lilynx's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
emmacy's review against another edition
reflective
medium-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
3.5
rpradier's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
indukisreading's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-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
4.25
_katiaz_'s review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
morebedsidebooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
The Belly of the Atlantic, a story of siblings separated by distance and the dreams vs. realities of emigration, is the first novel by Senegalese author Fatou Diome.
With some parallels to the author, Salie, born out of wedlock and brought up by her grandmother stubbornly got an education and left for France years ago. Rejected however by the family of the French man she married, she’s divorced and a moderate feminist eking out an existence in Paris. Like the best tellers as she puts it “memory is a needle that weaves time into lace”, relating not just her story but those of family and the many members of the village on the island of Niodior full of passion, heartbreak, success, and failures. The title of the novel too drawing on the location of the island and a sad legend further shared.
Salie’s younger brother Madické still back in the village like other boys has a passion for football. He dreams he might leave and make a French team eventually meeting his idol Italian player Paolo Cesare Maldini. It’s a common dream, emigration as well from stories romanticizing France that can’t be eclipsed by the warnings of his sister or the Marxist schoolteacher exiled to the island who know better.
Foremost this is a novel that a reader does need to have an appreciation of football, as this is portrayed in near relentless detail. Especially early 2000s AC Milan and in 2002 when Senegal made the quarterfinals of the World Cup. Some knowledge of folk traditions, another persistent aspect despite Islam’s presence, also wouldn’t hurt. To aide less familiar readers there is a glossary, though not exhaustive, provided at the back of the book since the text is sprinkled with more local terms or references, the English edition translated by Ros Schwartz and Lulu Norman.
Still worth attention The Belly of the Atlantic is a rather eloquent bestseller softly drawing the legacy of the past, tensions between Africa and Europe and those caught in between.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
Moderate: Child death, Murder, Suicide, and Pregnancy
Minor: Abandonment, Colonisation, Child abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Confinement, and Transphobia
Polygamy is a strong subject. Also at one point a minor experiences sexual coercion and disassociates.athenameilahn's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book from the perspective of my profession, rather than for pleasure. I wouldn't have enjoyed it as a pleasure read. The story didn't hold my interest and the character development of the narrator and her brother was shallow for my taste. However, I'm a professor of French and Francophone literature, so as I read the book I was evaluating it's potential to be included in an upcoming course on social issues in literature. From this perspective, it was a worthwhile read. The themes Diome addresses are exactly those that I want my students to grapple with in the course: racism, gender roles, the pitfalls of being an immigrant, the negative effects of colonization and globalization, etc. While Diome's challenging vocabulary and the lack of significant action would make it difficult to teach, I think discussing narrative strategies like sharing myriad perspectives of Senegal and France through two central characters, the recurring motifs, and the tension that results from communicating with her brother in short phone calls, could all be really effective.