We travel into the youth of the author, to meet a French family that lives in the depths of Nigeria, and not far from Cameroon. We meet the characters, our boy, the father, the mother, the brother, basically the family. Le Clézio presents the situation, why they were there, what it was to be there, the change of moving to Africa after the war, meeting his father, meeting severity and having freedom at the same time. Is this family different? Or no matter that they were in the middle of nowhere, a family is a family with the same kind of issues? What strikes you most in the first part of the book?
Family is family for sure :-)
ReplyDeleteI think in general the issues are determined by two main factors: its members' personalities and values and the environment in which they live. Their lives may have been different somewhere else. Who knows.
I can imagine how this experience marked Le Clezio as a kid and later on in his life. What an amazing adventure. The descriptions convey how powerful and special was that time of his life. No wonder.
I am enjoying The African very much. I wasn't sure about it, since I thought I would prefer to read some of Le Clézio's general work before reading a biographical book. However, I am surprised by an interesting story, a beautiful portrait of a childhood and it's chilhood's perceptions, and some great descriptions of people, places, and feelings.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I specially like about the book is the work of translating childhood memories into adult words and feelings. It's like re-living some experiences, analyzing them, and enjoying them again. I have actually tried to make the exercise of thinking about some moments of my own chilhood and describe some feelings and memories I recall... I have not had any glamorous or worth mentioning success :-)
As Arantxa says, family is family. But in that environment, with the particular circumstances the war implied, and with a character like the father, you can see how family life was different of anything the author had live until that moment (the author and I guess most kids).
I look forward to seeing what else the story brings.
So far so good. What I like best about this book, even though some people disagree (see article posted by Macarena about how to write about Africa), is that it depicts a different Africa. I know, I know, Africa is not a country, Africa is a million countries if you want, but there is general idea (wrong as much as can be any stereotype), and I don't see it in this book; At least not in the general descriptions... That Le Clezio himself admits that having read some the british authors telling their about their lives (as he does) and not feeling anything close to that experience, already shows, how particular this experience of his was. The living in this middle of nowhere, with so little contact to other foreigners, in basic survival conditions, they eat what locals eat, and barely have a real house, means that live was not pampered by local servants and other classic rituals that we are used to reading.
ReplyDeleteThe scene where he describes the connection that they felt each night, when the insects were trying to get inside the house, is fantastic, what do you think?
I think since this is biographical book like Macarena says, we can rule out that the author was trying to write an accurate essay about Africa. This is more about what a little boy felt and thought what Africa was. I like the book so far and I particularly liked the insects scene Rocio, since I can relate a bit with that. At my parent's house in Panama, doors and windows have to be closed by 5:30 pm or we would spend the night kicking beetles out and being bitten by mosquitoes.
ReplyDeleteI think, overall, the book is an interesting read but, am I the only one who finds it too "ornate" at times?
Like Monica and Rocio, I particularly liked the scene about the insects. So real, so vivid. Monica, I thought it was funny that you could relate with it.
ReplyDeleteI kind of agree that, sometimes, the style is quite ornate. However, so far I am liking it. I don't feel the descriptions get too long or do not fit with the flow of the story. But yes, once you have mentioned it, "ornate" is certainly an adjective that I would use to describe the book at certain points.