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A review by karenluvstoread
A Bookshop in Algiers by Kaouther Adimi
4.5
This is a beautiful and moving book centering on the life of Edmond Charlot with the backdrop of French colonized Algeria as well as the Algerian War.
This story has different timelines, and that is something I often like in books. The timelines alternate from present to past in relating the story of Charlot and his bookshop as well as narrative chapters interspersed with diary entries by Charlot.
The story flows seamlessly although it was admittedly slow at times, mainly with some of the diary entries.
This one sent me off on rabbit trails to learn more about colonial Algeria and their fight for independence, as well as learning more about Edmond Charlot himself.
Here's a quote from the book:
“The morning of the last day. The night has withdrawn, uneasily. The air is thicker, the sunlight grayer, the city uglier. The sky is crowded with heavy clouds. The stray cats are on the lookout, ears pricked.” (p. 3)
This story has different timelines, and that is something I often like in books. The timelines alternate from present to past in relating the story of Charlot and his bookshop as well as narrative chapters interspersed with diary entries by Charlot.
The story flows seamlessly although it was admittedly slow at times, mainly with some of the diary entries.
This one sent me off on rabbit trails to learn more about colonial Algeria and their fight for independence, as well as learning more about Edmond Charlot himself.
Here's a quote from the book:
“The morning of the last day. The night has withdrawn, uneasily. The air is thicker, the sunlight grayer, the city uglier. The sky is crowded with heavy clouds. The stray cats are on the lookout, ears pricked.” (p. 3)