AUGUST 2026 BOOK SELECTIONS
FICTION
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The Fourth Consort
Ramahi kicked off this month’s selections with American author Edward Ashton’s 2025 sci-fi novel about space politics and intergalactic alliances, finding it very entertaining, if nothing fancy.
Readability: 7.5/10
Discuss-ability: 2/10 (nothing to discuss) -
Beasts of a Little Land
Set in Japanese-occupied Korea, Korean author Juhea Kim’s 2021 novel gripped Shumoos with its wide cast of characters, and reminded her of Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko.
Readability: 8/10
Discuss-ability: 9/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Fruit Fly
British author Josh Silver’s novel about a writer struggling with writer’s block captivated Elissa with its plot twist after plot twist after plot twist.
Readability: 9.5/10
Discuss-ability: 5/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
The Bright Years
Elissa’s second selection was this 2025 novel by American author Sarah Damoff about a family coming undone, which she described as VERY sad.
Readability: 7/10
Discuss-ability: 8/10 -
The Tawny Man Trilogy
Mohammed (🦿) took it upon himself to introduce us to this high-fantasy trilogy (part of a 16-book series) by American writer Robin Hobb, who he is convinced is one of the greatest writers of all time.
Readability: 9/10
Discuss-ability: 10/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Season of Migration to the North - موسم الهجرة إلى الشمال
A man of countless layers, Mohammed (🦿) also brought us this formidable classic by Sudanese writer Tayeb Salih, which neither he nor his uncles were able to fully decipher.
Readability: 7/10
Discuss-ability: 9/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
It Lasts Forever and Then It's Over
American author Anne de Marcken’s abstract, existential novel from 2024 seemed to haunt Samawiyah, who described it as a zombie novel for fans of literary fiction.
Readability: 8/10
Discuss-ability: 10/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Parable of the Talents
This selection from Samawiyah was a follow-up to a previous recommendation of hers from science-fiction author Octavia Butler, praising it as a worthy successor to Parable of the Sower.
Readability: 9/10
Discuss-ability: 10/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
My Year of Rest and Relaxation
Julieta brought us this 2018 dark comedy novel by writer Ottessa Moshfegh, about a woman’s attempt to sleep her way out of depression.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 8/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
The Summer My Mother Had Green Eyes
Tatiana Țîbuleac’s 2017 novel was the second book selection from Julieta, who especially loved the portrayal of a complex mother-son relationship.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 5/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Open Water
British writer Caleb Azumah Nelson’s quiet love story fascinated Ola with a portrayal of emotion so tender, she couldn’t believe a man wrote it.
Readability: 12/10 (!)
Discuss-ability: 8/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Wild Dark Shore
Australian writer Charlotte McConaghy’s novel about a family living on an abandoned island came highly recommended by Sree B., who thought it was brilliant—provided you completely ignore the murder mystery element.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 10/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
A Monster Calls
A comfort read of Chinara’s and one of her all-time favorites is this 2011 young-adult novel by Patrick Ness and Siobhan Dowd about a child’s surprise visitor.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 6/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Butter
From Japanese writer Asako Yuzuki, this “novel of food and murder” boosted Tasha’s appetite with its rich recipes and thrilling plot.
Readability: 7.5/10
Discuss-ability: 10/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Plant Lady
Sticking to the theme of crime for this month, Tasha also brought us this novel by Korean writer Minyoung Kang about a woman’s secret favorite fertilizer.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 8/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
A Splintering
Zainab highly recommended this novel by Pakistani author Dur e Aziz Amna, which follows a woman’s escape from a small village and abusive household into the big city.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 8/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Black Suits You so Well - الأسود يليق بك
And last but not least, Mohammed brought us this contemporary classic by Algerian writer Ahlam Mosteghanemi about music, love, and political turmoil.
Readability: 8/10
Discuss-ability: 8/10
AUGUST 2026 BOOK SELECTIONS
NON-FICTION
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Black Milk
This month’s single non-fiction selection came from Ola, who brought us this memoir by Turkish writer Elif Shafak about her struggle with postpartum depression.
Readability: 8/10
Teach-ability: definitely/10
Read more on Goodreads…
APRIL 2026 BOOK SELECTIONS
FICTION
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The Tusks of Extinction
Opening up this month’s list, Ramahi shared this 2024 sci-fi novella by Canadian writer Ray Nayler, about an extinct expert on extinct elephants teaching non-extinct mammoths how to mammoth. (have I got this right?)
Readability: 7/10
Discuss-ability: 8/10 -
I'm Not Scared
Chinara brought us Italian writer Niccolò Ammaniti’s novel about a nine year old boy investigating a child’s disappearance in his village, which gripped her with its intense narrative especially as a mother of a young boy herself.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 7-8/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
The Farseer Trilogy
This fantasy book series by American writer Robin Hobb totally hooked Mohammed (🦿) to the point of suspecting it was part of a mind control operation. He barely put the book down long enough to bake us delicious cookies.
Readability: 10 (but don’t read it)/10
Discuss-ability: about 1000 concepts to discuss/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
White Nights
This short love story by master Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky captivated Fatima with the author’s ability to write a character’s deepest inner thoughts.
Readability: 9/10
Discuss-ability: 7-8/10 -
Alias Grace
From Canadian writer Margaret Atwood, this lesser known historical fiction about a woman’s murder trial in 19th century Canada fascinated Shamita with its layered unreliability.
Readability: 9.5/10
Discuss-ability: easily 10/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
The Guardian of Surfaces or The Book Censor's Library or حارس سطح العالم
Despite the publishers’ title struggles, Zainab enjoyed this near-future dystopia and warning call by Kuwaiti novelist Bothayna Al-Essa.
Readability: 6-7/10
Discuss-ability: 10/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
The Unworthy
Julieta’s selections for this month were horror titles from Argentine writer Agustina Bazterrica, this one about a secret society of women where not much can be shared without being a spoiler.
Readability: 9/10
Discuss-ability: 10/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Tender is the Flesh
Julieta’s second horror title by Agustina Bazterrica is her 2017 dystopia described as the antithesis of Han Kang’s The Vegetarian (of #2 Qatar Book Club infamy).
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 10/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
The Covenant of Water
Opening up a theme of Indian themed books for the night, Drishya’s first selection was this 2023 bestseller by Abraham Verghese about a family from Kerala living through partition and independence.
Readability: 9/10
Discuss-ability: 7/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
The Hallmarked Man
Drishya also shared the eighth installment in the “Cormoran Strike” murder mystery series by Robert Galbraith (a penname of JK Rowling). It prioritizes the search for the victim’s identity just as much as the hunt for his killer.
Readability: 8/10
Discuss-ability: 8/10 (even for doctors)
Read more on Goodreads… -
Midnight's Children
Sri brought us a collection of her Salman Rushdie books this month, starting with his most famous novel from 1981 blending magical realism with a fascinating retelling of Indian independence.
Readability: 7/10
Discuss-ability: depends how much you know about India/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
The Enchantress of Florence
Sri’s second Salman Rushdie selection, and her personal favorite, is his 2008 novel centered around the Mughal Empire.
Readability: a good 9/10
Discuss-ability: 8/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Quichotte
Carrying more psychological depth, Sri also recommends this Salman Rushdie novel themed around the complexities of parenthood and family.
Readability: 9.5/10
Discuss-ability: 6/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
The Golden House
And Sri’s last Salman Rushdie selection is also his most grounded work from 2017 set around the modern American political landscape.
Readability: 9/10
Discuss-ability: 5/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Piranesi
This 2020 speculative fiction novel by English author Susanna Clarke came highly recommended by Saya, who believes she has found the love of her life in its titular character.
Readability: 8/10
Discuss-ability: 8/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
When We Were Orphans
This Kazuo Ishiguro novel from 2000 was a tale of sheer loss and confusion for Shumoos who didn’t know where she stood among all its tonal shifts and constant narrative twists.
Readability: 3/10
Discuss-ability: 8/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
The Book of Fate
And last but far from least is this 2013 novel by Iranian novelist Parinoush Saniee, written with such an expert hand it got Shumoos relating to events far removed from her own reality.
Readability: 7/10 (so sad)
Discuss-ability: 10/10
APRIL 2026 BOOK SELECTIONS
NON-FICTION
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The Taste of Conquest
This month’s non-fiction selections came from long lost friend of the #2 Qatar Book Club Mitasha who enjoyed European chef Michael Krondl’s deep dive into Indian spice trade history, even if his humor failed to land.
Readability: fantastic/10
Teach-ability: high/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
The Golden Road
Further in her dive into Indian history, Mitasha shared this book by Scottish historian William Dalrymple which studies how India influenced and was influenced by the different cultures around it.
Readability: still just at 20%/10
Teach-ability: still reading/10
Read more on Goodreads…
DECEMBER 2025 BOOK SELECTIONS
FICTION
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The Bone Sparrow
Shumoos opened this month’s book selections with this 2016 title by Australian writer Zana Fraillon about Rohingya refugees in Australia. While she found it highly educational, she summed it up with: “I wish this book had never needed to be written.
Readability: 5/10
Discuss-ability: 8/10 -
The Bells
Tina’s selection was this 2010 novel by US author Richard Harvell, a historical fiction about a castrato singer’s struggle with fatherhood.
Readability: 9/10
Discuss-ability: 10/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
The Houseguest and Other Stories
First of a number of horror recommendations this month, Zarmina told us about this collection of short stories by Mexican author Amparo Dávila which she found wholly engaging at times, and exhaustingly abstract at others.
Readability: 8/10
Discuss-ability: “great, I’m talking about it right now”/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
The Hunger
Another horror title was Alma Katsu’s 2018 novel about American pioneers traveling west across the American frontier while an ominous evil stalks them, recommended by Keltoum.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 8/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Stoner
Keltoum’s second recommendation of American literature was this 1965 novel by John Williams, which only received the recognition it deserved after the author’s death.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 10/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Migrations
At her first #2 Qatar Book Club meeting, Chinara introduced us to this 2020 novel by Australian author Charlotte McConaghy (also published as “The Last Migration”), about a researcher traveling to Greenland to track the Arctic tern’s possible final migration to Antarctica.
Readability: 8/10
Discuss-ability: 9-5 (depending on the group)/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Invisible Cities
In an effort to counterbalance Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead, Maryam brought us a collection of architecture-themed books, beginning with this 1972 novel by Italian writer Italo Calvino, which imagines conversations between the explorer Marco Polo and the Tartar emperor Kublai Khan about 55 fictional cities.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 10/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
The Architect's Apprentice
Maryam’s second architecture-themed selection was this 2013 Elif Shafak novel that explores the iconic work of the architect Sinan and his role in shaping Istanbul as we know it today.
Readability: 6/10
Discuss-ability: 6/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2)
Self-proclaimed “introvert” Mohammed brought us the second installment of Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games series, which he says he read out of spite after watching the movie, and being convinced he could have done it better.
Readability: 9/10
Discuss-ability: 10/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
The Road
Mohammed’s second book selection, and the last horror recommendation of the month, was novelist Cormac McCarthy’s post-apocalyptic masterpiece from 2006 which may or may not involve a boat of some kind.
Readability: trust me, read it!/10
Discuss-ability: 10/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
A Fine Balance
Karthik’s selection for this month was Rohinton Mistry’s 1995 novel, which explores the State of Emergency; one of the darkest periods in modern Indian history.
Readability: 5 (dark and difficult to read)/10
Discuss-ability: 10/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi
Appearing once again in our members’ book selections, S. A. Chakraborty’s fantasy novel about a Muslim pirate woman captivated Anam, who admires the culturally unique place it holds in fantasy literature.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 10/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
1984
Andy’s selection for this month was this timeless, little-talked-about (heh) novel by English author George Orwell, as relevant today as it was 80 years ago.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 10/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
The Kite Runner
Another one of Andy’s 2025 favorites was Afghan author Khaled Hosseini’s heartbreaking 2003 debut novel, rich with sorrow and humanity.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 10/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
The Last Crossing
This novel by Omani writer Badriya Al-Badri captivated Julieta, who appreciated its richly layered cultural atmosphere.
Readability: 8/10
Discuss-ability: 10/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
The Poetry of Rupi Kaur
Julieta also shared with us her love for the poetry of Rupi Kaur, which she always finds herself returning to for comfort. She recommends the collections Milk & Honey, Home Body, and The Sun and Her Flowers.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: what’s a good rating metric for poetry?/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
A Thousand Mornings
Another poetry selection came to us from Sree, who brought this meditative collection of poems by Mary Oliver.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: same question/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Conclave
Sree’s second book selection was this timely novel by Robert Harris, which follows the death of the Pope and the election of a new head of the Catholic Church, also adapted into a movie featuring Stanley Tucci.
Readability: 9/10
Discuss-ability: 9/10
Read more on Goodreads…
DECEMBER 2025 BOOK SELECTIONS
NON-FICTION
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The Message
Omar’s selection for this month was this 2024 book by U.S. writer Ta-Nehisi Coates, beautifully journaling his travels, and his education in Senegal, South Carolina, and Palestine.
Readability: 10/10
Teach-ability: 10/10 -
Perfect Victims and the Politics of Appeal
This 2025 book by Palestinian activist and writer Mohammed El-Kurd came highly recommended by Shatha, who was empowered by the author’s steadfast rejection of conditional solidarity and the impossible burden of “perfection” placed on victims of oppression.
Readability: “100%” /10
Teach-ability: “1000%” /10 -
Mother Mary Comes to Me
Indian writer Arundhati Roy’s first memoir captivated Nadia with its intimate account of the author’s complex relationship with her mother, whom she describes as “my shelter and my storm.”
Readability: 10/10
Teach-ability: 8/10 -
The 99% Invisible City
This architecture-adjacent nonfiction, written by “99% Invisible” podcasters Roman Mars and Kurt Kohlstedt, continues Maryam’s recommendations for this month, as she enjoyed its celebration of intuitive design.
Readability: “99%” /10
Teach-ability: they have a whole podcast/10 -
The Battle for Home
Last but not least, Marwa al-Sabouni’s account of the role played by architecture in the orchestration of war in her hometown of Homs, Syria, captivated Maryam with its dark subject matter, completing her collection of architecture-themed titles.
Readability: 4/10
Teach-ability: 9/10
AUGUST 2025 BOOK SELECTIONS
FICTION
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Julia
To start off the evening, Omar brought us the 2023 “feminist retelling of George Orwell’s 1984” by writer Sandra Newman, which he had mixed feelings about to say the least.
Readability: 10/10 (except for a few explicit scenes)
Discuss-ability: 15/10 -
Slaughterhouse-Five
Omar’s second book choice was this 1969 classic by author Kurt Vonnegut. Alternately titled “The Children’s Crusade”, it tells the story of an American prisoner of war who survives the Allied firebombing of the city of Dresden during World War II.
Readability: 9/10
Discuss-ability: 9/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Persepolis
Recommended once again, this time by Shumoos, this unique book by Iranian novelist and cartoonist Marjane Satrapi about a childhood in Tehran during the Iran-Iraq war, continues to come up in our book club’s conversations.
Readability: 10/10 (also endorsed by Shinoy, Alya, Crishani, and Banoo)
Discuss-ability: 9/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
The Buddha in the Attic
Shumoos also brought this 2011 book by Japanese-American author Julie Otsuka, which taught her about the lives of twentieth century Japanese “picture brides” and their journeys to the United States.
Readability: 0 as novel, 10 as an essay/10
Discuss-ability: 8/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Disgrace
Sherbeeni’s first book selection for this month was this 1999 Booker prize winning novel by South African Nobel laureate J. M. Coetzee, which tells the story of a white professor’s undoing in post-apartheid Cape Town.
Readability: 9/10
Discuss-ability: 20/10 (!)
Read more on Goodreads… -
Hangwoman - (ആരാച്ചാര്)
First of many local-language book selections this month is Sherbeeni’s recommendation of this Malayalam novel by K.R. Meera about Chetna, the youngest daughter of a family line of executioners, and the first woman executioner in India.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 10/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
I Who Have Never Known Men
Jointly presented by Shamaim and Maryam, this 1995 post-apocalyptic novel by Belgian author Jacqueline Harpman, about a group of women confined to an underground bunker, seemed to leave a strong impression on them both.
Readability:
Shamaim: 8/10 - Maryam: 20 (super easy)/10
Discuss-ability:
Shamaim: 10/10 - Maryam: 10/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Intermezzo
The 2024 novel by Irish author Sally Rooney came recommended by Faisal who felt it had much to say about love, family, and, errmmm, mental illness.
Readability: 7/10
Discuss-ability: 9/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Chainaman - (චයිනමන්)
At her first book club meeting, Crishani brought us this Sinhala-language novel by Sri Lankan author Shehan Karunatilaka, about cricket and Sri Lankan society.
Readability: 8/10
Discuss-ability: 3-4/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
The Midnight Library
English author Matt Haig’s 2020 novel about a library between life and death charmed Banoo with its message and drove her to dive into Matt Haig’s bibliography.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 10/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Poovan Banana and Other Stories
This short story collection by Indian writer Vaikom Muhammad Basheer was praised by Shinoy, who especially enjoyed മതിലുകൾ - The Walls (or is it The Fences?), a story that explores love through the confines of prison walls.
Readability: 8/10
Discuss-ability: 10/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Farewell, Damascus - (يا دمشق وداعاً)
Syrian writer Ghada Al-Samman’s novel about her hometown in the 1960s was brought to us by Julieta, who thought the English translation was a bit lacking.
Readability: 9/10
Discuss-ability: 11/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
The Cruel Prince
With her book selections for this month, Sri took us on a journey of questionable “romantasy” titles, starting with this 2018 novel by American writer Holly Black, which she says is the only true “enemies-to-lovers” story she has ever read.
Readability: 9/10
Discuss-ability: 6/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Divine Rivals
On the other hand, this 2023 title by Rebecca Ross is the typical “enemies-to-lovers-but-he-was-actually-in-love-with-her-all-along” story, says Sri.
Readability: 8 (but don’t read it)/10
Discuss-ability: facepalm/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Bride
Sri’s last book selection was this novel by Ali Hazelwood which she says involves the Omegaverse (whatever that is) and which she thinks was plucked straight out of Wattpad fan fiction.
Readability: 9/10 (but still)
Discuss-ability: 1/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Goodbye, Eri
Vaseem enjoyed this Japanese manga written and illustrated by Tatsuki Fujimoto, which tells the story of a teenager who tries to capture his mother’s last days on his phone.
Readability: ?/10
Discuss-ability: ?/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Halo: The Fall of Reach
Lastly, Yasir couldn’t hide his passion as he told us about the Halo video game series and its accompanying books. With no fewer than ten titles by ten different authors, this story of humankind’s struggle to survive a brutal alien force sweeping through space is a fictional world that just keeps on giving.
Readability: 9/10
Discuss-ability: 10/10
Read more on Goodreads…
AUGUST 2025 BOOK SELECTIONS
NON-FICTION
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The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up
This guide to decluttering by the Japanese celebrity “professional organizer” and reality TV star Marie Kondō opened Alya’s eyes to a whole new philosophy of cleaning and organizing. Her room will never look the same.
Readability: life = changed/10
Discuss-ability: 2-3/10 -
The In-between
This 2024 title by hospice nurse and TikTok star Hadley Vlahos documenting some of her encounters and conversations with patients on their death beds was also highly recommended by Alya.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 6-7/10 -
Debt
Anthropologist David Graeber debunks everything we know about the history of money in this 2011 book highly recommended by Samawiyah.
Readability: 8/10
Discuss-ability: 9/10 -
The Anthropocene Reviewed
Acclaimed author John Green takes a break from writing about cancer to review the everyday objects of modern life in his first nonfiction work, brought to us by Shinoy.
Readability: 10/10
Teach-ability: 7-8/10 -
Football in Sun and Shadow
Shatha’s first of two book recommendations by Uruguayan journalist Eduardo Galeano is this passionate record of the history of football, Latin America, and the world.
Readability: 10/10
Teach-ability: 6/10 (unless you know your football) -
Children of the Days
For two-out-of-two by Eduardo Galeano, Shatha also brought us this calendar of human history - telling 365 stories, one for each day of the year, that shaped the world as we know it.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 10/10
APRIL 2025 BOOK SELECTIONS
FICTION
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Lonely as a Crowded Room - (وحيدة كغرفة مزدحمة)
Set in Ramallah and told completely through emails and applications for various scholarships and jobs, this short novel from 2024 by Palestinian author Badar Salem was highly recommended by Omar who thought it was as dark as it was funny.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 5/10 -
The Last Migration
In his first Bring-a-Book meeting, Ramahi took center stage to describe this 2020 novel by Australian author Charlotte McConaghy that tells the story of Franny, a woman living in the world where nearly all wild animals have gone extinct, as she tracks the last migration of a species of Antartic birds.
Readability: 9/10
Discuss-ability: 6.5/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi
In her first of three book selections this month, Sri recommended this 2023 historical fantasy novel by American writer S. A. Chakraborty about a woman’s on-again, off-again relationship with piracy.
Readability: 8/10
Discuss-ability: 5/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
Sri’s second book selection was this 2017 novel by Scottish writer Gail Honeyman about a Eleanor Oliphant’s struggle with having a social life.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 6/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Unhinged
Sri’s third book selection was more of a cautionary tale, short and concise: if you come across a book about a woman falling in love with her door, by god, you should run for your life. The book actually exists and was written by author Vera Valentine.
Readability: stay-the-f***-away/10
Discuss-ability: a woman falls in love with her door, dicuss/10
Read more on Goodreads (at your own risk)… -
The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir who Got Trapped in an Ikea Wardrobe
We can always count on Tasha to bring us the most whimsical titles, this month it was this 2013 novel by French author (and former bored border guard) Romain Puértolas about an Indian man’s pilgrimage to Europe (specifically to IKEA) to buy himself a new bed of nails.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 5-6/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Goddess Complex
Tasha’s second selection for this month was this 2025 novel by American novelist Sanjena Sathian about a woman’s struggle with dilemmas of procreation, pregnancy, and parenting.
Readability: 9/10
Discuss-ability: 9/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Musashi
From the opposite beanbag on the beach came Bobby’s recommendation of this ~1000 page novel from 1935 by Japanese author Eiji Yoshikawa about the historical Samurai and a man’s struggle with dilemmas of swordsmanship, war, and peacemaking.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: “I don’t know maybe 8?”/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
The Pomegranate Lady and Her Sons
Banoo highly recommended this 2013 collection of stories by Iranian writer Goli Taraghi about life in Tehran before, during, and after the revolution, taking her back to her own experiences in the city.
Readability: 10 if you’re Iranian, 8 if you’re not/10
Discuss-ability: 8/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
CIRCE
This 2018 mythic fantasy novel by American novelist Madeline Miller challenged Iman with its reimagining of Homer’s The Odyssey and other misogyny-laden tales from Greek mythology - told from the perspective of Circe the enchantress of the Island of Aeaea.
Readability: 7-8 (might be harder to read for women)/10
Discuss-ability: 9-10/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
The Collected Tales of Nikolai Gogol
Iman’s second and much less challenging book selection is this collection of stories by Russian/Ukrainian novelist Nikolai Gogol which she highly recommends, especially The Overcoat.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 10/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
The First Man
This unfinished novel by French philosopher Albert Camus captivated Khalid and challenged his understanding of national identity, colonialism, and twentieth-century European settlers in Egypt and across North Africa—as well as the very process of writing itself.
Readability: 2/10 - almost totally incoherent
Discuss-ability: 10/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Where the Crawdads Sing
Our second bird-themed book for the evening was Nisha’s recommendation of this 2018 murder mystery novel by American writer Delia Owens about a young woman living in isolation from society and taking life's lessons directly from the land. She also recommends watching the film adaptation.
Readability: 7/10
Discuss-ability: 7/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
Beware of Pity
Austrian writer Stefan Zweig’s longest work of fiction from 1939 about an Austro-Hungarian officer embarrassing himself at a party and becoming entangled in a relationship driven by guilt rather than love, gripped Kaltra and prompted her to reflect deeply on her own—and society’s—perceptions of people with special needs, and the difference between pity and empathy.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 7-8/10
Read more on Goodreads… -
The Forty Rules of Love
On her first meeting at book club, Safae brought us this 2009 modern classic by Turkish author Elif Shafak - following parallel timelines between the lives of a modern day writer and the Sufi poet Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 9/10
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Girls of Riyadh - (بنات الرياض)
Safae’s second book selection was this 2005 novel by Saudi writer Rajaa Alsanea opening up the personal lives of four young Saudi girls.
Readability: 7/10
Discuss-ability: 8/10
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The Wrong Family
By South Aftican novelist Tarryn Fisher, this 2020 thriller kept Hafsa on her toes with its endless unpredictable twists and turns.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 5/10
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The Tunnel
On this month’s meeting, Julieta gave us a crash course on Latin American literature, starting with this 1948 psychological novel by writer Ernesto Sabato about an artist’s deranged obsession with a woman.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 8/10
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My Sweet Orange Tree
Julieta’s second book choice was José Mauro de Vasconcelos’ 1968 autobiographical novel about a young boy’s life in Rio de Janeiro and the magical universe of his imagination.
Readability: 10 (+ a good cry)/10
Discuss-ability: 6/10
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Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair
Last but not least, the poetry collection from 1924 that launched the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda into fame at the young age of 19 and became one of the most renowned literary works of the 20th century, was Julieta’s third book choice for this month.
Readability: 10/10
Discuss-ability: 1? Can you discuss a poem in a book club?/10
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1984
Unbelievably making its first appearance in our member book selections list, this 1949 dystopian masterpiece by British author George Orwell changed Karthik’s view of politics, language, war and the world as a whole.
Readability: 9-9.5/10 (debatably)
Discuss-ability: 11/10 (duh)
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The Time of My Life
This 2011 novel by Irish author Cecelia Ahern captivated Ana with its imaginative portrayal of a woman’s appointment with her life.
Readability: 8.5/10
Discuss-ability: 10/10
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Sushi for Beginners
By Irish author Marian Keyes whose books were Ana’s escape from the grind of med school textbooks, this 2000 novel might not teach you how to make sushi, but it will fill you with warmth and comfort.
Readability: “Do I really have to rate it?”/10
Discuss-ability: “Do I?”/10
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The Garden of Evening Mists
The second English-language novel by Malaysian author Tan Twan Eng published in 2011, deeply immersed Amber in its rich setting of World War II-era Japan and Malaysia.
Readability: 10/10 (despite the terrible title)
Discuss-ability: 8/10
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Split Tooth
Wrapping up this month’s fiction selections is this 2018 novel by Canadian Inuk musician Tanya Tagaq, through which Tasha is looking forward to learning about Inuit folklore, culture, and literature.
Readability: haven’t-started-yet/10
Discuss-ability: guess-we’ll-hear-about-it-soon/10
Read more on Goodreads…
APRIL 2025 BOOK SELECTIONS
NON-FICTION