Non-fiction book of the month April - The Return by Hisham Matar

[RachelMumsnet]

Our non-fiction Book of the Month in April was The Return - the incredibly moving memoir by award-winning author Hisham Matar

Matar was 19 when his father was kidnapped from their family home in Cairo and imprisoned in Libya. Twenty-two years later, the fall of Gaddafi meant he was finally able to return to his homeland. In this affecting memoir, the author takes us on an illuminating journey to find his father and rediscover his country.

We gave away 50 copies of The Return to readers in April. If you have read the book, please post up your thoughts and discuss the book on this thread.

I have just finished this: what an amazing, poignant and beautifully written memoir. I have learned a great deal about Libya and Qaddafi's appalling regime from it and been horrified at how human beings can treat each other. I'll definitely be making sure I read Matar's novels.

A really moving read, Hisham Matar manages to give us information about Libya, that I would think most of us weren't aware of, as well as describing his own story about his father's kidnap by Qaddafi. Finding out what happened to his father is his main focus, and the detailed account is honest and moving.

A good read.

Well I got into it and found it very sad and absorbing. Had to read it quickly but I did enjoy this book. Well worth the effort. Thank you Mumsnet.