Books I Read March 30th, 2026

RIP Taix, the greatest faux-French restaurant in the greater Los Angeles area.

The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma – A madman's curse shatters a large, middle-class family, in this highly-stylized, almost biblical analogue for the internecine warfare of post-Colonial Nigeria. I thought it effectively portrayed the sentiments between the cadre of brothers who serve as the novel's protagonists. Very solid.

Pilgrim's Way by Abdulrazak Gurnah– An introverted, misanthropic immigrant suffers the indignities of an ex-colonial living among former colonizers. Shades of Philip Roth or John Fante in the internal monologue of a repressed intellectual obsessed with sex and status, with a touch of Naipaul's skepticism about the multicultural project.

Hunchback by Saou Ichikawa – A severely disabled woman contends with the miseries inflicted on her by cruel nature and the restrictions of an uncaring society. Disturbing, at times erotic, provacative in the best sense of the word. A work which will challenge the perceptions of most people who read it.

Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq – The Muslim woman of southern India struggle, not always in vain, against the patriarchal society which restrains them. Thoughtful and piercing, a fascinating look at an extremely foreign culture. Oh, the power of literature to express diverse points of view!