Wolf Dreams

by Yasmina Khadra, Linda Black (Translator)

How does a handsome young man who keeps company with poets and dreams of fame and fortune, turn into a brutal killer who massacres women and children? We follow Nafa Walid as he gradually loses control of his destiny and is drawn into Islamic fundamentalism. Wolf Dreams illustrates what happens when disillusion intersects with the persuasive voice of fundamentalism and the chaos of civil war.

Genres: Fiction, Algeria, Africa, France, Roman, Northern Africa, Middle East

260 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Yasmina Khadra (Arabic: ياسمينة خضراء‎, literally "green jasmine") is the pen name of the Algerian author Mohammed Moulessehoul.
Moulessehoul, an officer in the Algerian army, adopted a woman's pseudonym to avoid military censorship. Despite the publication of many successful novels in Algeria, Moulessehoul only revealed his true identity in 2001 after leaving the army and going into exile and seclusion in France. Anonymity was the only way for him to survive and avoid censorship during the Algerian Civil War.
In 2004, Newsweek acclaimed him as "one of the rare writers capable of giving a meaning to the violence in Algeria today."
His novel The Swallows of Kabul, set in Afghanistan under the Taliban, was shortlisted for the 2006 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. L'Attentat won the Prix des libraires in 2006, a prize chosen by about five thousand bookstores in France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada.
Khadra pledges for becoming acquainted with the view of the others. In an interview with the German radio SWR1 in 2006, he said “The West interprets the world as he likes it. He develops certain theories that fit into its world outlook, but do not always represent the reality. Being a Muslim, I suggest a new perspective on Afghanistan, on the religious fanaticism and the, how I call it - religiopathy. My novel, the The Swallows of Kabul, gives the readers in the West a chance to understand the core of a problem that he usually only touches on the surface. Because the fanaticism is a threat for all, I contribute to the understanding of the causes and backgrounds. Perhaps then it will be possible to find a way to bring it under control.”

Reviews

[Daniel Montague · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Do not think, do not question your deeds and actions, banish all thoughts from your minds, all hesitation from your hearts, and be content to be the arms that deliver the blows, that carry the green standard and the torch.”
This work of erudition by Yasmina Khadra the pseudonym for the Algerian army officer Mohammed Moulessehoul details the fall of Nafa Walid from an apolitical, handsome actor into a viciously violent extremist whose animalistic behavior is truly frightening. When we first meet Nafa he is a wayward youth trying to break into the nascent movie industry of Algeria. He had a minor role in an experimental film and he has been bit by the acting bug. At best lackadaisical with his studies and living in a crowded domicile his options are limited. He is blessed with good looks and a dream but in late 1980s Algiers this will not get you very far. Doing various odd jobs his life is one of repetition-work hard, earn little, rinse and repeat. He is blessed to have a childhood friend who has become a bigwig rubbing shoulders with the jet set crowd. This friend is able to procure him a job as a driver for one of the most prestigious families, the Rajas.
As a driver for the Rajas, Nafa is subjected to a litany of abuses. With enough power and prestige to bribe or coerce, they run roughshod over Algiers. People are seen as merely obstacles or footstools to this corpulent family and the worst of the bunch is Junior who has penchant for partying with underage girls. With his bodyguard /protector Hamid there to clean up all of his affairs, Junior has not learned any decency. This comes to a head when one fateful night, Junior tells Hamid to take care of some business. Needing another hand, he enlists Nafa’s help for this dastardly deed. With this deed finished, Nafa is left broken both physically and mentally. In a tremulous state after a nightmarish sleep, he is woken up by the call of the muezzin. Feeling his spirit soothed he takes to religion like a junkie trying to reach their first high.
At this point in his life, Nafa is a man in conflict. He still wants to become a thespian but he feels the pull of Islam. During this stage in the process he sees the religion in the most pure of its forms. Unfortunately, this will be brief. Much like his experience with the Rajas, his conversion to Islam will not be a flawless one. He will meet hypocrites who use their piety to act out their most hedonistic and sadistic exploits. Zealots who enact unspeakable acts of violence on strangers and family alike. The question arises just how far Nafa will sink into the abyss?
Working as a hack for members of a clandestine terrorist group the GIA, Nafa has a plum job, primarily transporting contraband throughout town. While moderately dangerous, he is adept enough to avoid the most troubling spots. Alas the safety and security is not meant to last. Playing to his pride and manhood he is coaxed to do something more meaningful. He is recruited to become a member for the Jihad. As his life is unraveling around him so is the general peace of Algiers. He and his city are following parallel paths of destruction. Various factions are warring with each other and the government trying to consolidate power. After a while the city is becoming more pacified and the terrorist cells are forced into the hinterlands.
A city boy at heart, Nafa is enlisted into a village in the mountains whose incestuous leaders are wont to trust outsiders. Faced with internecine warfare among less “righteous” groups, the fundamentalists are starting to splinter. By this point in his conversion as his star is rising in the organization, Nafa’s soul is plummeting. His animalistic ruthlessness and sheer brutality reach its peak (nadir?) during a fateful battle.
While, “Wolf Dreams” is a work that depicts savagery in many parts it is written in a lyrical style. There are plenty of quotable sections, especially those which involve the poet Sid Ali who takes a humanistic approach. The subject matter being what it is, a young man full of hope who due to a number of factors many of which he cannot control is forced into a life of devastation is heavy, but you do not feel its full affects until the closing chapters. This is one of those fiction books that would work great as a companion piece to a more academic approach by a Bernard Lewis or someone of that ilk in a Middle East or Maghreb class. The pain and desolation felt genuine and for that I give this a hearty 4 stars.

[Assia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok so this book. Let's talk about this book. It's really hard to talk about this book. See, I've already written 3 sentences without saying anything specific. Told you, tough one this book.
À quoi revent les loups (Wolf Dreams) by Yasmina Khadra is the story of a boy, Nada Walid, during the darkest years of Algeria. No, I'm not talking about the war of Independence, but the years when extremism, terrorism, integrism (?) Almost ruled the entire country. Late 80s, Nafa Walid wants to be an actor, it's his dream, but Algeria wasn't ready to give its full attention to artists and to help them live off their dreams. The youth was roaming the streets of the Casbah and killing time at cafés, there was no job for artists, there was no future for them as artists. Nafa's family is poor, his father is retired, they need money so Nafa starts working as a driver of one of RICHEST family in Algiers. But this job required him to do more than just drive. And there is this one episode that is the final straw and he quits. He quits and he's about to go crazy, until that one day when he hears the call to prayer and he's at peace. So he turns to religion which is good at first. Yes at first because from then on it only gets bad for him and for the country. Radicalism. Terrorism.
This is the story of Nafa but it's also the story of hundreds and thousands of young other Nafas, other young people who dreamed of something but couldn't reach their goal, they were vulnerable enough to be convinced by radicalists to join their cause. What I really liked about this book is that it's very topical, the story happened in the late 80s but it's about terrorism and today all we hear about is terrorism. So if you want to know more about this species (lol sorry I can't say humans) And you're looking for accurate information this book is what you need. We all know getting information about terrorism from TV is THE worst idea.
That's one thing about this book: good source of information, topical, accurate, you get an insight of what terrorism is.
But there is something else, and here it's much more personal, because I'm Algerian (and French) and this book made me open a very hard topic with my mother. My mother lived in Algeria during these years of terrorism and she has witnessed some awful things (very well described in the book). It was almost hard for me to believe that these horrors really happened so each time I would read something I would ask confirmation from my mom and that's how we ended up discussing this period for hours (she would mostly do the talking part and I would the listening part). It was a time when being a police officer was the worst job you could have, police officers were the first target of terrorists. My mom told me that one of her neighbors had a son who was a police officer and he was butchered by terrorists and they had sent his mother his head. And she lost it. She became crazy. They also kidnapped people if they couldn't recruit anyone and made them work for them. My mom told me she used to sleep with all of the lights on to let them think everyone was still awake (my dad was in France at the time so she was left on her own at a very dangerous time with her kids) or sometimes her brothers would stay home with her. Falling sound asleep at that time was impossible. One of my Mom's friend has been deeply mentally affected by what she had witnessed, she used to live in a village far from the city and that's where terrorists were. They usually stick to mountains and small villages (you can see that in the book too) and there were a lot of them where she lived. It really opened a old wound and I'm sorry for that but it helped me get more knowledge about this period in Algeria.
Also FIY: the two leaders of the FIS (Front Islamique du Salut - The Islamic Salvation front) are still alive one of them Ali Belhadj is living in Algeria while the other one Abbassi Madani is living in Qatar. The focus of this novel wasn't the leaders of the party but the ordinary people who joined the cause, and it really showed how in the end religion was just a pretext their real goal was power and they would do everything to get it. It showed how terrorists operate what's in their mind how "religious" and "pious" they are. It's a short book but has all the essentials so I can't help but recommend it to anyone and everyone! if you're reading this review and haven't read the book yet please pick it up and start reading!

[Hana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Histoire de l’Algérie, de la pire période de notre chère Algérie, histoire de la décennie noir... et oui autre histoire de la déccenie noir que cette fois ci l’héro de notre roman est un terroriste....
Une histoire très dure qui nous décrit comment un jeune homme ordinaire élevé dans une famille honnête et droite, sombre dans l'horreur de la folie barbare et devient un loup pour la cause islamiste. Comment est-ce qu'il en vient à commettre des actes des plus violents, sanglants, inhumains ?
Ce livre est magnifiquement écrit

[Come Musica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cosa sognano i lupi è stato pubblicato per la prima volta in Italia da Feltrinelli nel 2001, poi da Mondadori nel 2008 e ora da Sellerio.

Un romanzo durissimo che ricostruisce la vita di un giovane algerino, Nafa Walid, che infrange il suo sogno di diventare un attore per arrivare, per via traverse, per arruolarsi tra le falangi estremiste dei terroristi jihadisti.

“«Così è la vita. La miseria e la fortuna sono solo facciate. Ognuno porta il proprio dolore dentro di sé. Che sia vestito di seta o di rugiada, i suoi problemi non cambiano. Ecco la prova» aggiunse allargando le braccia. «I poveri accusano i ricchi di essere all'origine delle loro sofferenze. I ricchi pensano che i poveri debbano prendersela solo con se stessi. Non è vero. Il mondo è fatto così e non è colpa di nessuno. Bisogna saper fare buon viso a cattivo gioco. La Fatalità sarebbe la regina delle troie se non nascondesse le sue carte. Il mondo non varrebbe la pena se non facesse pena. Uno crede di sapere, e invece non sa niente. Rifiutandosi di ammetterlo, si diventa pazzi da legare».”

Nafa, per una serie di vicissitudini avverse, pur essendo di indole buona, si ritroverà a vendere la propria anima al diavolo, e, in nome della religione, a compiere la sua discesa agli inferi.

Ci sono molte scene davvero durissime, in cui Yasmina Khadra prova a spiegare il fenomeno del terrorismo, analizzando i personaggi dall’interno del movimento, dal lato dei predatori, che sono come lupi che di notte sognano le loro prede.

“A lungo ho aspettato che il tuono mi deviasse la mano, che un lampo mi liberasse dalle tenebre che mi tenevano prigioniero delle loro perdizioni, io che ero convinto di essere venuto al mondo per piacere e sedurre, che sognavo di conquistare i cuori con la sola grazia del mio talento.“

Atrocemente bello.

[Imene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many people speak about islamic fundamentalism but very few really understand the reasons that push young men to such violence towards themselves and others. I found this book amazingly interesting and intuitive. It's the story of a young man who dreams of going to France, having a girlfriend and enjoying life and instead finds himself wishing to destroy it instead.
Great book!

[Rusalka · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was really uncomfortable, particularly the more you went on. This is completely the personification of the path to fundamentalism in a narrative. Young guy who has had glimpses of success although poor.

Most importantly rejected and discarded, but accepted by religion/fundamentalism, and given a purpose. Overt attempts are rejected, but the insidious, prolonged attempts with purpose and responsibility and community start seeping in. Disenfranchised youth who are presented with a meaning to it all and a place of belonging will go anywhere. And these manipulators know it.

And that is why we see Nafa the aspiring actor switch to Nafa the terrorist commander. And it's gradual. It takes you almost by surprise as you go along with him. It's believably written. You gasp at decisions but you understand them. As much as you swear you wouldn't do the same. But if you were in that situation...

It was a 3.5 star, but I rounded down as I wouldn't read again. Just my stomach couldn't deal with some decisions. Doesn't mean others should not as I believe it is an important insight to what we in the West can't seem to comprehend. Even though the same thing is happening our countries with our disenfranchised youths.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yasmina Khadra is a penname for a former Algerian military officer who lives in exile in France. Yasmina Khadra here gives wonderful insight into the way an Islamic extremist is formed. The sense of social injustice and betrayal is similar to what I've found in my meetings with Hamas men over more than a decade. The book portrays the disillusion of men for whom a religious struggle has descended into nothing more than the corrupt bloodlust of their leaders.

[anja; · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[inès · Rating 4 out of 5]

« Lorsque je suis revenu à moi, c’était trop tard. Le miracle n’avait pas eu lieu. Aucun archange n’avait retenu ma main, aucun éclair ne m’avait interpellé. J’étais là, soudain dégrisé, un bébé ensanglanté entre les mains. J’avais du sang jusque dans les yeux. Au milieu de ce capharnaüm cauchemardesque jonché de cadavres d’enfants, la mère ne suppliait plus. Elle se tenait la tête à deux mains, incrédule, pétrifiée par la douleur. »

À quoi rêvent les loups raconte l’histoire de Nafa Walid, qui commence par une certaine banalité. Il est un garçon algérien ordinaire, ni riche ni miséreux, et connaît le sort de soumission aux riches hérité de la colonisation que vit chaque individu du même acabit que lui. Il a un rêve : devenir acteur, mais n’est jamais pris au sérieux. Une succession d’événements néfastes et choquants, pour lui comme pour le lecteur, le conduiront à s’engager dans les mouvements islamistes.

Les années noires algériennes sont une période d’une extrême terreur et d’une grande violence. Yasmina Khadra a selon moi bien sû le retranscrire. Comme on peut le voir dans l’extrait ci-dessus, le livre est d’une très grande violence. On accompagne Nafa dans sa déchéance et sa déshumanisation. On voit les processus par lesquels de jeunes adolescents perdus se trouvent embrigadés dans des mouvements extrémistes et violents. On voit les mises en garde de l’entourage mais l’éloignement progressif que procure le mouvement.

« Ceux-là ne doivent plus compter pour nous. Notre chemin n’en sera que plus aisé, et aucune racine malveillante n’entravera nos pas. Le GIA est notre unique famille. L’émir est notre père à tous, notre guide et notre âme. Il porte en lui la prophétie. Suivons-le les yeux fermés.
[…] Si votre géniteur naturel n’est pas de votre côté, il cesse aussitôt d’être votre père. Si votre mère n’est pas de votre côté, elle n’est plus votre mère. Si vos sœurs et vos frères, vos cousins et vos oncles ne sont pas de votre côté, vous n’êtes plus des leurs. Oubliez-les, conjurez-les, ce ne sont que des branches malades qu’il vous faudra élaguer pour préserver votre arbre généalogique. »

Ce livre m’a serré le cœur et a faillit me faire pleurer plusieurs fois. Yasmina Khadra nous fait nous identifier à Nafa, on s’imagine à sa place. On imagine notre famille à la place de la sienne, nos amis à la place des siens. On assiste comme impuissant à sa chute. On se prend petit à petit de pitié pour lui, jusqu’à ce qu’il ait tellement viré du mauvais côté que cette pitié ne puisse plus exister et se substitue à du regret. Un regret de la personne qu’il était avant. Un regret fait de « et si » : « et si le système était plus juste ? », « et si ses rêves avaient pu être pris en compte ? ».

Bref, ce livre (malgré quelques passages un peu longs) vous prend et vous frappe de plein fouet. Ce livre vous fait rentrer dans la tête d’un adolescent perdu qui devient un monstre impardonnable. Pour finir cette revue, j’aimerais ajouter une citation qui m’a beaucoup marqué :

« Avant de mourir, Sid Ali [un homme tué par Nafa et d’autres islamistes] avait demandé à être immolé par le feu.
- Pourquoi ? s’était enquis Abou Mariem.
- Pour mettre un peu de lumière à votre nuit. »

[قادة زاوي · Rating 2 out of 5]

من اكثر ما قرات دراماتيكية حول العشرية السوداء في الجزائر، بم تحلم الذئاب تخليد كتابي للمشهد الدموي في جزائر التسعينات.
هي قصة وليد نافا الشاب اللطيف الذي يتحول بفعل الافكار المظللة التي دفعته اليها الحياة الاجتماعية القاسية في العاصمة الى قاتل مستذئب من الدرجة الاولى.

ما يعيب الرواية هو ترجمتها العربية الرديئة على الرغم من ان المترجم هو الاديب امين الزاوي، عدم تناسق واضح في الكثير من فقرات الرواية. ضف الى ذلك الاخطاء اللغوية و الكثير من الاخطاء المطبعية.

[Georgiana 1792 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una storia intensa, terribile, che parte dalla sua scena finale - un sanguinario scontro a fuoco - per ricostruire la vita di Nafa Walid, un giovane algerino che ha il sogno di diventare attore. È un bel ragazzo, Nafa, e una volta è stato scritturato per una particina in un film, ma da allora non è più riuscito a entrare nel mondo del cinema, un mondo che lui spera possa risollevare dalla povertà lui e la sua famiglia.
Nel frattempo, comincia a lavorare come autista di una ricca famiglia, una famiglia piena di vizi, in cui soldi e droga circolano liberamente, ma quando è costretto ad aiutare la guardia del corpo del viziatissimo figlio a disfarsi del corpo di una giovane sedicenne morta di overdose, Nafa decide di tornare dalla propria famiglia e di condurre una vita più modesta ma più onesta, ritornando alla religione.

«Non è possibile. Siamo in uno stato di diritto.»
Dahmane mostrò i denti affilati in una risata amara. Mi sembrava di suscitare il suo disprezzo. Disse: «Sì, certo. Il nostro paese è uno stato di diritto. È innegabile. Ma bisogna precisare di che diritto si tratta... Ce n'è uno solo, unico e indivisibile: il diritto di mantenere il silenzio.»

Messo da parte il sogno di recitare, Nafa adesso sogna di sposare la sorella dell'amico Nabil, Hanane, che è stata un'ottima studentessa e che adesso ha un buon lavoro. Ma prima che Nafa possa chiedere all'amico la sua mano, Nabil pugnala e uccide la sorella perché ha avuto la sfrontatezza di partecipare a una manifestazione in piazza con altre donne.
Stordito dall'ennesima uccisione del suo sogno, Nafa viene travolto suo malgrado dal terrorismo dilagante.

Sulle prime pagine dei giornali comparvero iniziali funeste: M.I.A.... Movimento Islamico Armato. Ben presto lettere di minaccia gettarono intere famiglie nel panico. I vecchi tirarono dentro i loro sgabelli, rinunciarono alla jemaà, al tè sul marciapiede, alle virtù del dolce far niente: e le discussioni, consacrate fino a poco tempo prima ai cantori del passato, si trasformarono come se niente fosse in orazioni funebri.
Dopo le lettere di minaccia, fu la volta del telefono, perfetto per annunciare le rappresaglie. Squillava a ore impensabili. La voce, all'altro capo del filo, raggelava il sangue: «Creperai, rinnegato!».
Non erano parole vuote. Ogni mattina, uomini con il volto coperto da un passamontagna uscivano da un nascondiglio e sparavano a bruciapelo ai loro bersagli. A volte un coltello da macellaio finiva i feriti tagliando loro la gola. Alla moschea spiegarono il gesto: un rituale grazie a cui il morto si trasformava in oblazione e il dramma in atto di omaggio. Ben presto le notti si riempirono di ticchettii, di passi di corsa, di allucinazioni. Gli squadroni della morte assalivano i duar, davano fuoco alle polveri, alle fabbriche, agli edifici pubblici, facevano saltare i ponti e i tabù, delimitavano le terre di nessuno e le "zone liberate". Le prediche riecheggiavano fra le montagne, dilagavano nei villaggi. I volantini svolazzavano nel soffio della jihad. Gli attentati spettacolari sgomitavano verso le prime pagine dei quotidiani.

Si trova così invischiato senza neanche volerlo in una serie di attentati, crudeltà sempre più terribili e in una guerra senza quartiere tra diverse cellule terroristiche, che lo porteranno all'epilogo terribile che coincide col prologo di questa storia.
Una storia dura, difficile da digerire; la storia di un ragazzo come tanti in un periodo di grande stravolgimento per l'Algeria; gli anni '90 del Movimento Islamico Armato (MIA) e dell'ancor più radicale Gruppo Islamico Armato (GIA).

[Karina Samyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard boek over de zwarte jaren van Algerije toen een wrede burgeroolog in de jaren '90 tussen de staat en religieuze fanatici honderdduizenden slachtoffers maakten. Zoals altijd stond vooral de burgerbevolking in de vuurlijn.
Het boek volgt een man die door teleurstelling, gebrek aan hoop en toekomst, in de klauwen valt van de fundamentalisten en zich, tegen zijn aard in, ontpopt als een vurige terrorist. Ontluisterend.

[Claneessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yasmina Khadra réussit parfaitement à décrire l’évolution de la société algérienne à la fin des années 80, comment le pays tombe dans le chaos et la terreur, et comment un jeune homme tombe dans le terrorisme malgré lui. Le livre m’a beaucoup fait penser à Khalil, mais dans le contexte des années noires en Algérie

[Maggyheintz Heintz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book in one day. I really got into the story and absolutely wanted to know how it was going to end, even if you know it right from the start ! I would have put 3.5 stars if I could have... I have read 5 books of Yasmina Kadhra over the past 5 months, and maybe that was a bit too much. I love the writing style but I should give it a break now for a little while....

[myriam kisfaludi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent livre sur les méthodes d’endoctrinement du GIA pendant les années noires en Algérie

[Carla Prado · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 out of 5.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. I can't say I "enjoyed" it, as the book details how a man goes from an artist (an actor) to a violent, fundamentalist (Islamic, but the theology is totally irrelevant to the story). The story is incredibly violent, and incredibly sad. I feel unqualified to really review this book, as I don't know enough about Algerian history and politics to know how well this story holds true to the facts on the ground in Algeria. Personally, I felt it gave me a good window into what many of the people in Algeria experienced in the 1980s and 1990s. I felt that that window was perhaps the most valuable aspect of the book --but because I have so little true knowledge of Algeria, it's also why I have such uncomfortable feelings about the book. The New York Times sells this book as an explanation for "how a person becomes a fundamentalist." I'm not entirely sure I'm comfortable with this statement. IF this book stays true to the facts on the ground in Algeria, than I would feel comfortable saying that this book is a great explanation for why/how a person became a fundamentalist in *Algeria.* But my own knowledge tends to show that the reasons why people become fundamentalists vary from country to country and conflict to conflict. Although I do think this book offers one good kernel of insight in its story (i.e. a feeling of alienation and a feeling that society simply does not care, or even notice/value, the specific individual anymore).

I think this book is incredibly well-written. It offers great insight into the Algerian conflict, and yes, the fundamentalist mind (for some fundamentalists, but not meant to cover ALL fundamentalists' experiences and motivations). I'd recommend this book to someone interested in the topic.

[Vishnu Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is set during the unrest of late '80s - early '90s Algeria. He tells of how an aspiring actor, Nafa Walid, from a lower middle-class part Algiers, fights and kills for an Islamist movement. The title is important here - Khadra is basically documenting the process by which corruption, religious seduction, frustration, and anomie turn man into wolf. That Khadra was a high ranking officer in the Algerian army for 36 years before living in exile in France speaks to the dangers of writing such an unflinching account of fundamentalist/nationalist violence. The prose isn't exactly spare but it is brutal. No poetic flourishes necessary when speaking of massacres both mass and personal. Khadra does a great job at depicted the fragmented national consciousness of Algeria through the individual. I would recommend this book to anyone, just an incredible novel.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Das Interessante: das Thema Terrorismus, die Vermittlung einzelner Eindrücke der politischen Situation Algeriens, das Milieu untere Mittelschicht in der Stadt Alger. Die Geschichte eines jungen Mannes - ungebildet aber mit ein paar Talenten ausgestattet - der zum Terroristen wird, ist durchaus glaubhaft. Insgesamt ist die Geschichte aber auch sehr vorhersehbar, an vielen Stellen zu schwarz-weiss, manchmal oberflächlich.
Ein kurzes, schnelles Lesevergnügen, das einen sehr fesselt, von dem aber nicht so viel zurückbleibt.

[Wahiba · Rating 4 out of 5]

احببتها ياسمينة خضرة من أفضل الكتاب .

[Kitty Red-Eye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t really like the characters in this book, but I like the writing. There’s some effective writing here, when the author in two-three lines gives you an idea of extreme depth of whatever he describes:

«Even in hell, the damned and the demons will protest and ask God to transfer us to another hell, far from theirs.»
Said by a fundamentalist, that means exactly what it says. The depravity is really something.

There are some cool parallells too: The first two women who get murdered which evoke such different reactions in our protagonist Nafa, the first one shocks him to his core even if he doesn’t know her, the second just … happens. Even if he really cared about her. Why? I think that might be the point, the question «why». Why? Why fundamentalism, why kill all these people? Because all roads seem to lead to shit. And shit happens and spirals down, down. So why not.

[Rah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yasmine khadra , encore une fois, avec son style incroyable ♥
Il raconte l'enchaînement des évènements, qui ont fait de Nafa, le jeune acteur rayonnant d'ambitions, Un monstre anéantissant les âmes des algériens .
Nafa, sous-estimé, mal-traité, blessé dans son amour-propre , et ayant l'âme anéanti en témoignant le crime de l'enterrement de la jeune fille(avec Hamid ) , dépourvu d'occupation et d'amour, n'ayant pu avoir la fille qu'il voulait pour femme , ( il m'arrivait encore de m'insurger contre le sort qui s'obstinait à fausser toutes mes aspirations avec une rare mesquinerie ), et étant jeune rayonnant d'énergie, il s'est choisi la foi pour combler son existence et son temps .

La succession des évènements, ont fait de lui un suspect, la fierté que lui accordé son service en tant que chauffeur de taxi aux familles, l'ont maintenu au chemin islamique, qui lui a permit de briller,de s'estimer, et de prouver ce dont il était capable

D'après d'un autre livre que je lisait simultanément avec ce livre ( sale guerre ) , je crois que l'armée et l'accusation non-prouvée des innocents est une des causes qui ont poussé les algériens à rejoindre l'djbel , comme l'a témoigné Yahia , le chauffeur des Bensoltane ( chapitre 17 ) .

Une partie qui m'a beaucoup touchée, est la fin du chapitre 16 , quand Nafa a visité les siens, le ton sec de sa mère, qui le traitait de terroriste, ( alors qu'il passait une période dûre : devoir fuir de Ibrahim vers l'inconnu! le chagrin d'avoir laissé la clic de Sofiane, la peine d'avoir été la cause de la mort de son père, et la haine de sa mère qui refusait de le bénir : il entendit la porte se refermer .se mit a descendre l'escalier.comme un damné descend aux enfers.")

Le destin se moque de nous ,la preuve, la façon pourrie de laquelle Abou Jallil a été tué, par une femme ( purée ! abdel Jallil tué par une femme.Même au paradis, j'en serai affecté ) ! et la façon dont la vie de Omar Ziri a eu fin.
On remarque aussi, le manque de confiance, ou plutôt l'absence totale de confiance entre les gens, durant cette décennie noire, on devait se méfier de tous, même des plus proches êtres qui soient
la preuve : la façon dont salah l'indochine a tué le vieux généreux qui les a accueillit ainsi que sa femme, l'histoire de Yahia le chauffeur, le prof de math athée du Rouget ( le doc était sa première victime et se confiait au Rouget, qui l'a tué le jour de son annif), Ibrahim qui s'est lancé derrière ses anciens ennemis/amis, dès qu'il est devenu Emir, la fuite de Zoubeida, l'amour qu'éprouvait Zoubeida envers Nafa.

En guerres,il n'est plus question d'humanisme, on tue les gens comme s'ils étaient des rats, des mouches, ou du n'importe quoi , ( la façon dont on a tué les sabayas " égorge-les ", l'indochine a tué le vieux et sa femme:juste pour ne laisser aucune trace derrière lui , ainsi que l'anéantissement du village Kassem ) la vie d'un être humain, ne valait plus rien. Soit on tue,soit on risque son propre cou !

Et pour en finir, je voudrais faire référence, à la description des conditions de vie de la FEMME en algérie, que ce soit durant la guerre civile, ou en dehors de guerre : la femme n'as pas été seulement mal-traitée, mais on l'a mise hors la marge, on ne la considérait une machine, qui n'est qu'un scandale, on lui confie notre honneur qu'elle protège entre ses jambes, chez son père, elle travaille et apprend , en se soumettant toujours aux hommes, les femmes proches elles-même s'occupent de créer en elle la peur et la soumission ,elles font d'elle la machine soumise à l'homme, aux pensées d'hommes, aux ordres d'hommes, aux désirs de l'homme, Elle passe sa vie chez son père à apprendre à se soumettre , et dès qu'elle se marie, elle se met à appliquer ce qu'elle a appris, à devenir l'ombre de l'homme. elle n'est qu'une machine à cuisiner, laver, faire l'amour, porter des enfants, accoucher, élever les enfants et leurs transmettre la peur et la soumission qu'elle a apprise!
Elle est l'ombre de son père, et de son mari, n'ayant le droit qu'au silence ( comme a dit dahmane à propos du système ) !
le meilleur exemple est l'histoire de Hanane, la soeur de Nabil.
Jaloux d'elle , se sentant incapable d'atteindre, - lui l'homme - ce que sa soeur - la femme ! - ait atteint ! il anéanti sa liberté, impose ses pensées, et l'obligeant - par la force que lui a fournie la nature- à se soumettre à lui.
les hommes anéantissent ( jusqu'à no jours malheureusement, C'est presque la même mentalité ) la femme, son être, son existence, ses pensées, ses croyances ... Elle doit juste servir leurs existence .. ( vu aussi, la façon dont furent traitée les sabayas, et les soeurs de Nafa ! ) ..

Un excellent livre, je l'ai adoré; mais je ne sais encore, si le destin a, enfin de compte, été juste envers Nafa, ainsi que les autres personnages!

Chapeau à nos familles, amis, proches qui ont survécu à la folie de cette décennie damnée, que Dieu nous en préserve !

[Stefania · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really good book but hard. It tells the story Nafa, a young Algerian dreaming a carrer as movie acteur, becoming a terrorist of GIA during Algerian revolution. I can't understand or appreciate Nafa, because of his choices but it's interesting to follow the decline of human being into madness of violence.

[Georges · Rating 4 out of 5]

Profond, sombre, troublant et touchant. Comme d'habitude Yasmina Khadra nous transporte dans les recoins les plus dure d'une réalité méconnu et trop souvent jugé sans fondement préalable. Je l'ai dévoré.

[luu :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

je viens de finir, c'était un cauchemars un vrai cauchemars, je suis soudain devenue très irritable et je ne supportais plus les gens. je voyais ( et je vois ) le danger partout

un personnage très original et très algériens, comme tout jeune il était ambitieux reveur, il attendait que la vie lui donne une chance, que la vie le favorise, il attendait un miracle, devenir acteur, et profiter de la vie mais c'est la vie qui a profiter de lui.
il n'a pas bien joué ses cartes mais comment sait-on qu'on a mal joué si ce n'est qu'à la fin de la partie

il a laissé la vie et les gens décidé pour lui, il était bon, gentille ( et beau) il n'a pas brillé dans ses études mais ce n'était que le début. son meilleur ami d'enfance lui il a réussi sa vie, il s'est pris en main depuis la mort de son père et pas par pas il a forcé la main à la vie de lui accorder la paix
on dit que le mal apporte le mal, que la pauvreté aime la compagnie. l'ignorance est l mère de tout les misères, son étroitesse d'esprit, l'avait fait sombré de bas en plus bas, il était devenu prisonnier de lui meme.
la vie est un jeu trop risqué, une seule vie, un seul essai, pas droit à l'échec, les répercutions te hanterons à jamais.
une personne trrès intelligente (et je parle pas de moi) avec un sens de logique terriblement correct, m'a dit que je suis responsable des conséquences.
tout ce qu'on fait maintenant nous condamnera dans le future ( proche ou lointain)
parfois la vie nous donne la chance de se rattraper, parfois on a la chance de se rattraper à plusieurs reprise, parfois on est toute de suite condamnés, nafa n'a pas eu le reflexe de se corriger et de sortir de l'enfer... bien que une fois dans l'enfer on sait plus qu'on a encore le choix, qu'on peut toujours s''en sortir à condition d'etre le plus malin

[Marie-Jo Fortis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not the best book to read around Christmas time, so I promised myself to finish it at least one week before the Holidays.

It is an informative read if you want to have a more profound perspective on Islamist fundamentalism and terrorism. We are fed in the American news with the notion that these people attack other cultures, but are seldom informed about what they do to their own people. Nor are we told that fundamentalism feeds on social injustice. For it is in the underprivileged part of the population that terrorists recruit. Without realizing it, this part of the population goes from one form of exploitation (by the rich) to another (religious fanatics more hungry for power than the Allah whom they claim to defend).

Khadra is incisive and merciless in his portrayals. In French we say: "Il ne fait de cadeau à personne." Literally, he gives presents to no one. The spoiled rich are depicted as silly and cruel; the fundamentalists as absurd and even crueller; the followers as naive and unable to think for themselves until it is too late.

Khadra's writing style is sharp and incisive and only lets poetry intervene when he describes nature, which he often personifies.

For the reasons mentioned above, I think everyone interested in terrorism and social injustice should read this book.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Khadra brilliantly portrays the uprising of Islamic fundamentalists during the Algerian Civil War. The protagonist, Nafa, is a young man with big dreams who joins an extremist group almost by accident. What I really admired about this novel is how Khadra is able to humanize a terrorist and criticize his radical beliefs.

This book is violent. The plot moves quickly for the most part, spurred on by betrayal, skirmishes, and death. Khadra depicts war in a realistic way and seems to imply that there is no God, or at least no sense of justice. Some characters have trivial, undeserved deaths, while others act horribly without consequence.

The only part that could've been better is the ending. The story itself is fine, but the writing feels a bit lazy. The POV mysteriously switches to first person thirty pages from the end. I could deal with it if it were a new chapter, but it happens abruptly. There's also a ton of dialogue, and the speakers usually aren't indicated nor is there any description of the scene in general.

Finally, a shoutout to the translator (or perhaps Khadra himself), who would always subtly re-introduce the minor characters when they reappeared. It was tough for me to keep track of all the Arabic names, so I appreciate the added details—far easier to remember who was the house painter and who was the driver.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author is Algerian and former Algerian army officer who now lives in France. The story is of a young, sensitive Algerian man who is struggling to find some meaning in his life. He finally becomes involved in working for an Islamist group helping raise money to support (he believes) widows and families who have been left destitute by government raids. For the first time he feels that he is making a difference and that his life is worth while. Even though he refuses to carry a gun, he begins to drive the get away car for various undercover activities and is finally involved in a murder. He finally becomes an agent for the Islamists, carrying out executions as requested. In the end he is killing members of his own group and women and children. It reminded me somewhat of the "A Star Called Henry," by Roddy Doyle (although Khadra is not so elegant a writer), buy In Wolf Dreams it seems clearly to be the story of a terrorist.


I was left with absolutely no respect for the Algerian Islamist movement but realize this was a novel and written by a former army officer. I felt that the violence and near anarchy is fairly represented as it was in the other recent book I read on Algeria.

[Rania · Rating 4 out of 5]

تجربتي الأولى مع أدب ياسمينا خضرا وأعتقد أنني سأكرر التجربة قريبا
لم أخال بأن كاتبا ينتحل اسما أنثويا قد يخبآ كل هذا العمق والدقة في الوصف والتصوير, أمتعتني صوره ونقلتني لغته المحكمة إلى أجواء بدت لي مألوفة رغم أنني لم أزرها في حياتي
يحكي العمل قصة نافع وليد, شاب عاطل يرغب في احتراف التمثيل ولكن فقره وواقعه الاجتماعي يحولان دون أحلامه, تحاصره أمال الخلاص والتغيير فينجر رويدا رويدا نحو التطرف والعنف لينتهي معزولا في شقة مهجورة في عمارته القديمة بحي القصبة العاصمي
روعة القصة تأتي من قدرتها على رصد التحولات النفسية التي ألمت بشخصية نافع وحولته إلى وحش آدمي لا يتورع عن سفك دماء الرضع
لطالما أثار فضولي وعجبي قدرة بعض البشر على تخطي التعاطف الانساني الذي أعتبره فطريا ونبذ اي وامض رحمة او شفقة , قصة نافع قدمت لي .
الكثير من الاجابات واشبعت فضولي لمعرفة كيف يتحول الانسان إلى آلة قتل وتدمير