Read With Us: Leave the World Behind

It’s my turn to take a stab at encouraging you to read our winter book club selection, Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam. I read this book back in November but I still remember it quite clearly, which, when you think about it, is a pretty glowing endorsement.

It’s the story of a white family from New York City who head to a remote part of Long Island for a vacation in a beautiful home. Think really upscale AirBnB, complete with lots of room, a gourmet kitchen, a swimming pool, and more. After they’ve been there only a day or so there is a late night knock on the door from the couple who own the house. They are Black and older and very upset because something (we don’t know what) is going wrong in the outside world. Their arrival sets up a novel full of anxiety and suspense and questions, plenty of which remain unanswered even after the last page.

Sounds great, right? Delicious even? And it is. There is so much to unpack. Questions of race and class. Questions about our dependence on technology and need for constant information. Questions about trust and safety and connection.

It will leave you unsettled. Perhaps even frightened. Definitely ready to discuss!

And speaking of discussion, Bonny, Kym and I will be posting questions on our blogs on Tuesday, March 2nd and we will be hosting a live Zoom discussion that night at 7pm EST. I hope you’ll join us!

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  2. I read it in two days — it was so good! And I’m really looking forward to our discussion because you’re absolutely right that it leaves you feeling unsettled and with so many questions!

  3. I just finished the audio yesterday. I put holds on all the formats and that one came in first. There was a point when I almost quit and a time when I had to get to the end. Interesting read.

  5. Okay. Whoa. So I heard some mixed things about this on MMD. But I have to say, you totally hooked me in that single paragraph! Little creeped out, actually (…and I don’t usually do scary). But suspenseful, absolutely. I placed my hold as soon as Kym announced it. As of right now, I’m #3 on the audio (hopeful!) and #137 on the book (not as much).

  7. I thought March 3 was a Wednesday? If so, I won’t be able to attend the zoom, but I will read along and try to join in the blog discussions!

  8. Just heading to check it out! Thanks for the recommendation. I am currently reading Lisa Wingate’s A Book of Lost Friends and need to finish it before my “borrowing time” runs out.

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