This month's book is The Tin Drum by Günter Grass, which is described by TheGuardian as the "the defining novel of the 20th century, wrenching art and hope from ugliness and horror" and will be presented by Nick.

"It is, technically, an incredible piece of art, a melange of bildungsroman, memoir, allegory, grotesquerie and pure reverie. On a superficial level it tells the story of Oskar Matzerath: incarcerated maniac, self-created dwarf, paranoiac, possessor of supernatural gifts, vindictive genius, fallen angel, miniature tyrant, obsessive beater of the titular drum. Oskar is all of these things and none of them; the ultimate unreliable narrator.

The book charts his progress, and that of the independent port city of Danzig/Gdansk, and greater Germany, and the world as a whole. It is odd, profound, sprawling, poetic, often unnerving. But more than this, never have I read something that so exquisitely and lucidly captures the dazed, eerie strangeness of our misfortunate times.
(See https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2009/oct/07/the-tin-drum-gunter-grass for the full review.)

Themes / trigger warnings include: nazism, magical realism, catholicism and blasphemy.

If you’ve read it, come along and discuss it in an atmosphere of curiosity and good humour.

If you haven’t read it: no problem! Come along anyway. Our meetings always include a detailed overview of the book, its author and its main themes so there’s plenty to talk about.

Apologies to anyone who has been dutifully reading The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu: we have had to move it to a later meeting.

Geneva International Book Group meetings are culturally diverse, open-minded and friendly. Everyone is welcome and attendance is free of charge. (But please buy a drink from the bar.)

How to get there.
MLC Librairie Café, Rue de Carouge 98. 1205 Geneva.

From the Augustins tram stop, walk 3 to 5 minutes (depending on your gait and anxiety level) towards Carouge. The café is at an angle on the right, almost opposite the IFAGE building.
http://www.librairie-cafe.com/nous-contacter-1.html