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One of the most popular features of newbooks magazine is the regular column What We're Reading which gives the magazine staff and contributors the chance to write about a book they have recently read. As the magazine is bi-monthly this section of the website will be an opportunity for more up to date reading snippets and recommendations.
In a Strange Room by Damon Galgut
My book group set this book a couple of months ago but we haven't managed to meet to discuss it yet. Just after she had suggested this book the chooser decided to leave the book group. Not sure if that says something about the book or the group.
Travel writing and yet not travel writing. Biographical and yet not. This book is beautifully written and once I adjusted to the swapping between first and third person (sometimes in the same sentence) a very lyrical and easy read.
Shortlisted in 2010 for the ManBooker prize - a fact which somehow completely passed me by - In a Strange Room is set in Greece, India and Africa and is what I sometimes call 'a walking about novel'.
Not sure if I will look out more of Galgut's work. Not because it isn't beautiful work but rather because his writing is strangely unsettling.
I look forward to our discussions when the book group finally manages to meet.