The Iroko Circle is a literary community dedicated to reading, discussing, and promoting African literature. They focus on African stories across genres and formats, creating space for readers to engage thoughtfully with the books and the ideas they raise. They also pay attention to the people behind the work. Through conversations, features, and announcements, they share stories of African writers and highlight both established and emerging voices within the literary space.
Our September book was This September Sun by Bryony Rheam, a novel set in Zimbabwe. |
The Story
Guided by a hidden stash of diaries and letters, Ellie embarks on a journey back to 1946, when a young Evelyn arrived in colonial Southern Rhodesia as a hopeful war bride. As Ellie unravels the truth behind her grandmother’s arrival, a secret wartime love affair, and decades of silent grief, she is forced to confront her own choices, desires, and place in a changing nation. This September Sun is an intimate, multi-generational saga about identity, betrayal, and the complex ties that bind women across time.
Character Spotlights
Ellie: Represents the post-independence generation navigating personal identity, belonging, and legacy in a transforming Zimbabwe. Through piecing together Evelyn’s life, she ultimately discovers her own voice and independence.
Evelyn: Ellie’s grandmother and the focal point around whom the novel’s central mystery resolves. She embodies the tensions of the white settler experience, the pain of unfulfilled desires, and the weight of personal secrets lingering across generational lines. |
On the last Sunday of the month, we held our Book Review Day, where members gathered to share their thoughts. This time, the room was honestly divided. Most of us agreed it’s an exceptional book, but it took a lot out of us. |
One member noted, “This book is good, but it is taking me through so many emotions.” |
If you appreciate family sagas that don’t let you off easy, this one is well worth your time. |
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