Every two months we organise an evening in which we discuss a particular book. Works include mainly new and older literary texts, as well as non-fiction about current social and political matters. The sessions are open to everyone and free of charge.

In the next session we’ll discuss Orhan Pamuk’s A Strangeness in My Mind. The novel tells the story of a street vendor in Istanbul, Mevlut. In the four decades between 1969 and 2012, Mevlut works a number of different jobs on the streets of in the city, from selling yoghurt and cooked rice, to guarding a car park. He observes many different kinds of people thronging the streets, he watches most of the city get demolished and re-built, and he sees migrants from Anatolia making a fortune. At the same time, he witnesses all of the transformative moments, political clashes, and military coups that shape the country. There will be no central presentation of the themes in the book. Instead, you’ll discuss your views, thoughts, favourite passages, points of critique and further suggestions informally in a small group. The last 20 minutes of the evening are spent in deciding collectively which book we will read next. You’re welcome to join this discussion and to propose a book.

The discussion of ‘A Strangeness in My Mind’ will take place online on Monday 19th April at 20:00 hrs. If you want to participate, please send an email to: readinggroup(at)amsterdamalternative.nl