Book Haul September 2021 - part 1

I'm going on holiday soon so want to pack quality new reads. And now that I've finished the Booker longlist I'm eager to read whatever takes my fancy. Click ‘Show More’ for info & links.

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Books discussed & purchase links:

The Zulus of New York – Zakes Mda

Skinship – Yoon Choi

The Song of Youth – Montserrat Roig

Keeping the House – Tice Cin

A New Name – Jon Fosse

The Human Cosmos – Jo Marchant

The Red Planet – Simon Morden

The Earthspinners – Anuradha Roy

My Body Keeps Your Secrets – Lucia Osborne-Crowley

Magpie – Elizabeth Day

The Second Woman – Louise Mey

Palmares – Gayl Jones

The Wrong End of the Telescope – Rabih Alameddine

Snow Country – Sebastian Faulks

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Get in touch

[readysetpooja]

Trevor Noah’s book Born A Crime was actually a really interesting commentary on race in South Africa — his perspective growing up mixed race but being raised by a Black mother is rather unique. And of course, he’s hilarious so it’s a good balance of serious / funny writing.

[pdxleo]

Have a fabulous vacation! What a great list! And Lutefisk was not part of my background as a Swede (my family eats pickled herring at Christmas instead) - but there are stories about it! I may just have to read A New Name now :D

[MsReadsAlot]

I hope you have a wonderful holiday! The human cosmos sounds interesting! I don’t know how you will choose! So many interesting books!

[BobTheBookerer]

Just when my TBR pile is already threatening to drown me 😂 These sound wonderful, though- love these picks!

And have a wonderful holiday!

[basketca]

It's not South Africa, but if you are interested in more books from the region, The Purple Violet of Oshaantu is a Namibian novel by Neshani Andreas.

[brittabohlerthesecondshelf]

Happy holiday reading! For the next holiday, if you're still interesting in black SA authors: I can highly recommend the novels of Kopano Matlwa and the memoir by Sisonke Msimang. All books fairly recent. Enjoy your time off! X

[Notizhefte]

The best war to really enjoy your holiday will be to read them all, I suppose! 😊

[cindyhaiken]

Palmares is getting a tremendous amount of buzz so I would take that one with you for sure. I’m so envious of your vacation. What a treat!

[scoutharris]

Laughed out loud at the reference to Rose’s cooking in The Golden Girls! I’m rewatching the series from the beginning on Disney+ at the moment. 😆

[MarcNash]

I like the sound of that London Turkish book. Have just put in my basket. Thanks Eric.

[SM-vrdz]

My picks for you are: Zakes Mda’s novel, The Palmares, and The Wrong End of the Telescope. They sound so fascinating and I want to hear your thoughts, lol.

[christinacampbellbooks]

Have a wonderful holiday! Magpie sounds great. I've just reserved it at my library! Looking forward to reading it and hearing your thoughts on it too ☺

[cherylynlarking]

Wow, what a selection to choose from. Your choice will always depend on how you feel. Hope you have a great break and come back refreshed. The new name wold be my first choice followed by the Sebastian Faulks novel.

[drawyourbook]

The song of youth sounds very interesting to me

[kaoc]

Very jealous, enjoy that relaxing reading time 😁

[ShivangiBhasin]

I’m so shocked to see Septology on your list! I recently found Jon Fosse (more like dug him out of the grave of obscurity, his prominence overshadowed by more well-known and mainstream writers) and was so intrigued by the premise and writing of the book. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on it!

Matthias Enard is another author I found in the same search party of hidden gems and his book Zone as well as Tell Them of Elephants sounded equally fascinating to me. Would love to hear from anyone, recommendations along the same vein

[heathersneddon]

Have heard of 1 of these books - the one who had her previous book feted by Toni Morrison. I too am off on holiday soon and my books are the new Everyman Library edition of HG Wells that comprises 3 of his books -The Time Machine, The Invisible Man and The War of the Worlds. Also Natalie Haynes' book Pandora's Jar - Women in the Greek Myths. Hopefully they will both be good. Enjoy your hols x

[LarryHasOpinions]

i think magpie was no 1 best seller in the uk last week, very curious to hear what you think! the cosmos books also sound really interesting, great selection! :-)

[jacquelinemcmenamin]

Haven’t read any of these books but I have heard of
My Body Keeps Your Secrets.
It sounds like my kind of book.
☘️👋🍀📚💐📕🐝🫖☕️📖

[NerdyNurseReads]

You always give so many unique and wonderful recommendations. I need to find a copy of The Song of Youth I’m not sure if it’s out in the US right now.