readers' comments
Read the opinion of my readers !
* For someone like me who lived at the same period and the same experiences than the writer, it was a wonderful trip back to the past. I recommend this book if you want to discover how a young boy/teenager lived in the Middle East during the sixties and the seventies.
- Antoine B.
* I just finished reading ''Memoirs of a Young Alien: The Exile'' and I felt really moved by the storyline and hardships endured by that generation. Extremely well written. Looking forward to reading the sequels. Intriguing story. Definitely worth buying.
- Kala
* A candid story of a boy's rite of passage through difficult family circumstances written with delicious simplicity & touching honesty.
- Georges
* Great novel! Well written! Eager to read the next chapter!
- Koko
* I recently finished reading ''Memoirs of a Young Alien: The Exile'' and could not put it down. As an avid reader who usually juggles 2-3 books at any time, it is always a delight to find a book that completely captures my attention.
It is a both heartbreaking and heartwarming story of love and fortitude in circumstances that were often beyond my comprehension. It is also an excellent history lesson in many world conflicts of which I had little knowledge prior to reading this book.
I cannot wait until the English publication of the 2 sequels.
- Mairead
* ''Memoirs of a Young Alien'': a captivating book that I read all at once, so much that I was conquered by the energy, vitality, optimism, perseverance and sense of humour that the protagonists demonstrate even in the most difficult situations. Love and Hope are stronger than adversity, the kindness of strangers reiterates faith in humanity and reality is more interesting than fantasy. Really inspiring! Thanks for the experience!’’ – Roberta
* ''Memoirs of a Young Alien'' takes us to Lebanon in the 1960s, seen through the eyes of a young boy who, like children of his age, is fearless. He accumulates one unpleasant experience after another. Without being an essay in the strict sense, "Memoirs of a Young Alien" captivates the reader with many events rich in history, while touching our heart. From laughter to drama, the author takes us through a colourful range of emotions. Captivating, this novel constitutes a light reading, perfect for a well-deserved holiday day. For when the sequel?
– Patrick
* ''Memoirs of a Young Alien'': A very interesting novel that touches the heart by tackling universal subjects, all seen through the innocent eyes of a child: war, love, injustice, the abnegation of a mother, uprooting, friendship, mourning, solidarity. Rico's adventures and experiences appear all the more authentic because they are the result of an autobiographical narrative: they make us believe, they move us, they make us laugh; the filter of subjectivity of young Rico is so refreshing.
The novel made me nostalgic for an era I never knew, a background of a country that is now over; nostalgic of a culture and a way of life which only a few fragments I discovered following my ancestors’ immigration to Canada.
But despite the rich background which gives this exotic flavour to the novel, it is the effectiveness with which the author introduces us to his endearing characters which make it an authentic novel and easy to read. After all, what is more universal than the innocence of a child who discovers life, while his mother, with her unconditional love, tries to protect him from the vicissitudes of life."
– Erik
* ''Memoirs of a Young Alien'' : a funny and moving novel that allowed me to travel back in time and discover Lebanon. Rico's misfortunes made me laugh. I could not help reading it everywhere: at work, on the bus, walking ... I often laughed wholeheartedly and the passers-by gave me a weird look ...
Thank you for having made me discover Lebanon of yesteryear through the eyes of the Protagonist: a sympathetic and touching child. ''
– Melanie