Dear walking book clubbers,
Black History Month is here! And with it comes our October book, By the Sea by Nobel Prize-winner, Abdulrazak Gurnah.
I am really looking forward to sharing this powerful book about an ageing asylum seeker from Zanzibar, rebuilding his life on Britain’s south coast. What better way to begin than listening to Gurnah read from By The Sea?
Please scroll down to find links to lots more about the book and author.
Here’s a reminder of our THREE chances to discuss it together - and, of course, feel free to drop me an email with your thoughts anytime:
On Hampstead Heath: Sunday 16th October, 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB
On Zoom: Monday 17th October, 8-8.40pm
October Live Discussion Thread: Friday 28th October, 2-2.30pm (look out for the email link that will arrive in your inbox just before 2pm on the day)
Buy By the Sea from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in the group if you’re buying it in the shop.
More on Abdulrazak Gurnah
Abdulrazak Gurnah won the Nobel Prize in 2021, and there is masses of info from and about him out there. This is by no means an exhaustive list (and thank you so much to those of you who have sent me some other great links), but here is a selection of my favourite interviews, reviews and articles:
The novelist Amitav Ghosh wrote THIS brief and intelligent review of By the Sea. (Note to self: we MUST do a Ghosh novel sometime!)
If you are after something a bit longer, then THIS Guardian review by Candida Clark is especially strong on exploring the book’s deceptive simplicity.
THIS lovely introduction to Abdulrazak Gurnah in the New York Times gives a feel for his quiet personality and the nuance of his writing - his feat of exploring personal stories within political contexts.
I really enjoyed this lecture about Indian Ocean migration that Gurnah gave at the University of Kent (where he’s Emeritus Professor of English and Postcolonial Literature):
To get a fuller picture of Abdulrazak Gurnah’s life and influences, I highly recommend his episode of Radio 4’s This Cultural Life, which you can listen to HERE.
Finally, HERE you can listen to him discuss his work with Kamila Shamsie at the LRB bookshop. A fascinating hour!
What’s next this October?
Over the past decade, we have come a long way from our monthly Hampstead Heath walks! While the Hampstead walks remain at the heart of our book club, you can see below that there’s LOTS more going on too - so you can take part in the discussion and join our community wherever you are:
This Sunday 16th, 11.30-1pm we have our Hampstead Heath walking book club - please only attend if you’ve read the book!
Monday 17th, 8-8.40pm, join our Zoom book club - open to all (even if you’ve not quite got around to reading it…):
Monday 24th: Catch up on our discussions: look out for my monthly webcast in your inbox.
Friday 28th: 2-2.30pm Our October Live Discussion Thread about By the Sea, and anything else we’ve been reading this month - link will be in your inbox just before 2.
Monday 31st: The October instalment of Our Walkers’ Walks, this time featuring two book club writers who walk for inspiration.
November *** TICKETS NOW ON SALE ***
A Fortunate Man by John Berger & Jean Mohr
In this highly original, slim book, John Berger's words come together with Jean Mohr's photography to portray the life of a GP in the Forest of Dean in the 1960s. Through examples of common - and uncommon - cases, digressions into psychology, history and more, Berger and Mohr reveal the complex and unique role of a doctor in the community, and the sacrifice entailed.
Renowned writer and critic John Berger, and photographer Jean Mohr spent six weeks living with and shadowing their friend, Dr John Sassall, to create this extraordinary work in which pictures and text are in conversation. First published in 1967, this fascinating and poignant meditation on society, humanity, and the value of healing takes on new relevance today, given the current state of and debate around the NHS.
On the Heath: Sunday 13th November, 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB
On Zoom: Monday 14th November, 8-8.40pm
Live Discussion Thread: Friday 25th November, 2-2.30pm
Buy A Fortunate Man from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in the group if you’re buying it in the shop.
A reminder that you can find full details of all our Autumn books HERE, and do come for a walk with me to hear a little more about them, in this charmingly amateur video below:
Happy reading!
Emily