The turtledoves do not die

Author: Alain Mabanckou Translation: Saeed Boukerami Binding: Hardcover Parts: One Paper: Shamoah Size: 14×21 Synopsis: During three days, we will follow Michel, who is thirteen years old, and delve into his daily life. But these days are not like ordinary days: the Congolese president Marian Ngouabi has been assassinated, and the country is on the brink of civil war. How will Michel, Papa Rojia, and Mama Pauline face these serious events that occurred in March 1977? This is the story of "The Cuckoos Do Not Die": it is the intimate life of the individual and his family, which is completely intertwined with political life. Of course, this is an opportunity for the Congolese novelist Alain Mabanckou to shed light on some of the machinery of power in his homeland. We will live there in Pointe-Noire for only three days, and despite its brevity, it will enable us to grasp many keys to understanding many things. Undoubtedly, these are keys we would not have sought unless we were specialists in African politics, or more specifically in Congolese affairs. But along the way, we will truly discover a history unknown to most Arab readers. Mabanckou writes in a simple yet deceptive narrative style. When the narrator, Michel, the dreamy hero, takes the reins of the narration, he is not very concerned with adult life, but rather passes his narrative perspective smoothly, in a peaceful, humorous, and playful atmosphere, because Michel's storytelling is very sarcastic and deeply so, even without Michel himself realizing it. These two voices shock the reader. Violence and bitter criticism are present often and everywhere. One hardly realizes this until reaching the end of this novel. "The Cuckoos Do Not Die" is a literary testimony from a faithful writer to his African worlds and committed to their issues. Undoubtedly, there are pages where Mabanckou's language shifts from one novel to another, depending on the subject he is working on, but what unites them with this novel is the poetic nature of daily life, and the effectiveness of this distinguished, satirical, humorous, modest, and meaningful writing.