Goodreads Monday is a weekly meme started by @Lauren’s Page Turners but is currently hosted by Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog. This meme is quite easy to follow – just randomly pick a book from your to-be-read list and explain why you want to read it. It is that simple.

This week’s book:

Theft by Abdulrazak Gurnah

Blurb from Goodreads

In his first new novel since winning the 2021 Nobel Prize, a master storyteller captures a time of dizzying global change.

At the turn of the twenty-first century, three young people come of age in Tanzania. Karim returns to his sleepy hometown after university with new swagger and ambition. Fauzia glimpses in him a chance at escape from a smothering upbringing. The two of them offer a haven to Badar, a poor boy still unsure if the future holds anything for him at all. As tourism, technology, and unexpected opportunities and perils reach their quiet corner of the world, bringing, each arrives at a different understanding of what it means to take your fate into your own hands.

Why I Want To Read It

Happy Monday, rather happy Tuesday everyone! Time does fly fast. We are nearly halfway through the second month of the year. How time flies! Sadly, time just takes its natural course. It doesn’t wait for anyone. We can neither slow it down nor freeze it. Anyway, how has the new year been so far? I hope that 2025 is showering everyone with positive news and blessings. If nothing is going to your favor, I hope you get to have a reversal of fortune in the coming months. We have eleven months to make up for everything we lost. It also allows us to go after our goals and dreams. On another note, I hope everyone started the work week on the right note. I hope you all had a good start to the workweek. I hope everyone makes it through the week. More importantly, I hope everyone is doing well, in mind, body, and spirit, not only this week but for the rest of the year.

With the new year come new goals and resolutions. I hope everyone gets to complete all their goals and achieve their dreams this year. Reading-wise, I have quite some lofty goals. For one, I have already set my reading goal to 100 despite historically initially setting my reading goal at a more conservative, hence, realistic level. However, I wanted to challenge myself and push my limits. I also wanted to maintain the reading momentum I built in the past three years. If the past three years are any indicator then surely I can do it again this year. I also plan to read more translated works to reduce the gap between books originally published in English and translated literary works. Despite the new year, some things never change. As customary, I am kicking off the blogging week with a fresh Goodreads Monday update, which, over the past few years, has become an essential part of my weekly blogging ritual.

Since the start of the year, the books I have been featuring in this weekly update are books that will be published this year that I am looking forward to. Most of them are included in my 2025 Books I Look Forward To List. Among the writers I learned were publishing a new work is 2021 Nobel Laureate in Literature, Abdulrazak Gurnah. I recall hearing his name being announced in 2021. There was no memory recall but this did not hinder me from exploring his oeuvre. I have since obtained three of his books and read two. I had to satisfy my curiosity I guess. I am thankful to the Swedish Academy for introducing me to a new voice. More importantly, I am learning from Gurnah’s works the history of a part of the world I rarely ventured to. It was a pleasure learning more about his native country, Tanzania, and East Africa in General.

Theft is Gurnah’s first novel since being awarded the prestigious Nobel Prize in Literature. What piques my interest is the book’s setting. Rather than it being set in the early 20th century, Theft is set at the turn of the 21st century. However, the book still promises to transport readers to Gurnah’s homeland. It seems that Gurnah is trying to deviate from his roots but I am all for it. His latest novel is set to be released on March 18. I am hoping to obtain a copy of the book. How was your Monday rather? What books have you added to your reading list? Do drop it in the comment box. For now, happy Monday and, as always, happy reading!