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A Riffian's Tune
Deep in the heart of the rural Rif mountains, one’s boy’s life is dictated by tribal tradition, superstition and religion. But Jusef dreams of more; it’s a dream that will send him far from his shepherding hills, to the bustle of the biggest cities in search of education, meaning and, above all, a different way of life.
From the richness of a story overflowing with tales of tragedies, courage and triumphs, Jusef’s journey reveals the complexities of Moroccan culture, and the overwhelming restraints facing those on the outside.
As the country questions its identity in the fading period of colonial rule, one Berber boy must also challenge who he is and who he is meant to be – as he discovers in the fight against adversity, dreams might not be enough.
A Riffian’s tune is an autobiographical novel about forging your own path, the power of hope, and daring to step into the labyrinth of life – no matter what.
From the richness of a story overflowing with tales of tragedies, courage and triumphs, Jusef’s journey reveals the complexities of Moroccan culture, and the overwhelming restraints facing those on the outside.
As the country questions its identity in the fading period of colonial rule, one Berber boy must also challenge who he is and who he is meant to be – as he discovers in the fight against adversity, dreams might not be enough.
A Riffian’s tune is an autobiographical novel about forging your own path, the power of hope, and daring to step into the labyrinth of life – no matter what.
448 pages, Paperback
First published September 16, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 31, 2013
I enjoyed reading this book as it was very well written.
Its a real diary, its a travel novel, its an incredible tale of self superation and its an excellent book.
I loved the fact that it shows perfectly moroccan culture from the inside, both the good side and the bad side. I live in Spain and I have never been to Morocco but I always wondered what life there is like. The book answered it perfectly although its set a few years in the past.
At first I didnt expect anything from the book as the previous one I had won from goodreads was really awful, but A Riffian's Tune is now one of my favourite books and I really would recomend anyone to give it a try.
Sorry about my english.
Yul
Its a real diary, its a travel novel, its an incredible tale of self superation and its an excellent book.
I loved the fact that it shows perfectly moroccan culture from the inside, both the good side and the bad side. I live in Spain and I have never been to Morocco but I always wondered what life there is like. The book answered it perfectly although its set a few years in the past.
At first I didnt expect anything from the book as the previous one I had won from goodreads was really awful, but A Riffian's Tune is now one of my favourite books and I really would recomend anyone to give it a try.
Sorry about my english.
Yul
July 15, 2018
Excellent retelling of his early life experiences growing up in the Rif mountain area in North Morocco. A very tough and sad life but the resilience and determination he found to escape for an education.. and ultimately for a better life elsewhere. I'm looking forward to his next novel.
January 8, 2014
A Riffians tune by Joseph M Labaki
When I started A Riffians tune, it struck me as a simple novel set in the Moroccan countryside; a story of plain living and farm life. Don’t get me wrong, I like such novels with details of basic living and the hand to mouth existence of the lower strata of society in developing countries. From a bland beginning the reader has no idea of the hopes of a little boy living from hand to mouth. Set in the heart of the rural Rig mountains, this little boy’s life is dictated by tribal tradition, superstition and religion. He moves from nothing – with hopes and dreams; he shifts to the big town, Fez to get an education. This book reads like a diary and yet it is a travel novel. It is a magnificent read. Each page will hold you in its clutches and squeeze from you so much emotion and the need to keep turning the pages. How on earth will this little boy endure the obstacles? Moroccan culture is seen from the inside, both the positive and the negative. The story overflows with tragedies, courage and triumphs. Those on the fringe of society are powerless. The main character Jesuf shows the reader the power of hope and the strength to believe in a positive future. I absolutely loved this book and wished it had carried on further . This book deserves the 4 ½ stars.
I read this book courtesy of Netgalley and thank them very much for the pleasure.
Date of review: 8th January 2014
When I started A Riffians tune, it struck me as a simple novel set in the Moroccan countryside; a story of plain living and farm life. Don’t get me wrong, I like such novels with details of basic living and the hand to mouth existence of the lower strata of society in developing countries. From a bland beginning the reader has no idea of the hopes of a little boy living from hand to mouth. Set in the heart of the rural Rig mountains, this little boy’s life is dictated by tribal tradition, superstition and religion. He moves from nothing – with hopes and dreams; he shifts to the big town, Fez to get an education. This book reads like a diary and yet it is a travel novel. It is a magnificent read. Each page will hold you in its clutches and squeeze from you so much emotion and the need to keep turning the pages. How on earth will this little boy endure the obstacles? Moroccan culture is seen from the inside, both the positive and the negative. The story overflows with tragedies, courage and triumphs. Those on the fringe of society are powerless. The main character Jesuf shows the reader the power of hope and the strength to believe in a positive future. I absolutely loved this book and wished it had carried on further . This book deserves the 4 ½ stars.
I read this book courtesy of Netgalley and thank them very much for the pleasure.
Date of review: 8th January 2014
August 18, 2014
This book details the life story of a Riffian boy named Jusef. Jusef was born into a large, poverty-stricken family in the Rif Mountains of Morocco. He grows up with an intense desire for a formal education and, eventually, this dream is realized as the ambitious Jusef is accepted into a Muslim school in the big city of Rez.
It's always interesting for me to read about a different culture. This author is gifted in his ability to make the reader feel what Jusef is feeling. Jusef is a character with integrity, a sense of 'family first', honesty, drive, loyalty and a gentle spirit. It's quite easy for the reader to develop a bond, of sorts, with Jusef.
The story ended with Jusef discovering that someone other than the woman who raised him was his biological mother. Honestly, I wanted to read more, which is why I gave the story only 4 stars. It's a great read though.
I received an e-copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
It's always interesting for me to read about a different culture. This author is gifted in his ability to make the reader feel what Jusef is feeling. Jusef is a character with integrity, a sense of 'family first', honesty, drive, loyalty and a gentle spirit. It's quite easy for the reader to develop a bond, of sorts, with Jusef.
The story ended with Jusef discovering that someone other than the woman who raised him was his biological mother. Honestly, I wanted to read more, which is why I gave the story only 4 stars. It's a great read though.
I received an e-copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
April 2, 2014
I was blown away by this book. Recommended by a colleague I was interested as I have been to Morocco many times on holiday and after reading this I want to go back, this time to see it with new eyes. A page turning, thrilling read, I was gripped by the way the author enabled the reader to journey through Jusef's life with him. A wonderfully written story that I could not put down and left me wanting more.
January 13, 2014
A fascinating narrative about a lifestyle and culture I know very little about.
November 25, 2024
tuɣa rezzuɣ x ij n udellis almi kidi dd-imzeryed wanita. isem umarir iban-ayi-dd wer wer yelli ca d wenni. uca sɣiɣ-t ad zareɣ min dag-s. yiwed yekk can cḥar yemmers x ṭṭabla. Ij n wass wassi mani tuɣa ggureɣ nniɣ-as ad kidi t-ksiɣ lakun ad dag-s ɣreɣ deg webrid. saɛa wer daɣ-s xezreɣ ar lami tuɣa ggureɣ ɣer ij n lqehwa ad qqaseɣ lqehwa-nsen mamek tegga. tawriqt tamezwarut icedd-ayi, maḥend nec renniɣ qqareɣ kṭer maḥend nec renniɣ aceddi.
tḥajit n umarir arifi yusef i yellullen deg idurar n ikebdanen. d werḥal iggin ussan n 50 ɣer ddzayer sseni d weɛqan idd-ggin ɣer arrif. senni iɛawed tḥajit nnes aked tɣuri d usittem ad yili yeɣra ad yerwel tudert i yeqqnen i wer ɣer yelli bu manis dd-ɣa-yek ṭṭya n usitem.
adellis yura s teglinzt waha. Ixess-as ad issuɣel ɣer trifiyt d i ilsawen nniḍen.
yecna
tḥajit n umarir arifi yusef i yellullen deg idurar n ikebdanen. d werḥal iggin ussan n 50 ɣer ddzayer sseni d weɛqan idd-ggin ɣer arrif. senni iɛawed tḥajit nnes aked tɣuri d usittem ad yili yeɣra ad yerwel tudert i yeqqnen i wer ɣer yelli bu manis dd-ɣa-yek ṭṭya n usitem.
adellis yura s teglinzt waha. Ixess-as ad issuɣel ɣer trifiyt d i ilsawen nniḍen.
yecna
January 12, 2018
This is an amazing story. You can't put the book down.
October 16, 2025
Having me the author, I was in awe of his life. I feel the writing style let hime down slightly. The book had so much more potential to give. 3.5/5
January 22, 2015
I got the copy of this book for free from librarything.com giveaway, and I'm glad I did.
The things I liked:
I really enjoyed the story, it got me stright into the mountains and little villages of Maroc. It threw me into totally different lifestyle and forced me to look at things from totally different angle. It was the journey worth taking.
The most valuable thing I got out from the book was ability to look at things which to us - Europeans - seems obvious and indisputable from different perspective as it's not always easy to jump out of the cultural environment you have been stuck in for all of your conscious life.
I was shocked at the fact how parents treat their children. I don't treat my cat that way! Leaving behind and letting die is normal part of the life (and I won't even try to touch the topic about well being of the animals). Starving to death, no compassion, cruelty, prejudice is ordinary. You may hate those people but at the end you will have to accept that there are a whole different world outside the Europe and America.
The other thing what I was wondering about was - what good can come out of the people who had grown up in that environment and then moved to different kind of civilization. Is it right to judge their actions, lack of compassion and not giving the sh.t about peoples' lives?
I was also ashamed about how we treat our education. We are almost spoon-fed, given education for free, but how often we don't know what to do with all ours degrees and titles? For us education is not even a choice it's an obligation. In other parts of the world it can be a real struggle.
So, to finalize - this book will give you the whole spectrum of emotions. Starting from anger and hatred ending with joy and Happiness.
The things I didn't like:
From the beginning it wasn't clear how old Jusef are. Because of not knowing that It was difficuld to find the right perspective and the right attitude toward the events happening in the book. It's after quite some time when we get to know the age of the boy.
There were obvious inconsistencies in the book. For example, on the way to School Jusef meets his cousin who cut his hair for free. Jusef is very happy with the fact. Next day he tells us that people repelled him becase he "had unruly hair"!!! I mean - that's the one fast growing hair.
Then there was this very impressive person Mr Amakrans, who was very wealthy and had long beard. When Jusef encounters this man after some time he finds out that he had changed. He had shaved his long beard, thrown his hat away and grown grey hair". When the boy comes to this gentlmen the next day, he "sat down and moved the chair closer to the table, a few inches away from Mr Amakran's beard!? C'mon! If you are impresed by someone and the way he has changed so much you just can't forget it so easely. It's impossible.
I couldn't get rid of the feeling that behind this character - small and uneducated boy - there is an adult writhing this book. Jusef was just too smart and his thought too well formulated for 10 years old boy without any education. I would like to see this life through the eyes of the boy.
After those inconsistencies and some very unbelievable situations at the end of the book, I am left wondering - is the story really real? If not, which parts are real This question spoiled the story for me. I want to know because i look differently at books who are fictional and those who are not. I can't Express my feelings that it's just a little bit too much to the non-fiction because that's the way it is. And I would hate to find out that something presented to me as true story turns out to be a mere fiction.
The things I liked:
I really enjoyed the story, it got me stright into the mountains and little villages of Maroc. It threw me into totally different lifestyle and forced me to look at things from totally different angle. It was the journey worth taking.
The most valuable thing I got out from the book was ability to look at things which to us - Europeans - seems obvious and indisputable from different perspective as it's not always easy to jump out of the cultural environment you have been stuck in for all of your conscious life.
I was shocked at the fact how parents treat their children. I don't treat my cat that way! Leaving behind and letting die is normal part of the life (and I won't even try to touch the topic about well being of the animals). Starving to death, no compassion, cruelty, prejudice is ordinary. You may hate those people but at the end you will have to accept that there are a whole different world outside the Europe and America.
The other thing what I was wondering about was - what good can come out of the people who had grown up in that environment and then moved to different kind of civilization. Is it right to judge their actions, lack of compassion and not giving the sh.t about peoples' lives?
I was also ashamed about how we treat our education. We are almost spoon-fed, given education for free, but how often we don't know what to do with all ours degrees and titles? For us education is not even a choice it's an obligation. In other parts of the world it can be a real struggle.
So, to finalize - this book will give you the whole spectrum of emotions. Starting from anger and hatred ending with joy and Happiness.
The things I didn't like:
From the beginning it wasn't clear how old Jusef are. Because of not knowing that It was difficuld to find the right perspective and the right attitude toward the events happening in the book. It's after quite some time when we get to know the age of the boy.
There were obvious inconsistencies in the book. For example, on the way to School Jusef meets his cousin who cut his hair for free. Jusef is very happy with the fact. Next day he tells us that people repelled him becase he "had unruly hair"!!! I mean - that's the one fast growing hair.
Then there was this very impressive person Mr Amakrans, who was very wealthy and had long beard. When Jusef encounters this man after some time he finds out that he had changed. He had shaved his long beard, thrown his hat away and grown grey hair". When the boy comes to this gentlmen the next day, he "sat down and moved the chair closer to the table, a few inches away from Mr Amakran's beard!? C'mon! If you are impresed by someone and the way he has changed so much you just can't forget it so easely. It's impossible.
I couldn't get rid of the feeling that behind this character - small and uneducated boy - there is an adult writhing this book. Jusef was just too smart and his thought too well formulated for 10 years old boy without any education. I would like to see this life through the eyes of the boy.
After those inconsistencies and some very unbelievable situations at the end of the book, I am left wondering - is the story really real? If not, which parts are real This question spoiled the story for me. I want to know because i look differently at books who are fictional and those who are not. I can't Express my feelings that it's just a little bit too much to the non-fiction because that's the way it is. And I would hate to find out that something presented to me as true story turns out to be a mere fiction.
June 6, 2015
This book was written in the form of an autobiographical novel, some of it is true and some fiction. The main character Jusef was born in 1950 but throughout the book there are no dates or time periods to follow making it impossible to follow his age or how long events such as his schooling took. This read is a very sad look into the lives of the people of Morrocco. The children have no childhood and go to work as soon as they are physically able to do a job. If a male child like Jusef insisted on attending school, he would be required to leave and make his own way at such a young age. Not having a time frame made it hard yet I am sure he started living on his own even before puberty. For females, they are sold off to a husband and his family making her their property. Females are abused, raped, only their hymen has any worth. That has not changed in the Arabic culture. This book has a great prose yet the story dragged in many parts. The most inspiring aspect of the book are the hopes and wants the male children have for a better life beyond anything else, I ever read or seen. They will live in squalor, be malnourished, doing whatever it takes to survive obtaining themselves a better place in this world. Multiple aspects of the story are left unanswered. The book just comes to an end with no real conclusion. After reading and getting to know the main character you as a reader will be able to construct yourself a proper conclusion. This would be a favorable book for readers who are interested in that culture or wants to know about how that culture lives.
"Thank You NetGalley For Letting Me Give An Honest Review"
"Thank You NetGalley For Letting Me Give An Honest Review"
March 4, 2014
For us in Ameerica, for whom much is easily obtained, this novel is a jolting eye-opener! Jusef lives in the mountains of Morocco, and Jusef wants to go to school.
The school is far away - a journey by foot and by bus and by truck and by train.
This book is his diary. The dire living conditions he must accept. The unspeakable poverty that defines his every decision. The work that he must do during the summer break in order to be able to return for the next semester. But he is exceptionally bright. He perseveres.
In the background, we have his sisters who are in abusive marriages, his mother who is a widow whose only means of support is Jusef, and land that must be farmed and harvested.
A stunning look at one child's struggle to learn.
I read this e-book courtesy of Net Galley.
The school is far away - a journey by foot and by bus and by truck and by train.
This book is his diary. The dire living conditions he must accept. The unspeakable poverty that defines his every decision. The work that he must do during the summer break in order to be able to return for the next semester. But he is exceptionally bright. He perseveres.
In the background, we have his sisters who are in abusive marriages, his mother who is a widow whose only means of support is Jusef, and land that must be farmed and harvested.
A stunning look at one child's struggle to learn.
I read this e-book courtesy of Net Galley.
June 4, 2014
This was an interesting read and, for me, it’s strength lay in the descriptive passages. It is very atmospheric and the sights and sounds of both city and mountain areas were very well done. Its description of Morrocan culture and the way of life are excellent.
For the full review: http://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogspo...
For the full review: http://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogspo...
October 15, 2014
"A Riffian's Tune" offers a window to life in Morrocco as readers follow a young man striving for an education despite his family's life of poverty far from any school. This book leaves you wanting to hear what Jusef's next years will lead.
My copy came through Goodreads First Reads.
My copy came through Goodreads First Reads.
March 29, 2014
Very unorganized and disjointed story. It was hard to follow the movement of Jusef from home to school and back without a map of Morrocco.
August 28, 2014
A must read! I couldn't put this book down. Totally inspirational
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews