Joseph M. Labaki's Blog

'A Riffian's Tune' wins Nautilus Silver Award for 2014 in category of Multicultural/Indigenous!

I am deeply honoured, as the Nautilus Award, is, in its own words, 'Gold and Silver awards are given to print books of exceptional merit that make a literary and heartfelt contribution to spiritual growth, conscious living, high-level wellness, green values, responsible leadership and positive social change, as well as to the worlds of art, creativity and inspiration.'

'A Riffian's Tune' moves into the second round of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award!

IBPA's monthly e-newsletter features 'A Riffian's Tune'! See the link http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs...

'A Riffian's Tune' has been awarded the Benjamin Franklin Digital Silver Honoree by IBPA!

In Tangier by Mohamed Choukri

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I have read two other books by Mohamed Choukri: 'By Bread Alone' and 'Streetwise.' Unfortunately, I wasn't able to read them in Arabic, as I didn't have access to them. I read the English translations.

Mohamed Choukri is a writer, but not a philosopher, politician or moralist. He depicts life as he has lived it or as others have spoken about it. His writing is focused on his life and the society as it affects him. The interaction between the two is not a happy one. The genius of his writing is in expressing the intersubjectivity via sex.



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I stumbled across 'A Riffian's Tune' while looking for travel books on my kindle app and I was blown away! This book is wonderful. I'd been to Morocco many years ago, and had always kept up an interest in the country, but this book showed me a whole new side; a snapshot of the Morocco on the cusp of independence. The protagonist of the story is Jusef, a shepherding Berber boy from the far north of the country. What follows is his journey as he struggles to leave shepherding behind and make a new life for himself away from the mountains. But it's really about a lot more than that; every page contains a different little tale, all woven into one big inspirational journey, full of vivid details and unbelievable situations.
Joseph Labaki's writing reminded me of a cross between Hemmingway and Paulo Coelho, having the same simple but elegant style, and the succinct clarity which is so effective in transporting the reader to places and times they would never otherwise see.
I thoroughly enjoyed 'A Riffian's Tune'. It made me laugh, cry and think and above all is a beautiful book. The only problem is, don't take it as a travel book - it's far too engaging! - A Poupalou

Review of 'A Riffian's Tune':
FANTASTIC READ , I found this true life story a brilliant book that took you on a journey through one young boys struggles to educate himselfe in a world that threw every difficult situstion you could imagin. Thoroughly recommend A Riffians Tune gives you a real taste of life in another world .' G Murdoch

Because I always told stories from my childhood in Morocco to my family sitting around the table, they pressed me to write them down. Eventually, I relented and began. Over seven years with my wife scribing for me, 'A Riffian's Tune' took shape. I had so many stories that the book was far too long, so I cut out half and ended with the 435 pages of the current novel.

The book is authentic in its nature and depiction of the Moroccan culture. Very different from my current habitat in Edinburgh, it was primitive and rural. It seems far away and I hope you will read and enjoy it.