The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Islamophobia
Moderate: Sexism
lit_africa's review
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
katherinetalia's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
blessing_aj's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Much like Faiza did in Men Don’t Cry which I absolutely enjoyed reading, the bulk of the issues highlighted in Discretion are centered around migration and it’s peculiarities.
We follow the unraveling of events through different timelines in France, Algeria and Morocco. We also get to experience the story through multiple POVs including that of Yamina, the Taleb matriarch, all the other family members and some other acquaintances.
Sometimes one comes across a translated version of a novel where the translator has done such a good job with the sentence structure that it almost reads like it was originally written in English. This is not one of those and I am envious of those who get to read it in French.
That said, Faiza’s sense of humor is to die for and I loved it for capturing each generation and personality in the Taleb family so well even if the constant head hopping never failed to take me by surprise. I also loved it for brazenly portraying the challenges of being a first and second generation African living in France.
We follow the unraveling of events through different timelines in France, Algeria and Morocco. We also get to experience the story through multiple POVs including that of Yamina, the Taleb matriarch, all the other family members and some other acquaintances.
Sometimes one comes across a translated version of a novel where the translator has done such a good job with the sentence structure that it almost reads like it was originally written in English. This is not one of those and I am envious of those who get to read it in French.
That said, Faiza’s sense of humor is to die for and I loved it for capturing each generation and personality in the Taleb family so well even if the constant head hopping never failed to take me by surprise. I also loved it for brazenly portraying the challenges of being a first and second generation African living in France.
thatothernigeriangirl's review
challenging
funny
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Yamina is an interesting character; I especially love that she’s in her 70s.
I thought the narration style of this one was interesting; it felt like pictures in motion, with Yamina being the start of the ‘movie’ (as she’s the main narrator) but the camera occasionally zooming in on other characters (including the racist/bigoted White French ones). I found it amusing and admittedly enjoyed it, but I really wished I heard more from Yamina. It’s not every time we get a female Arab protagonist in her 70s!
I also love that the Taleb family is such a warm, loving one. They all have their flaws, and societal and cultural expectations, as well as even internalized patriarchy left dents in their family dynamics — but it’s undeniable the love that they shared.
As usual, Guene has deftly examined the burden that comes with inheriting generational trauma, how angry it can make you: “ it’s normal to feel angry, it’s anger that has been repressed for so long, it’s unjust, all of this, and injustice, by its nature, makes us profoundly angry” 👌🏾
I thought the narration style of this one was interesting; it felt like pictures in motion, with Yamina being the start of the ‘movie’ (as she’s the main narrator) but the camera occasionally zooming in on other characters (including the racist/bigoted White French ones). I found it amusing and admittedly enjoyed it, but I really wished I heard more from Yamina. It’s not every time we get a female Arab protagonist in her 70s!
I also love that the Taleb family is such a warm, loving one. They all have their flaws, and societal and cultural expectations, as well as even internalized patriarchy left dents in their family dynamics — but it’s undeniable the love that they shared.
As usual, Guene has deftly examined the burden that comes with inheriting generational trauma, how angry it can make you: “ it’s normal to feel angry, it’s anger that has been repressed for so long, it’s unjust, all of this, and injustice, by its nature, makes us profoundly angry” 👌🏾
claneebook's review against another edition
5.0
Une lecture très émouvante et pleine de vérité sur la vie de toutes ces personnes issues de l’immigration, tous ces algériens ayant enfoui en eux leur souffrance et leurs traumatismes. Un livre raisonnant de sensibilité et de réalisme !
omarxova's review against another edition
5.0
Une œuvre magistrale et si touchante. The tears were real au dernier chapitre. C'est un hommage juste magnifique à ses parents, à leurs parcours, à ses origines. Faïza Guène a vraiment une prose incroyable, elle raconte les choses avec tellement de justesse, de poésie et d'intelligence. Une autrice vraiment brillante qu'il faut absolument lire !!
ghazalg's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5