As soon as we read The Last White Man by Mohsin Hamid we knew this was a book to share so we chose it as our first book in our Book Post subscription service we offer.
From the first page we meet Anders whose world has suddenly changed. Something inconceivable has happened.
Some of you may have read Hamid’s previous book, Exit West, which was shortlisted for the 2017 Booker Prize. The book is about a couple who live in a city plunged in civil war and flee using magical doors that appear in different locations and take them around the world. Like Exit West, The Last White Man uses a speculative element (don’t let this put you off!) to bring to light issues of race, identity and belonging in the most gentle and believable way. It’s a book whose power creeps up on you and stays with you.
What Good Reading Book Post Readers Thought
‘It’s not a book I would have picked up … The author has a somewhat unconventional relationship with punctuation and most of his sentences are the length of a paragraph, long, sprawling and interesting. I found it distracting at times as I reread the paragraph to see how he managed it. There is a lot in this short book and I am glad to have read it. I look forward to next month’s Book Post – such fun!’
Megan P
‘Bubbling with excitement, I quickly opened the caged book from its protective coating and so neatly packages bearing a Happy Reading label, all tied neatly – the mystery of a good read! The Last White Man was different from the novels I usually read, however that is not a problem as it has given me a wider scope of style and place for future readings. I look forward to the next book to enjoy.’
Kerry P
‘Finished today. It is probably not a book I would have picked to read but I am glad I have read it. Interesting premise. The issues were dealt with in a gentle way but still inspired further thought and consideration … I will definitely be passing this book onto friends and family members.’
Jo R
‘Such an interesting premise. I admire the author’s mind. One thing that struck me throughout was the lack of punctuation. It took a bit of getting used to but I can now see the talent in writing that way. One stream of thought one sentence!’
Chele H
