A review by internationalreads
The Art of Losing by Alice Zeniter

adventurous dark informative reflective 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? Yes

4.5

The Art of Losing follows three generations of a family from 1940s Algeria through France today. Zeniter’s writing is beautiful, though it feels like she’s trying too hard at times. 

I loved the historical pieces depicting Ali as a powerful olive farmer in the period preceding the war for independence. This is a Kabyle community - a large Berber minority ethnic group with its own language and culture that I knew nothing about before reading this novel. As the war finds their small, remote community, Ali is forced to make a choice, which results in the family being forced to flee to France. The majority of the book seemed to focus on Ali’s son Hamid and his experiences growing up in France. This is where the book really shines. It’s a powerful depiction of the lives of immigrant families and communities, the hatred they face, the in-between-ness that children especially feel. Eventually the narrative shifts to Hamid’s daughter Naïma, who feels adrift in life, working at an art gallery in Paris and unaware of the specifics of her family’s history or why they fled Algeria. 

I found the first two generations far more interesting than the third, but the story certainly benefits from seeing the impact of colonization, war, and immigration on another generation. (It should be said that Zeniter herself went to Algeria as an adult to find out more about her family, just as Naima does in the novel.) This book was a hit in France, winning two major awards, which I find fascinating as France still has an extremely fraught relationship with Algeria 👀

Ultimately an important story that I’m glad I read, especially prior to my trip to Algeria. While there, it was very clear that the emphasis is on the revolution and the glorification of those who fought to free the country from French colonization. What I appreciated about The Art of Losing is that it opens up history to be much longer than that and complicates the narrative of the war. No one is glamorous or righteous. People are complicated and, when forced to make decisions, are just trying to protect their families.

One pet peeve: the origin of the title was way too *hit you over the head.* I loved the title before we came to this part near the end of the book. As a reader I want to be trusted more to understand it on my own.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings