pickThe story follows a Cameroonian immigrant family—Jende Jonga, his wife Neni, and their son—in ‘07-‘08 NYC. Against the backdrop of the economic crisis and Obama‘s election, we see Jende working for better opportunities for himself and his family, as his future becomes more and more entangled with the family for whom he works as a chauffeur. It‘s a fascinating, nuanced take on the American Dream, with the Jonga family‘s struggles set against ⤵️
pick3/5
Written in 1956, it's a novel about the life of a houseboy under colonialism.
From the first pages we learn the tragic end of the houseboy, then we get to read his diary: how he came to be a houseboy, his daily life, etc.
Segregation, hypocrisy, racism, black/white relationships are the main themes.
It's a level B1 read in French, some words/phrases may be difficult for a non-native.
panA very slow read which felt like a slog. Not sure why I finished it as I never quite got invested in the characters as none were likable.
pickThanks to an incredible Audible sale, I recently purchased all of Neil Peart‘s nonfiction books. In this one, Neil joined a group through African villages for one month on his bicycle. The ride itself was physically and mentally challenging, and Neil shares the struggles of bike repairs, long rides up steep hills and treacherous terrain, and searches for food and drink.
Full review at https://abookandadog.com
We enter the library and it's quiet, in that lovely way I remember from the past, when Miriam and I went on Saturdays with Mum, and eventually on my own. First the reading desks and magazine racks, then the rows and rows of books. Children's books, thrillers, archaeology, translated books, English. I don't even know which titles I want to pick up.
Striking novel set in a young offenders' institution (equivalent) in the Netherlands.
pickCameroonian couple Neni and Jende immigrate to America, NYC, to provide a better life for themselves and their families. Jende comes first and works hard to bring Neni, who follows with their young son. Jende soon gets a job he‘s proud of, driving for Clark Edwards, big wig at Lehman Brothers. Neni begins school, and both work hard for the American dream though setback after setback disillusions the couple, exacerbated with the financial crisis.
What does a librarian do with a day off in the next county over? Find a quiet corner in a familiar (though not one where employed) library and read undisturbed!
This one is for book club on Monday and I‘m pleasantly surprised by how invested I am already.
