What the Day Owes the Night in Around the World in 80 Books

Nov 24, 2023 Tony rated it really liked it

Shelves: translated-fiction, novels, setting-africa, adapted-for-film, algeria

I've read most of Khadra's books, and this saga is definitely the most sweeping in scale, and most directly tackles the complicated colonial legacy of the author's native Algeria. It follows the fortunes of Younnes/Jonas over the course of the 1930s-60s, with a brief coda in the 2000s. We meet him as a very young boy as his parents flee their failing farm in the countryside and try to restart their life in the slums of Oran. Their situation is dire, as Younnes' father tries to find work, and the I've read most of Khadra's books, and this saga is definitely the most sweeping in scale, and most directly tackles the complicated colonial legacy of the author's native Algeria. It follows the fortunes of Younnes/Jonas over the course of the 1930s-60s, with a brief coda in the 2000s. We meet him as a very young boy as his parents flee their failing farm in the countryside and try to restart their life in the slums of Oran. Their situation is dire, as Younnes' father tries to find work, and they live in a squalid room in a shared compound. Younnes struggles to make friends, and daily life is a struggle until his father grudgingly turns Younnes over to his pharmacist brother to raise.

Being taken in by the uncle and his French wife is transformative, as Younnes becomes "Jonas" and instantly swept into a life of privilege, including going to school. However, their comfortable life doesn't last long, as the uncle is suspected of betraying nationalists he associates with. They up and leave for life as a small town pharmacist in Rio Salado (present day El Malah), about 40 miles southwest of Oran, in rolling wine country just in from the ocean. Here, Younnes becomes fast friends with a mix of boys who represent the cultural stew of the country -- Jewish, French, Spanish, etc. As Jonas, his Arab identity is left politely unmentioned the vast majority of the time, as if it were an unfortunate disease best ignored.

Their carefree teenage days are turned upside down during World War II and Operation Torch -- as American troops bring American culture and looser social mores to Oran and its surroundings. At the same time, various romances blossom with girls of their class, and romantic rivalries start to come into play. Simmering in the background are the class and ethnic divisions that become more and more visible. As the 1950s progress and the movement for Algerian independence from France becomes an armed struggle, Younnes is more directly confronted about where his loyalties lie. There are, of course, no easy answers and plenty of melodrama ensues. Although the romantic subplots never quite worked for me, the book is well worth a read by anyone interested in Algeria.

Note: This was made into a film in France, but I've been unable to find a way to stream it in the US. ...more

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Dec 29, 2017 Sylvie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-stars

La prose; quell
plume!
Je sentais les effluves de ses mots, sa peine, ses souvenirs ... je me suis réveillée un matin et j'avais rêvé des personnages, j'avais été à Rio Salado.
La poésie et le romantisme de la langue, du verbe.
J'ai simplement aimé.
P. 231 "La fille était encore plus belle, maintenant que la lumière du jour la mettait en valeur. Elle n'était pas de chair et de sang: elle était une éclaboussure de soleil."

P.299 "Un éclair illumina les ténèbres. La pluie tombait doucement. Les carreau ...more

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