Last month, I ran a poll on my Instagram on what should be the Backlist Book Club February pick. It was between The Underground Railroad and Behold the Dreamers. The majority picked The Underground Railroad.
I’m so thrilled that they picked that book because it was amazing and really pulled my February together for me. Now that it’s March, it’s time to pick a new book. For March’s Backlist Book Club, we’ll be reading Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue.
Because this is The Backlist Book Club, no books get left behind. Because this was the second choice, I want to make sure I don’t go another year without reading it. I’m super excited about this one and I’m going to share the synopsis below.
The one change I will be making in my book club rules is my readathon. It seems like my weekends are much busier than I thought and I can’t commit to sitting on my butt all weekend and reading the book. Therefore, I’ll still announce when I’ll be reading the book and you’re more than welcome to join me, but I won’t be as diligent with the updating on social media while I do it. I think it’ll be easier for me to pay attention to the book than pay attention to my phone.
Of course I’ll still be hosting my discussion on my page and I’ll be writing my final thoughts at the end of the month. Here’s the important dates:
- I’ll be reading March 16 – 17, 2019
- Discussion post and my final thoughts are March 29, 2019
Who’s ready to dive into this beautiful book with me this month?
Jende Jonga, a Cameroonian immigrant living in Harlem, has come to the United States to provide a better life for himself, his wife, Neni, and their six-year-old son. In the fall of 2007, Jende can hardly believe his luck when he lands a job as a chauffeur for Clark Edwards, a senior executive at Lehman Brothers. Clark demands punctuality, discretion, and loyalty—and Jende is eager to please. Clark’s wife, Cindy, even offers Neni temporary work at the Edwardses’ summer home in the Hamptons. With these opportunities, Jende and Neni can at last gain a foothold in America and imagine a brighter future.
However, the world of great power and privilege conceals troubling secrets, and soon Jende and Neni notice cracks in their employers’ façades.
When the financial world is rocked by the collapse of Lehman Brothers, the Jongas are desperate to keep Jende’s job—even as their marriage threatens to fall apart. As all four lives are dramatically upended, Jende and Neni are forced to make an impossible choice.
Simone and Her Books 