Middle East/North African Lit discussion
This topic is about
For Bread Alone
2021
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Discussion of "For bread alone"
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Who will be reading this? I read this when I was in my 20s and would love to revisit it now decades later. I remember what impressed me was the fact that the author Mohamed Choukri like the lead character grew up very poor and also lived on the streets and not learn to read or write until he was in his 20s. I did not know that he had written other books since For Bread Alone
I read it also like 15-20 years ago or so when it was out, and then met another Moroccan author who knew Choucri, Mohamed Sibari. If I find I recap I will read but not sure I can reread.
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I will start whenever the others do! Just let me know!
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Niledaughter wrote: "I started but still at the very beginning."I remember it being a very rough read with the father and what happens to the brother, but it was sad that it was a realistic depiction of the poverty in Tanger at this period
Quite a rough read indeed, precisely why i am not tempted to have a second reading
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I am still way behind, I haven't read anything in a while :(
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Anyone have any thoughts about this book ?
I wanted to reread it with everyone but haven't had the time yet. I do remember I was deeply moved by it. It's so brutal but very real and knowing it is semi-autobiographical made it more compelling.
Fwiw it's also a fast read.
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Niledaughter wrote: "It was too depressing to continue while I wanted to read something more cheerful. So many members voted for the book and I wished some may join the discussion :("That is the story of goodreads! I actually didn't vote for it. Although I recommended it, I had it more in mind to reread it next year.
I will reread this book for the Maghreb category of the challenge. It's a hard book to read because of the violence and poverty but it's definitely worth reading!
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Niledaughter wrote: "I did not finish it, it was troubling indeed. Maybe I will try to get back to it at some point."If it makes a difference there is a light at the end of the tunnel knowing it is autobiographical and the lead character ends up becoming a writer.
I started reading this this morning and must say in spite of the violence I find it hard to put down. The writing style is very compelling and if I had time I could probably sit down and read it straight though. As I said in the other thread, I am no fan of violence and don't like reading graphic sex ( the sex is not described in graphic detail here but there is a lot) but the way it is written is not exploitive for titillating. It is just describing the things how they were.
Well, forget about the sex not being graphic because it is sometimes. It is not porn, but there a lot of it. It is not written in a way to be erotic, the opposite. The young man's story is just so brutal. Given his circumstances he has not had any chances in life except to hang out with criminals and prostitutes. His father is a monster. This story takes place in the late 40s early 50s during the Spanish protectorate in Morocco. Neither the Spanish nor the French do anything to aid the people of Morocco.
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For everyone who is considering or hesitating reading this novel, you might want to check out this article: https://friendlymorocco.com/uncategor...
Yes, this book is absolutely brutal, but it is a reality, not just for a youth in Morocco in the 1950s but universally.
This is a quote by Mohamed Choukry: “I cannot write about the milk of birds, the gentle stranglehold of the angelic beauty, grasps of dew, the cascade of lions, the heavy breast of females. I cannot write with a crystal’s paintbrush. For me, writing is a protest, not a parade.”
Middle East/North African Lit
Books mentioned in this topic
Cinnamon (other topics)For Bread Alone (other topics)
It is a coming-of-age narrative set in Morocco.
"For Bread Alone: How Moroccan Literature Let the Subalterns Speak"
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10....