوي)
Omar’s third book selection also told a Palestinian story, this time by Palestinian author Adania Shibli, who writes about a 13-year old Palestinian girl’s encounter with Israeli soldiers in 1949.
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I SAW RAMALLAH - (رأيت رام الله)
Shatha’s recommendation for this month was this book by Palestinian poet Mourid Barghouti journaling his 30-year exile as he was barred from returning to his home village which he left for university in Egypt. She described it as “honest and unassuming.”
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THE SEVEN DEATHS OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE
Anaam’s book recommendation (and her favorite fiction of the last two years) was this murder mystery by English author Stuart Turton, about a day that keeps repeating itself until the killer of Evelyn Hardcastle is identified.
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THE ALCHEMY OF HAPPINESS
Akhila shared with us this book by the 11th century Persian poet al-Ghazali, one of the most important thinkers in Islamic history.
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PARABLE OF THE SOWER
Samawiya’s book selection in the last days on 2023 was this “depressing” book set in 2024 by American science-fiction writer Octavia E. Butler, about the collapse of society in a dystopian, not-so-far-off future.
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THE MINISTRY FOR THE FUTURE
Another sci-fi recommendation from Samawiya was this “climate-fiction” title by American writer Kim Stanley Robinson, about an organization established to protect all living creatures.
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HONEYBEES AND DISTANT THUNDER
Tasha fell in love with this novel by Japanese writer Riku Onda about a prestigious piano competition, that oozes with love for both music and literature.
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BEFORE THE COFFEE GETS COLD
Tasha did not fall in love, however, with this time-travel story by Japanese author Toshikazu Kawaguchi, that unfortunately did not live up to the hype.
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THE KITE RUNNER
Mushfiq could not hide his fascination with this modern-day classic by American-Afghan writer Khaled Hosseini about the loyal friendship between two boys.
Read more on Goodreads… -
THE BEEKEEPER OF ALEPPO
This story about a Syrian couple’s journey from Aleppo to Europe captivated Anissa who found in it an example of the universality of the refugee experience. By author Christy Lefteri, daughter of refugees herself.
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ADRIFT - (غرق الحضارات)
Mays’ first book selection for this month was this non-fiction title by Lebanese-French author Amin Maalouf, about the undoing of civilizations and their failure in addressing the global threats to humankind.
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DOWN AND OUT IN PARIS AND LONDON
Mays’ second selection was this fictional memoir by the English novelist George Orwell. A partially autobiographical narrative about a penniless British writer living on the streets in two European cities.
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OLYMPUS: AN INDIAN RETELLING OF GREEK MYTHS
Shumoos never had a particular interest in Greek mythlogy, until she came across this Indian retelling by mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik, who compares the two mythologies side-by-side.
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I HEARD EVERYTHING - (سمعت كل شيء)
This novel set in 1980s Baghdad made Shumoos nostalgic for a time she never lived. Though not translated into other languages (yet) this novel by Iraqi writer Sarah Alsarraf is longlisted for the 2024 International Prize for Arabic Fiction.
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MAD HONEY
On her first #2 Qatar Book Club meeting, Tatiana shared with us this work of collaboration between American writers Jodi Picoult & Jennifer Finney Boylan. Fascinated by the authors’ shared vision and the book’s bold topics, she could not recommend it enough.
APRIL 2023 BOOK SELECTIONS
FICTION
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THE DRESDEN FILES
Starting off this month’s list was Iffy’s recommendation of this Urban fantasy book series by American author Jim Butcher. With 17 installments so far, his major problem with it was that it’s too short.
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THE FALL OF THE IMAM - (سقوط الإمام)
This 1987 novel by Egyptian author Nawal El Saadawi was Shumoos’ current read - one that is loaded with politico-religious discussions made even harder to approach by the author’s ambiguous style.
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CITIES OF SALT - (مدن الملح)
Nader was hugely impressed with the symbolism and the portrayal of gulf societies in this 5-volume book series by Saudi writer Abdul Rahman Munif.
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MORT
The 4th installment in English writer Terry Pratchett’s famous ”Discworld” series came recommended by Vaseem who enjoyed the character of Death and couldn’t help imagining him with big red hair.
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CAT'S CRADLE
Vaseem’s second selection for this month was this 1963 satire by American writer Kurt Vonnegut about witnessing (and surviving) nuclear-war-caused global destruction.
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LITTLE DORRIT
Hussein’s first ever taste of English Classic writer Charles Dickens comes in this novel featuring Amy Dorrit, a girl born and raised in a nineteenth century debtor’s prison.
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TROPIC OF CAPRICORN
Hussein’s second selection for this month was the companion volume to his favorite book “Tropic of Cancer” by American author Henry Miller - a portrayal of life in 1920’s New York that was banned for 30 years in the US due to its explicit content.
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HOW TO STOP TIME
Ashini’s journey into the rabbit-hole of Matt Haig writings (inspired by her reading of the Midinight Library) hit a disappointing wall in her second read by the English author, about a man who’s unable to die.
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MY GRANDMOTHER SENDS HER REGARDS AND APOLOGIES
Tasha could not hide her excitement for this slice-of-life novel about the residents of an apartment complex written by Swedish author Fredrik Backman of “A Man Called Ove” fame - a lesser book in her opinion!
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GOLD DIGGERS
American writer Sanjena Sathian’s debut novel about a second-generation teenage Indian-American boy captured Tasha’s imagination with its world just like our own, only a little different.
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THE FORTY RULES OF LOVE
Making its second appearance in our Member Book Selections, this historical fiction by Turkish author Elif Shafak impressed Yazan with its approach to Sufism and spirituality.
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SAMARKAND - (سمرقند)
More historical fiction was brought to us by Randa in this novel by Lebanese author Amin Maalouf revolving around the 11-century Persian poet Omar Khayyam and his poetry collection Rubaiyat.
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AT THE WOLF'S TABLE
Even more historical fiction was on Randa’s to-read list which includes this novel based on the true story of the women conscripted to be Hitler's food tasters, written by Italian author Rosella Postorino.
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Batt maan - (باط مان)
Omar’s pick for this month was this Egyptian satire from 2012 by writer Mahmoud Hasseeb imagining the famous Bruce Wayne travelling to Cairo after the January 25th revolution in an attempt to restore law and order in the city.
APRIL 2023 BOOK SELECTIONS
NON-FICTION
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YOU ARE A GLOBAL CITIZEN
Rawan brought us this guided journal by American YouTuber Damon Dominique, aimed at encouraging readers to consider the fundamental questions about who they are, what culture is and what it means to live in a global society, beyond the borders of their minds and countries.
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LIVES OF THE STOICS
Written by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman, this book brought to us by Anissa presents mini-biographies of all the well-known-and not so well-known-Stoics and brings home what Stoicism was like for the people who loved it and lived it.
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SCATTERED MINDS
This book by Canadian Physician (and ADHD sufferer) Gabor Maté opened Tasnim’s eyes to the possible non-heredity of ADHD and to the ways in which one can live with this disorder.
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AGAINST CIVILIZATION
Hussein’s current non-fiction read is this introduction to anarcho-primitivism written by American author John Zerzan in condemnation of civilization and technology and calling for a return to non-civilized ways of life.
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THE SUBTLE ART OF NOT GIVING A F*CK
Moe’s new-found interest in reading has lead him to this not-so-subtle guide in setting priorities and avoiding anxiety by American writer Mark Manson.
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HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE
And while on the topic of Self-Help, Angus couldn’t help hiding his disdain for this, the original self-help guide from 1936, by American writer Dale Carnegie: “How to Make Contacts and Manipulate People.”
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THE LUCIFER EFFECT
Kenan’s pick for this meet was this book from 2007 by American psychologist Philip Zimbardo - his first detailed, written account of the events surrounding the 1971 Stanford Prison Experiment and a study on the circumstantiality of evil.
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RADICALLY HAPPY
Herwen’s contribution to the self-help dialogue was this book by Phakchok Rinpoche and Erric Solomon; a Silicon Valley entrepreneur and a Tibetan Rinpoche teaming up to teach about “Radical Happiness.”
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THE GIFTS OF IMPERFECTION
This book by American research professor Brené Brown came recommended by Ashini who found it helpful in dealing with perfectionism.
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Sapiens
This brief take on the history of humankind by Yuval Noah Harari attracted Yazan with its summarized narration of the past then slowly lost his interest as it started framing the author’s opinions as objective facts.
DECEMBER 2022 BOOK SELECTIONS
FICTION
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THE FORTY RULES OF LOVE
Sarrah’s choice for her attempt at reading fiction this month is this famous novel by Turkish author Elif Shafak about Sufism, and the legendary friendship between Jalal-Ud-Din Rumi and his companion Shams Tabrizi.
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THE IRAQI CHRIST
Omar could not hide his fascination with Iraqi author Hassan Blasim whose bold writing marked him “un-publishable” in the Arab world until he got the English translation of his works picked up and won the English Pen Writers In Translation Award for this short story collection from 2013.
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THE MADMAN OF FREEDOM SQUARE
The next title in Omar’s excursion into Hassan Blasim’s work is his first released short story collection spanning over twenty years of modern Iraqi history, and offering glimpses of the post-war refugee experience.
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A MATTER OF GRAVITY
Dalia’s pick for this month is this novel by Canadian author Hélène Vachon; a book she picked up randomly at QNL and was then captivated by its powerful intro which she graciously read to our group.
DECEMBER 2022 BOOK SELECTIONS
NON-FICTION
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THE TATAS
Written by Indian journalist Girish Kuber, this biography of the Tata family; founders of a 110-billion-dollar business empire, has been on Jamsheera’s TBR list for too long. She hopes the new year will bring her the inspiration to finally cross it off and we look forward to hearing her opinion on it.
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DOCTOR OF TRUTH
This biography of American psychiatrist David R. Hawkins as written by author Scott Jeffrey became a must-read for Sarrah after she was blown away by the former’s spiritual teachings and works such as “The Map of Consciousness”.
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THROUGH THE LANGUAGE GLASS
Guy Deutscher’s exciting exploration into how language can shape our minds and the way we think came highly recommended by Sarrah (and Stephen Fry).
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HABBAH - (هبّة)
Jehad’s pick for this month is this Arabic book by Kuwaiti academic Hesham AlAwadi describing the mechanisms through which trends spread in Kuwaiti society via his telling of the country’s history.
July 2022 book selections
fiction
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children of the alley
A novel by the Egyptian writer and Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz. It allegorises the interlinked history of the three monotheistic religions against the setting of an imaginary 19th century Cairene alley.
Omar says the book is a must-read “scularised history of religion.”
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the fountainhead
Russian-American author Ayn Rand’s first major literary success; is this novel that tells the story of a young architect, who battles against conventional standards and refuses to compromise with an architectural establishment unwilling to accept innovation.
Omar describes it as “Philosophical & Stunning.”
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the girl who saved the king of sweden
The second novel by Swedish author Jonas Jonasson is about a poor black girl from a South African town who, in a twist of fate, ends up having to save the King of Sweden (and the world).
Tasha recommends this book about a real “bad-ass girl.”
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Girl With a Pearl Earring
Written in 1999 by American novelist Tracy Chevalier and set in 17th-century Delft, Holland, the novel was inspired by the famous painting of the same name by Johannes Vermeer. Chevalier imagines a fictional tale of the model and painting.
Tri teases this book with two words: “Blue paint.”
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the handmaid's tale
A futuristic dystopian novel by Canadian author Margaret Atwood, published in 1985 and set in a near-future United States, fallen under a strongly patriarchal, totalitarian theonomic regime, which has overthrown the government.
Omar’s two words to recommend this book: “READ IT!”
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the old man and the sea
A novella written by the American author Ernest Hemingway and the last major work of fiction written by him that was published during his lifetime. it tells the story of an aging fisherman who struggles with a giant marlin far out in the Gulf Stream off the coast of Cuba.
Jem recommends the book with two words: ”Respect. Nature.”
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the sailor who fell from grace with the sea
A novel written by Japanese author Yukio Mishima that tells the tale of a band of savage thirteen-year-old boys who reject the adult world as illusory, and their confrontation with a sailor reconciling with the sense of disillusionment that comes with maturity.
Two words to describe the book: “Brutal & disturbing.”
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Sea of Tranquility
The sixth novel by Canadian writer Emily St. John Mandel, written during the COVID-19 pandemic and published in 2022, the novel considers “what constitutes reality, how time flows, and what memory is in the context of perception.”
Jem’s two word pitch of the book reads: “Future pandemic.”
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The shooting gallery and other stories
Written by Japanese writer Yūko Tsushima, these eight powerful stories examine the lives of single women coping with motherhood, passion, jealousy, and the tug-of-war between responsibility and entrapment.
Vaseem summarizes his impressions of this book with: “Men are monsters.”
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Should We Stay Or Should We Go
A novel by American author Lionel Shriver that addresses serious themes—the compromises of longevity, the challenge of living a long life and still going out in style—with an uncannily light touch.
Erin’s two-word teaser: “Your plan?”
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Station Eleven
Our second entry by Emily St. John Mandel is this novel which takes place in the Great Lakes region before and after a fictional swine flu pandemic, known as the "Georgia Flu", has devastated the world, killing most of the population.
Tasha summarizes this novel with: “A different dystopia.”
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Things Fall Apart
The debut novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, first published in 1958. It depicts pre-colonial life in the southeastern part of Nigeria and the invasion by Europeans during the late 19th century.
This book was selected for our August 2022 book discussion, see discussion questions here.
July 2022 book selections
non-fiction
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12 Rules for Life
A 2018 self-help book by the Canadian clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson. It provides life advice through essays in abstract ethical principles, psychology, mythology, religion, and personal anecdotes.
Two words: “Jordan Peterson”
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MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING
A 1946 book by Viktor Frankl chronicling his experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps during World War II, and describing his psychotherapeutic method, which involved identifying a purpose in life to feel positive about, and then immersively imagining that outcome.
Shinoy’s summary of the book is that its title speaks for itself.
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Saved by Beauty: Adventures of an American Romantic in Iran
Roger Housden traveled to Iran to meet with artists, writers, film makers and religious scholars who embody the long Iranian tradition of humanism, the belief in scholarship and artistry that began with the reign of Cyrus the Great.
Fatima’s two-word summary of the book reads: “Beautiful Iran.”
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who moved my cheese?
An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life, published on September 8, 1998, is a bestselling seminal work and motivational business fable by Spencer Johnson.
Haneen recommends this book with two words: “Easy-peasy.”