A New York Times New & Noteworthy book for a reason, The Dishwasheris a tragic-comic coming-of-age novel set in the barely-functional kitchen of a sophisticated Montreal restaurant that follows a talented, but struggling graphic design student with a gambling addiction. This is a moving, hypnotizing debut that ponders the philosophical: expect love, life, music, loneliness, addiction, and an unstoppable whirlwind to the end.
Set in Toronto, The Youth of God centres on Nuur, an academically-gifted Somali-Canadian teenager growing up in a poor, neglected immigrant community who negotiates between his faith and his dreams of being in medicine. As Nuur is pulled in one direction under the influence of a radical imam, his Somali-Canadian biology teacher intervenes to stop Nuur’s radicalization and to foster larger aspirations for his student. Santur depicts the struggle of the Somali diaspora across gender and generations, the hopeful search for safety, and the struggle of third-culture kids.Â
Jules Torti’s memoir Free to a Good Home is a must-read for anyone whose felt that insatiable thirst for adventure while also longing for home. In this avid exploration for belonging, Jules Torti tells the story of her life, her work with chimpanzees at the Jane Goodall Institute in the Congo, and her search for love, security and self.
