A review by sadiereadthat
The Selfless Act of Breathing by J.J. Bola

dark emotional slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

This is the character driven story of a young Congolese man, Michael, living in London. He and his family were refugees, but he has been in London for a long time. His father is dead and he lives with his mother. He teaches English in a high school. He is not happy with the way his life is going and wants a change, so he takes all of his savings and heads to Los Angeles. This is where his story begins, but it does not end there. 

This book flips between a chapter taking place in the present and a chapter taking place in the past and providing background information to help us better understand what is going on in his life. I wasn't sure I would like it when I started, so if you feel the same way, I suggest you stick to it. It was very confusing at first, and I didn't even realize it was the same guy in all of the chapters, but it became clearer. The story is wonderful and it seems very dark, but it really is touching and I felt so much for Michael. 
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