Reading group “Jacaranda” by Gaël Faye
Tue 31 March at 12.30pmOnce a month, the reading group meets up to discuss a couple of books selected in advance (from classical to contemporary French literature) and discovers other members’ views on them. Meetings take place at the Institut français d’Écosse, usually on the last Tuesday of the month.
About the book:
“Jacaranda” is a 2024 novel by French-Rwandan author Gaël Faye, which focuses on the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide against the Tutsi, telling a multi-generational story of memory, silence, and healing through the life of a young boy named Milan and his family. The book won the Prix Renaudot in 2024.
The novel follows Milan, a young boy of French and Rwandan descent living in France, as he gradually uncovers his family’s secrets connected to the genocide. The story explores his mother’s attempt to forget her past, contrasted with his own growing curiosity about her homeland. The narrative weaves together the experiences of four generations, including children of survivors and perpetrators.