Crossing the Mangrove by Maryse Comdé

*Join us for our October book club discussion of* Crossing the Mangrove by Maryse Condé, *followed by coffee or drinks nearby.*

For our October read, we’re turning to a darker, slightly spooky atmosphere with a novel set in a small village in Guadeloupe, where the mysterious outsider Francis Sancher is found dead, face down in the mud. As the villagers gather for his wake, their conflicting memories gradually reveal not only who Sancher was, but also the tensions, histories, and relationships that shape the community around him. Moving between different voices and perspectives, the novel explores race, class, gender, colonial history, desire, and belonging.

We’ll meet on Friday, October 30 at 6 PM at Backstory Bookshop, our usual meeting place. After the discussion, we’ll head together to a nearby bar or café for a casual get-together. As always, we’ll continue the evening with a casual get-together over coffee or drinks nearby.

New readers are always welcome!