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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
Diop's novella strikes a chord with the reader immediately, with poetic prose and graphic imagery, one cannot help but be drawn into the harsh reality that Diop depicts. As Alfa descends into madness the reader is forced to consider the effects of colonisation and the trauma it has created. The savagery of the novel is both compelling and alarming, and I was left feeling both moved and saddened by Alfa's journey.
A worthy winner of the Booker Prize, this novella is a must read.
A worthy winner of the Booker Prize, this novella is a must read.
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
I think its gonna need a re read
Interesting voice in general an enjoyable read, really feel like you are inside the head of someone losing grip on reality.
dark
sad
medium-paced
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book tells the story of Alfa Ndiaye from his perspective, a Senegalese soldier fighting alongside the French in World War 1. Alfa’s story starts with his more than brother Mademba Diop being killed in combat the rest of the story that unfolds is one of the gruesome reality of war and mental breakdown while learning more about their lives before the war.
The way this story is written, while it is repetitive and can get a bit annoying due to that, is absolutely on point with what David Diop, the author, wanted to convey. The writing is blunt and to the point which adds to the gruesome vibe of the story. I loved the way the author conveyed Alfa’s thoughts and mental state all the way until the end which was haunting.
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
First read 07/2025
I've long thought that if someone has the temerity to write something literary and miserable, they should at least have the good grace to keep it short. This is fortunately the case here. I hear that students in France are having to study it in their literature classes; they have my sympathies. Before reading I was anticipating an Of Mice and Men, so I was a little surprised by how much sex there was, until I remembered that I'd also studied A Clockwork Orange in school.
The only thing that really surprised me about the book was the amount of repetition. It put me very strongly in mind of the epic of Gilgamesh, and there are other parallels, too: a strong, beautiful, arrogant young man loses his dear friend and grapples at length with his grief. But unlike in Gilgamesh, the friend lives on, in a small way, through Alfa. The book is well done, but I'm awfully glad to have finished it.
I've long thought that if someone has the temerity to write something literary and miserable, they should at least have the good grace to keep it short. This is fortunately the case here. I hear that students in France are having to study it in their literature classes; they have my sympathies. Before reading I was anticipating an Of Mice and Men, so I was a little surprised by how much sex there was, until I remembered that I'd also studied A Clockwork Orange in school.
The only thing that really surprised me about the book was the amount of repetition. It put me very strongly in mind of the epic of Gilgamesh, and there are other parallels, too: a strong, beautiful, arrogant young man loses his dear friend and grapples at length with his grief. But unlike in Gilgamesh, the friend lives on, in a small way, through Alfa. The book is well done, but I'm awfully glad to have finished it.