Book selection: The Desert in Literature

Deserts cover about 33% of the planet, so it's no surprise that they show up in literature. In the Bible, the desert is a place of loss and emptiness, but it’s also seen as a sacred spot where people can meet God. Fun fact: in Hebrew, the words for “desert” (midbar) and “to speak” (medaber) come from the same root, which hints that the desert might be a place for expression.
Deserts are often places of mystery and wandering, where the journey might lead to redemption—but more often, it leads to some form of loss, whether that’s physical, emotional, or both. They’re also settings for violent conflicts, since even barren land can spark battles and disputes.
We’ll be looking at nine different texts from four continents. All of this is brought to you by Francesca, who’s wandered through deserts herself—but hasn’t gotten lost (yet).

Location: Maison des Associations, salle STEVE BIKO
Starting time: 7:15 pm sharp
Presenter: Francesca

Format:
Part 1: presenter(s) provide a short overview of the pre-selected books, highlighting some of the reviews and critics and other relevant background. Members who have read any of the books can contribute.
Part 2: participants are invited to introduce any book that they would like to recommend and provide a short overview thereof (on a voluntarily basis).
Part 3: participants vote to select the book to be discussed in one of the upcoming book discussion meetings.
We look forward to seeing you all!

Upcoming events: https://www.genevainternationalbookclub.com/post/future
Past events: https://www.genevainternationalbookclub.com/post/_past
Presentation slides (current year):
https://www.genevainternationalbookclub.com/post/slides-2025