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A review by rozanne_visagie
Night As It Falls by Jakuta Alikavazovic
4.0
*Disclaimer: I was kindly gifted a copy of this book by Jonathan Ball Publishers in exchange for an honest review.
"He would become the architect of nights, of their light. His life's work would amount to a footnote, an appendix to his professor's missing thesis: he would shed light on the night. He would enshrine the night, and the night, he realised, would enshrine him in turn."
Night As it Falls is a story about Paul, who by day is a student and by night a night guard at the Elisse Hotel. Amelia is a student by day and by night an enigma. Their paths cross, but not at the university both are attending, but at the hotel where Amelia occupies room 313.
They start to spend time together and Paul realises Amelia is different; she is complicated but beautiful. He struggles to understand her, but yet he falls in love with her.
Paul and Amelia share a passion for the teachings of Anton (previously known as Antonia) Albers and signs up for her seminars at the university. Anton's teachings are different in the way that it borders philosophy and Paul and Amelia with their uncanny personalities understands it.
One day, without warning, Paul discovers that Amelia disappeared. As it turns out she went in search of her mother in Sarajevo. Her mother was obsessed with writing documentary poetry about the war but was later driven mad by her failure to capture the reality of the war in words.
A thread ties Paul and Amelia together and her name is Louise. Paul tries his best to shield Louise from Amelia, but the inevitable happens.
At first, I found the story a bit confusing but then I got used to the narrative. I don't usually read Literary Fiction, so this book was quite different to what I'm used to reading. It is an interesting read with a sombre mood, but please keep in mind that this book is translated from French by Jeffrey Zuckerman. When a book is translated it reads a bit differently. This book might not be for everyone, but people who prefer Literary Fiction will find it interesting.
While reading this book, it reminded me of reading a poem. On the surface, you don't grasp the full meaning, but as you leave the words to marinate in your soul then comes an understanding especially about the topic 'night'.
This review is posted on my blog:
https://willowscornerbook.wordpress.com/2021/07/07/night-as-it-falls-by-jakuta-alikavazovic-book-review/
"He would become the architect of nights, of their light. His life's work would amount to a footnote, an appendix to his professor's missing thesis: he would shed light on the night. He would enshrine the night, and the night, he realised, would enshrine him in turn."
Night As it Falls is a story about Paul, who by day is a student and by night a night guard at the Elisse Hotel. Amelia is a student by day and by night an enigma. Their paths cross, but not at the university both are attending, but at the hotel where Amelia occupies room 313.
They start to spend time together and Paul realises Amelia is different; she is complicated but beautiful. He struggles to understand her, but yet he falls in love with her.
Paul and Amelia share a passion for the teachings of Anton (previously known as Antonia) Albers and signs up for her seminars at the university. Anton's teachings are different in the way that it borders philosophy and Paul and Amelia with their uncanny personalities understands it.
One day, without warning, Paul discovers that Amelia disappeared. As it turns out she went in search of her mother in Sarajevo. Her mother was obsessed with writing documentary poetry about the war but was later driven mad by her failure to capture the reality of the war in words.
A thread ties Paul and Amelia together and her name is Louise. Paul tries his best to shield Louise from Amelia, but the inevitable happens.
At first, I found the story a bit confusing but then I got used to the narrative. I don't usually read Literary Fiction, so this book was quite different to what I'm used to reading. It is an interesting read with a sombre mood, but please keep in mind that this book is translated from French by Jeffrey Zuckerman. When a book is translated it reads a bit differently. This book might not be for everyone, but people who prefer Literary Fiction will find it interesting.
While reading this book, it reminded me of reading a poem. On the surface, you don't grasp the full meaning, but as you leave the words to marinate in your soul then comes an understanding especially about the topic 'night'.
This review is posted on my blog:
https://willowscornerbook.wordpress.com/2021/07/07/night-as-it-falls-by-jakuta-alikavazovic-book-review/