Leïla Marouane

Complete coincidence saw me reading this directly after Old Masters. There are odd points of comparison. Firstly, they are both related by others. 'Reger told me...' and, in this one, 'It came over me all of a sudden, he said.' So, in both we are aware of an interpretation going on, a reporting of the story even though 'he said' immediately becomes 'I'.

Secondly, both main characters are deeply unhappy and find the world an entirely unsatisfactory place. But whereas Reger is a completely detestable odious old crank, Mohamed is wonderful, the reader is in his corner. Reger has no particular cause for unhappiness, it is like he seeks it out by turning the world into a place at which to rage. Mohamed is an Algerian Muslim in Paris - or rather in a Muslim slum outside Paris. He is trapped there with an overbearing mother who is the type to control those around her by pointing out interminably what she has done for them, the sacrifices made.

rest here:

https://alittleteaalittlechat.wordpress.com/2016/05/17/the-sexual-life-of-an-isl...
… (más)

Complete coincidence saw me reading this directly after Old Masters. There are odd points of comparison. Firstly, they are both related by others. 'Reger told me...' and, in this one, 'It came over me all of a sudden, he said.' So, in both we are aware of an interpretation going on, a reporting of the story even though 'he said' immediately becomes 'I'.

Secondly, both main characters are deeply unhappy and find the world an entirely unsatisfactory place. But whereas Reger is a completely detestable odious old crank, Mohamed is wonderful, the reader is in his corner. Reger has no particular cause for unhappiness, it is like he seeks it out by turning the world into a place at which to rage. Mohamed is an Algerian Muslim in Paris - or rather in a Muslim slum outside Paris. He is trapped there with an overbearing mother who is the type to control those around her by pointing out interminably what she has done for them, the sacrifices made.

rest here:

https://alittleteaalittlechat.wordpress.com/2016/05/17/the-sexual-life-of-an-isl...
… (más)