Nassib El Husseini

I’d like to recommend two books and three authors. However, you must promise me that you won’t necessarily abandon nature walks and bocce ball that allow you to connect with nature; amusing pastimes that nurture the child within you; nor political news that provokes comments and cogitation. Without further ado, I unhesitatingly recommend:

Finite and Infinite Games by James P. Carse is a book that could change your life or, at the very least, your outlook on life. The rules of the game can change endlessly: the game itself doesn’t even need to end. There are at least two ways of playing: a game whose objective is winning doesn’t have the same impact as an open game where winning is not an issue. I will be forever grateful to Peggy and Gypsy who introduced me to this essential read.

Albert Cossery, a writer who died in near anonymity in Quebec in 2008, is a rare case. He may have been a Dandy, but he was certainly a universal author whose fan club included Henry Miller, Albert Camus, Lawrence Durrel, Giacometti, and many other famous friends. In 1990, he received the Grand Prix de la Francophonie for the body of his work. Following the Arab Spring, he offers us a timeless view, a universe imbued with sensitivity and marked by his unique humour, which makes his book a terrific read. I recommend this work which comprises seven novels and a collection of short stories, to be enjoyed one after the other, with no exceptions.

Treat yourself to a bit of tenderness by reading Rosa Candida, a novel by Audur Ava Olafsdottir. This young author is a breath of fresh air. Psychological fragility and the beauty of the soul…Wow! These exist, even in novels. I’m game!