A review by lepasseportlitteraire
Why Do You Dance When You Walk? by Abdourahman A. Waberi

emotional informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

His daughter asks her father the innocent question « Papa, why do you dance when you walk? ». This a simple question that will force author Abdourahman A. Waberi to embark on an intimate journey reminiscing his childhood in Djibouti, between bullies, a strict and yet distant family, school, and books as his only friends. But most importantly, he has to relive one of his worst moments in life, when he began to « dance as he walked »: a bully, an aggression, and then an infection that left him with a lifelong limp.

Abdourahman A. Waberi gives a heartfelt account of his childhood and his journey from Djibouti to France as a beautiful gift to his daughter while also coming to terms with his past.

The book is touching and well written, without too much pretension, and I recommend it if you are looking for a mix between biography, novel and lyrical prose.