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4 out of 4 stars
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What an adventure! First, I’ll acknowledge the four out of four stars rating that Grand Lure: Africa earned after taking me on an African savanna journey, and Michel L’Aventure’s words became images evoking an abundance of emotions. The author’s translation of French idioms made it even easier for me to jump on board with the various destinations, such as Barandi, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Paris. The French expressions were perfectly integrated into the book’s narration and dialogue, bringing a cultural authenticity to the charm of the main character, Charles. He’s a freelance French journalist and a free spirit looking for the scoop of his career.
With financial backing from his friend Pierre, a wealthy French entrepreneur, Charles departs for West Africa. Through his travels, I discovered Africa’s history, learned about the culture, and laughed with natives. When Charles investigates an African organization still practicing the rituals of the Triboumda Tribe, which involve preparing the “body to absorb the Spirits of Our Ancestors,” I felt so close to death that I almost heard it whispering in my ear. An underworld of money laundering, slave trade, racial discrimination, and the sex trafficking of young girls — along with the lack of food and resources for African nations — are contrasted with the mesmerizing landscapes, the song of bee-eaters, and the cultural and ancestral traditions of the local people.
The author’s writing style corresponds to the protagonist’s occupation as a well-versed and gregarious journalist keen to articulate “forceful words to his readers” through his electrifying stories. Sometimes, the colorful language blossomed the narrative’s design. As a debut novel, L’Aventure provided his readers with a rich historical context grounded in real-life experiences against the backdrop of the sharp contrast between Africa’s wealth and poverty.
The editors who helped polish this manuscript did an exceptional job in proofreading and refining the syntax, which perfectly described the intensity or euphoria of the scenes. Thus, I did not stumble upon missing commas or other grammatical errors. At the same time, the fluent writing conveyed Charles’ discovery of Africa — including organizations, culture, and people — where “slavery is still alive and well.”
Sadness befell after the novel’s final words, and I woke up; the last images of Africa’s heat, inhabitants, life-threatening situations, blessed moments, and alluring panoramas faded away.
Adventurers, writers, and readers who wish to embark on a journey to another world can take a voyage to Grand Lure: Africa. Sail back to December 2010 with this opening line: “Africa, a continent rich in beauty and natural resources, has historically been the target of greedy colonists and/or native usurpers, such as military and civilian government officials.”
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Grand Lure: Africa
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This is a lovely piece,although I felt that it isn't a piece isn't for all ages to read(as most of the English used might be very bombastic for some readers. This book gives an insite to the African culture and we see how things were done. Africa is a very rich place with a outstanding background. I really enjoyed this read
