Review of A Dream For Peace
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Moses Rakgokong
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Review of A Dream For Peace
[Following is a volunteer review of "A Dream For Peace" by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah.]
In A Dream For Peace, the late Dr. Ghoulem Berrah simply chronicles his amazing life. His childhood was filled with the mirth and merriment that we would expect, but the political climate of the day in Algeria gave his life meaning from an early age. He was witness to the discrepancies that existed between the lives of Algerians and those of the French settlers, and this left quite an impression on the mind of the young child. This political climate would be the reason that he joined politics in his youth. In his university days, he became actively involved in organising political events, and this got him in trouble. His involvement in politics in his latter years would make sense even though he was a scientist. This book captures his many incredible moments, and it tells of the great relationships he forged in his life.
The way the memoir began, I thought that it was going to be one of those "I became successful despite my adversities" types. Part of it was, and this is captured through his journey of becoming a scientist. But the larger story captured the essence of the man as he navigated life in politics. The author had many encounters with noteworthy world leaders such as the once president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. However, it was his relationship with Houphouët-Boigny, the once president of Côte d'Ivoire that makes a grand appearance in the memoir. The men had a fondness for each other that made the memoir feel special.
The author shares very personal moments of his life, and his three marriages make for some interesting reading. I praise the author for his vulnerability and honesty. I appreciated that he didn't gloss over his experiences with romance, but he shared his truth in a way that made him personable and relatable. It was these truly human moments that I connected with the most. It was these moments that made me love the book more.
Normally, I wouldn't read a book this long because I have very little patience, but when a book keeps surprising me with great stories, I have to read it till the end. Normally, I'd criticise the length, but all the material shared in the book was of high quality that I saw no reason why some of it could have been shaved off. I don't have anything negative to say about the book. Every moment I spent reading this book was pleasurable and satisfying. It was also edited perfectly, which is significant. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.
I would recommend the book to someone who enjoys memoirs that are politically charged. There are themes of racism, colonialism, and religion that are strongly discussed in the book, and a reader who enjoys such ideas will most probably enjoy this memoir.
******
A Dream For Peace
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
In A Dream For Peace, the late Dr. Ghoulem Berrah simply chronicles his amazing life. His childhood was filled with the mirth and merriment that we would expect, but the political climate of the day in Algeria gave his life meaning from an early age. He was witness to the discrepancies that existed between the lives of Algerians and those of the French settlers, and this left quite an impression on the mind of the young child. This political climate would be the reason that he joined politics in his youth. In his university days, he became actively involved in organising political events, and this got him in trouble. His involvement in politics in his latter years would make sense even though he was a scientist. This book captures his many incredible moments, and it tells of the great relationships he forged in his life.
The way the memoir began, I thought that it was going to be one of those "I became successful despite my adversities" types. Part of it was, and this is captured through his journey of becoming a scientist. But the larger story captured the essence of the man as he navigated life in politics. The author had many encounters with noteworthy world leaders such as the once president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. However, it was his relationship with Houphouët-Boigny, the once president of Côte d'Ivoire that makes a grand appearance in the memoir. The men had a fondness for each other that made the memoir feel special.
The author shares very personal moments of his life, and his three marriages make for some interesting reading. I praise the author for his vulnerability and honesty. I appreciated that he didn't gloss over his experiences with romance, but he shared his truth in a way that made him personable and relatable. It was these truly human moments that I connected with the most. It was these moments that made me love the book more.
Normally, I wouldn't read a book this long because I have very little patience, but when a book keeps surprising me with great stories, I have to read it till the end. Normally, I'd criticise the length, but all the material shared in the book was of high quality that I saw no reason why some of it could have been shaved off. I don't have anything negative to say about the book. Every moment I spent reading this book was pleasurable and satisfying. It was also edited perfectly, which is significant. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.
I would recommend the book to someone who enjoys memoirs that are politically charged. There are themes of racism, colonialism, and religion that are strongly discussed in the book, and a reader who enjoys such ideas will most probably enjoy this memoir.
******
A Dream For Peace
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: American Dream? by Jeoung Lee
