Yasmina Khadra’s “What the Day Owes the Night” tells a heartfelt story about the fight for independence, the fight for love and the fight for self-esteem in a world of uncertainty. This beautifully written book transported me to Northern Africa. It is narrated by Younes, an Arab boy who was forced to leave from his home after his father’s long-awaited harvest is set aflame. Suddenly deprived of his companion dog and a place he calls home, he migrates with his parents and younger sister to Jenane Jato, an Algerian slum possessed with unbelievable poverty. In the authors words, Jenane Jato is described as:
"a slum of scrubland and shacks teeming with squeaking carts, beggars, hawkers, donkey-drivers struggling with their beasts, water-carriers, charlatans and ragged children; a stifling clay-red wasteland of dust and filth that clung to the walls of the city like a malignant tumour.”It was this futile life that drove his father to send Younes to live with his rich uncle in Rio Salado, a beautiful city on the west of Oran, Algeria. Rio Salado’s beauty is in stark contrast to Jenane Jato--there, “everything the sunlight touched turned to dream.” It is in sunny Rio Salado that Younes (renamed Jonas) makes friends with three other boys about his age. Like a “pitchfork,” they were inseparable. Through their ageless friendships, the author explores loyalty, brotherly love and integrity.
Younes is educated and becomes a pharmacist like his uncle but life still dealt him many hard blows. Algeria is suddenly torn apart in a devastating war for independence and he must choose his fate; is he Younes or Jonas, Algerian Muslim or French Christian? Worse still, his love life is in shambles. Emilie, his childhood crush and now most beautiful girl in town, confesses her love to him but his youthful fling deems their relationship sacrilegious. Needless to say, even his love life is a story of war.
Younes' love life may have turned out a little different had he listened to his uncle, a happily married man who is kind-hearted and full of wisdom. About women, he says:
“Sunset, springtime, the blue of the sea, the stars in the sky, all the things that entrance us exert their magic only in the orbit of woman, my son...Because beauty, the one, true, unique beauty is woman. The rest, all the rest, exists simply to adorn her.”Now you know why I’m in awe of his character :).
I have to say, this was a timely read for love month! Though I was sometimes frustrated with the love story, the overall plot was fast-paced, rich and intensely engaging. The author definitely has a way with words; his descriptions of poverty, emotions, beauty and grime were astounding! I will definitely go back to collect more quotes from the book. I highly recommend!
Rating: 5 bows
Yasmina Khadra's What the Day Owes the Night is available on Amazon
Click here to purchase
No comments:
Post a Comment