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The Austin Page Turners are tackling a tale that takes on the complexity of a divided region with their next choice for their city wide reading event, which will conclude at the Austin Public Library at 7 p.m. on May 1.

This year’s choice is “Under the Tamarind Tree,” by Nigar Alam, who teaches at Anoka-Ramsey Community College. Alam was born in Karachi, Pakistan and she also has lived in Turkey, Nigeria, Italy, Kenya, Indonesia and the United States, where she lived in New York, before moving to the Twin Cities area.

“Under the Tamarind Tree,” which is a fictional story, focuses on Rozeena, whose family fled India for Karachi, Pakistan. The story begins in 1964 with Rozeena and three childhood friends and it jumps to 2019, where an unexpected death brings up secrets that could bring down everything that Rozeena has built up.

“It’s a really intriguing book,” said Bonnie Rietz. “It talks about other cultures, which we thought tied in really well with our growing city and the many cultures that we have here.”

Rietz helped start the city wide read in 2002 and this is now the 23rd annual selection for the event, which encourages members of the public to read the book throughout the winter. On May 1, the author arrives in Austin to speak about the book and to sign copies. The event has always featured a Minnesota author.

“It started when I heard about the city of Chicago doing an event like this,” Rietz said. “It’s amazing how many Minnesota writers there are. We’ve never been short on authors. It’s been really fun and there have been a lot of people helping with this.”

Besides having an international background, Alam’s path to writing a book is unique as she has a master’s degree in business admiration.

“She has no formal training in writing, but she has taken several workshop classes at the Loft, which is a literary center in Minneapolis,” said Page Tuners member Don Leathers.

Last year, the Page Turners celebrated the city wide read with a blood drive, a trip to a local brewery and coffee shop leading up to the final event.

Anyone in the community is encouraged to read the book and participate in the city wide read and the Page Turners are always open to suggestions form the public. Once suggestions are in, a final choice is voted on.

“Members bring in books that they think are worthy of the event and we talk about the books,” said Page Turners member Peggy Benzkofer. “This goes on for quite some time and then we vote on what the new book is going to be. Sometimes it’s kind of a runaway and everyone agrees and other times, it’s come down the wire.”

The book is available to be checked out by the library as a hardcover or soft cover and it can be read or listened to on the Libby App. Sweat Reads also has copies available that can be purchased and signed for the May 1 event.