Review of A Dream For Peace
Posted: 23 Jun 2022, 12:20
[Following is a volunteer review of "A Dream For Peace" by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah.]
A Dream For Peace is an account of the life of the author, Dr. Ghoulem Berrah. This memoir starts from as far as the author could remember, way back to his childhood days, and details his growing up, education, love life, and career. And it is nothing short of fascinating and inspiring!
Dr. Berrah was born in colonial Algeria to a jeweller father and a stay-at-home mother. While he grew up in a large family setting where he never lacked, he was dissatisfied with the french rule of Algeria. Thus, from childhood, he resolved to help secure the independence of his fatherland . He actively began to participate in the struggle against colonial rule during his university days in Paris, a decision that would see him living like a fugitive. He found himself in Spain, China, Morocco, the U. S., etc, running for his life, participating in political activism, working as a doctor, and furthering his education. Yet one thing that never changed was his desire for a peaceful world.
Berrah’s life and experiences span the 622 pages of this book (he had a long, interesting, and fulfilling life). In seventeen chapters with captivating titles such as birth to university, hardship and prison, murky waters of love, etc, the author details his achievements, losses, pain, joy, and courage in his quest to see peace between nations and amongst individuals. Except for the top-secret missions that his boss, President Houphouët-Boigny gave him, the author spares no effort in describing his encounters. He vividly describes his home setting in Algeria, his dark and tiny prison cell in Spain, his covert missions in Morocco, and his strolls in Treichville market, enabling readers to be one with the events and his experiences. This vividness is the aspect I loved most in the book.
This novel is not your usual mind-numbing memoir that tells of a person's struggle to break the shackles of poverty. Berrah’s mission was to create harmony and friendship between warring sides. It contains photographs that help put the author’s account into perspective, break the monotony of the narration, and attest to Dr. Berrah's words. Additionally, there are humorous remarks scattered within this book to keep the reader glued to its pages. One such instance is the reaction of the Algerian president to the idea of asking permission from President Houphouët-Boigny to use an Algerian brain.
I found nothing to dislike in this work. It was edited professionally as I only saw a few grammatical errors, which did not affect my reading. Consequently, I award A Dream For Peace four out of four stars. I recommend it to political activists and readers who enjoy inspirational stories. Other than some terms that are difficult to pronounce, the book is easy to understand.
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A Dream For Peace
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
A Dream For Peace is an account of the life of the author, Dr. Ghoulem Berrah. This memoir starts from as far as the author could remember, way back to his childhood days, and details his growing up, education, love life, and career. And it is nothing short of fascinating and inspiring!
Dr. Berrah was born in colonial Algeria to a jeweller father and a stay-at-home mother. While he grew up in a large family setting where he never lacked, he was dissatisfied with the french rule of Algeria. Thus, from childhood, he resolved to help secure the independence of his fatherland . He actively began to participate in the struggle against colonial rule during his university days in Paris, a decision that would see him living like a fugitive. He found himself in Spain, China, Morocco, the U. S., etc, running for his life, participating in political activism, working as a doctor, and furthering his education. Yet one thing that never changed was his desire for a peaceful world.
Berrah’s life and experiences span the 622 pages of this book (he had a long, interesting, and fulfilling life). In seventeen chapters with captivating titles such as birth to university, hardship and prison, murky waters of love, etc, the author details his achievements, losses, pain, joy, and courage in his quest to see peace between nations and amongst individuals. Except for the top-secret missions that his boss, President Houphouët-Boigny gave him, the author spares no effort in describing his encounters. He vividly describes his home setting in Algeria, his dark and tiny prison cell in Spain, his covert missions in Morocco, and his strolls in Treichville market, enabling readers to be one with the events and his experiences. This vividness is the aspect I loved most in the book.
This novel is not your usual mind-numbing memoir that tells of a person's struggle to break the shackles of poverty. Berrah’s mission was to create harmony and friendship between warring sides. It contains photographs that help put the author’s account into perspective, break the monotony of the narration, and attest to Dr. Berrah's words. Additionally, there are humorous remarks scattered within this book to keep the reader glued to its pages. One such instance is the reaction of the Algerian president to the idea of asking permission from President Houphouët-Boigny to use an Algerian brain.
I found nothing to dislike in this work. It was edited professionally as I only saw a few grammatical errors, which did not affect my reading. Consequently, I award A Dream For Peace four out of four stars. I recommend it to political activists and readers who enjoy inspirational stories. Other than some terms that are difficult to pronounce, the book is easy to understand.
******
A Dream For Peace
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon