LEAVING TANGIER, by Tahar Ben Jelloun

Leaving Tangier is a novel about exile, longing, disappointment and identity. The lives of several characters are traced through their dream of escaping Morocco to the "paradise" of Europe (Spain), the difficulties they encounter, and their eventual "escape" back. The narrative remains quite conventional, focusing on one character at a time by chapters, until the final chapter, which becomes a bit surreal and allegorical, with some postmodern reflection on the fictional quality of the book/life. The novel won a literary prize for writers from the Maghreb. The novel mostly works, and the main characters, Azzel, his sister Kenza and their "benefactor" Miguel are portrayed well, although sometimes with stereotypical characteristics. It's a heart-felt book that does get a bit heavy on "message" at times.

Click here for a review of the book from The Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/apr/04/leaving-tangier-tahar-ben-jelloun

I AM A JAPANESE WRITER, by Dany Laferrier

I Am a Japanese Writer, by Hatian-Canadian author Dany Laferrier, has an interesting premise - it is a book about writing a book - or more correctly, about not writing a book. The protagonist, a black Canadian writer with Caribbean roots, declares that he will write a book proclaiming his status as a Japanese writer. His "book" creates a cultural sensation in Japan and opens up a huge cultural debate abot identity and authorship. The book, in fact, does (or does not) get written based on events in the novel we read. The word events is used loosely, as the book is largely plotless, consisting of 67 loosely connected meditations on writing, culture (Japanese, American, Canadian, Caribbean), the Japanese poet Basho, and other various and assorted topics. There is a philosophical feel to the whole novel, albeit couched in the kind of postmodern metalanguage we have all learned to work through. The book is interesting and the protagonist strangely attractive despite his gruff and opinionated personality.

For a review of the book from The Globe and Mail, click here: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/i-am-a-japanese-writer-by-dany-laferrire/article1777818/