On this journey, I’m joined by Safiya as we discuss

• What makes a book a “light read”? Does this reflect on quality?
• Do we find more light books in some cultures or regions than others?
• Is escapism a desirable purpose in reading “light” books?

Find out more about Safiya in her guest profile here.

Amina’s choices

• Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary-Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
• Aya de Yopougon (Eng.: Aya of Yop City) by Marguerite Abouet and Clément Oubrerie

Safiya’s choices

• The Little Prince (Le petit prince) by Antoine de St-Exupéry
• The Daevabad trilogy by S. A. Chakraborty
• Love from A to Z by S. K. Ali

Reader-submitted book suggestions

• Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor – Dayana, @dayanreads
• Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga – Aeesha, @thatothernigeriangirl
• salt. by Nayyirah Waheed – Bayan
• La boîte à merveilles (Eng. title: Pandora’s Box) by Ahmed Sefrioui – Ilham, @ilhamreads
• Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin – Zainub, @zainub.reads

Other books mentioned

• Love in a Headscarf by Shelina Zahra Janmohamed
• If I Should Speak by Umm Zakiyyah

Episodes mentioned

• The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty (feat. Safiya)