Perhaps not the most inspired of Khadra's books, it is nevertheless an investigation into the depths of the characters' souls. From wealthy Europe - Frankfurt, even, the capital of the European economy - and a suicide that, it will become clear, stems from a profound incapacity to understand what the true values of life are, to Africa, to kidnapping by pirates, to brutal violence that, it will also become clear, stems from the same incapacity. As I said, Khadra has written better, but it is still worth reading.

Experiências de perda, violência, dor, luto, desorientação. Final totalmente previsível (e uma desilusão) mas uma grande viagem pelo carácter humano.

Disturbing story of a German doctor captured by pirates and held hostage in Africa. Extremely well written. The image of a young terrorist follower wearing glasses without lenses and posing with a book (upside down) because he wanted to be a scholar was heartbreaking. Ceaseless brutality with occasional glimpses of humanity.

Took me a long time to get through the first part, not so long the second half but still disappointing. Likes his other books much more then this one.

Another good book by Yasmina Khadra, this time we don't dwell with Muslims but with African pirates and kidnappers. The story of Kurt doesn't take a long span of time but it's so dense that it seems a bigger book than 300 pages more or less. The complications of a marriage life, the need to help, the delusion of knowing our spouse so well to remain astonish when something incredible happens. All this topics and more in this novel that gives a lot of food for thoughts.

Un altro bel libro di Yasmina Khadra, ma stavolta non abbiamo a che fare con i mussulmani, quanto piuttosto con i pirati somali, guerriglieri e rapitori. La storia di questo libro non prende tanto tempo ma é cosí densa che non sembra di aver letto solo 300 pagine (piú o meno). Le complicazioni della vita matrimoniale, il bisogno di aiutare chi ne ha bisogno, l'illusione di conoscere il nostro coniuge cosí bene che quando succede l'incredibile non riusciamo ad accettarlo. Tutti questi argomenti e molti di piú in questo libro che offre veramente molti spunti di riflessione.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND GALLIC BOOK FOR THE PREVIEW!

It’s been a long time since I was last so disappointed in a book. I really, really disliked this one.

To begin with, the writing is not at all gripping. The entire story is told in first-person past-tense, which makes it sound like a bad memoir rather than a thrilling tale.

The characters – all of them – are exceedingly flat. I felt zero attachment to any of them. They weren’t even interesting. In fact, they were all horribly stereotypical. This book is an exercise in stereotypes.

The book is strewn with the kind of African stereotypes so many Africans are desperately trying to destroy. It paints Africans with one brush, and consistently addresses Africa as a single country. Khadra being North African himself is no excuse for perpetuating inaccuracies of this continent and its countries.

Usually I can find enough good in a book to make a nice “compliment sandwich” but I really couldn’t find anything good in this one, so I’ll just stop here.

Disclaimer: I received a free eARC from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Yasmina Khadra is always a delight to read, even though he deals with some of the most horrific topics around. This book was not an exception. I didn't like the main character - I thought he was up himself, self involved, and casually racist. However Khadra made me turn page after page trying to see what happened.

It's a story of loss, kidnapping, and reconciliation both within oneself and with an entire continent.

Trop de clichés !!!!
Même si l'écriture reste belle, ce livre est un recueil de clichés sur l'Afrique (et sur la profession de médecin). Pénible.
Je mets deux étoiles car l'écriture sauve l'intrigue. Sinon, cela aurait été un 1/5.