Review of A Dream For Peace
-
Ajibola Gabriel
- Posts: 205
- Joined: 16 Feb 2023, 05:27
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 35
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-ajibola-gabriel.html
- Latest Review: The Vitality System by Kyle Gonzalez
Review of A Dream For Peace
[Following is a volunteer review of "A Dream For Peace" by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah.]
Dr. Ghoulem Berrah’s A Dream For Peace: An Ambassador's Memoir, captures events and episodes that sum up the meaning, interests, and pursuits of the author. The different dynamics of his life, which I would admit are pretty interesting, resourceful, and exemplary, are presented in this book as a memoir. The book started as envisaged, bearing his roots and revealing details of his childhood as a child born in North Africa, in a small town in Algeria. He shared stories that defined his childhood and, amidst them, exposed the culture in which he grew up. His mother ensured his pursuit of education even after he lost his father, not letting being educated become less relevant in the scale of priorities. Eventually, he finished high school and got a scholarship that enabled him to study anywhere of his choosing. This opportunity allowed him to pursue a medical career at a university in Bordeaux. Here, he found and adventured into experiences beyond the borders of academic education. He became caught up in activism, as this was warranted by the discrimination and racism he faced alongside his African colleagues and friends. In his committed quest to fight for the freedom of his native nation, he easily became a soft target for the French police, which led to him seeking refuge in another country. This is a book you would want to read, as it also covers his love life and its failures, including how he met and eventually married Antoinette.
The book has quite a number of fascinating turns. It is culturally relevant and speaks of the history of the Algerian people and the cultures of the places and communities he went to. The descriptions he gave of the places he visited, the fashion adopted, the beautiful apparels of the women, the trading of merchandise, etc., were so succinct and vivid that they made the pages come alive. The author deployed his storytelling skills so beautifully well, that it enamoured one with the ideas he projected out of the book. He was very detailed with his experiences, which one is assured he truly lived through, not as a passive bystander, but his life was definitely entwined with the experiences he communicated. The book is a graceful memoir; it spanned the length of the different segments of his life, from his social life, his professional life, and his family life, to his struggles and successes. He told his story with genuine interest and grace.
Overall, the book is commendable and inspiring. However, one might find certain pages unnecessary, so much so that it might dwindle the intensity of interest one started with. The book is quite voluminous; it has lots of pictures, abstracts, and so many people and places to keep track of. However, I believe it is the same quality responsible for this book’s excellence that is responsible for some of its 'excesses'. This, I believe, would be a matter of the preferences and biases of the reader. The author communicated his attention to detail and vividness to every element of the book, and while it accentuated the experience of certain parts, it made some parts overwhelming to comprehend and sometimes outright distracting.
I would rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. I am not deducting any stars because I understand the writer’s fundamental style, which helps to bring out the best in this memoir. I can hardly imagine this book written from another mind, as the author has excellence as his charm. The book was edited to perfection, as I could not find any errors. The average novel reader would find the earlier parts of the book a lot more interesting, but as the book progressed, the details shifted into more critical perspectives that might dissuade the mind of the average reader.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves to learn from the paths others have trod, especially as examples of excellence. If you love a good, detailed, and vivid memoir, you should fall in love with this amazing piece of writing. For lovers of history and foreign cultures, you will find the book relevant to historical times and with interesting cultural bearings. Finally, I will recommend this to those passionate about human rights, freedom, activism, adventures, and reality.
******
A Dream For Peace
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Dr. Ghoulem Berrah’s A Dream For Peace: An Ambassador's Memoir, captures events and episodes that sum up the meaning, interests, and pursuits of the author. The different dynamics of his life, which I would admit are pretty interesting, resourceful, and exemplary, are presented in this book as a memoir. The book started as envisaged, bearing his roots and revealing details of his childhood as a child born in North Africa, in a small town in Algeria. He shared stories that defined his childhood and, amidst them, exposed the culture in which he grew up. His mother ensured his pursuit of education even after he lost his father, not letting being educated become less relevant in the scale of priorities. Eventually, he finished high school and got a scholarship that enabled him to study anywhere of his choosing. This opportunity allowed him to pursue a medical career at a university in Bordeaux. Here, he found and adventured into experiences beyond the borders of academic education. He became caught up in activism, as this was warranted by the discrimination and racism he faced alongside his African colleagues and friends. In his committed quest to fight for the freedom of his native nation, he easily became a soft target for the French police, which led to him seeking refuge in another country. This is a book you would want to read, as it also covers his love life and its failures, including how he met and eventually married Antoinette.
The book has quite a number of fascinating turns. It is culturally relevant and speaks of the history of the Algerian people and the cultures of the places and communities he went to. The descriptions he gave of the places he visited, the fashion adopted, the beautiful apparels of the women, the trading of merchandise, etc., were so succinct and vivid that they made the pages come alive. The author deployed his storytelling skills so beautifully well, that it enamoured one with the ideas he projected out of the book. He was very detailed with his experiences, which one is assured he truly lived through, not as a passive bystander, but his life was definitely entwined with the experiences he communicated. The book is a graceful memoir; it spanned the length of the different segments of his life, from his social life, his professional life, and his family life, to his struggles and successes. He told his story with genuine interest and grace.
Overall, the book is commendable and inspiring. However, one might find certain pages unnecessary, so much so that it might dwindle the intensity of interest one started with. The book is quite voluminous; it has lots of pictures, abstracts, and so many people and places to keep track of. However, I believe it is the same quality responsible for this book’s excellence that is responsible for some of its 'excesses'. This, I believe, would be a matter of the preferences and biases of the reader. The author communicated his attention to detail and vividness to every element of the book, and while it accentuated the experience of certain parts, it made some parts overwhelming to comprehend and sometimes outright distracting.
I would rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. I am not deducting any stars because I understand the writer’s fundamental style, which helps to bring out the best in this memoir. I can hardly imagine this book written from another mind, as the author has excellence as his charm. The book was edited to perfection, as I could not find any errors. The average novel reader would find the earlier parts of the book a lot more interesting, but as the book progressed, the details shifted into more critical perspectives that might dissuade the mind of the average reader.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves to learn from the paths others have trod, especially as examples of excellence. If you love a good, detailed, and vivid memoir, you should fall in love with this amazing piece of writing. For lovers of history and foreign cultures, you will find the book relevant to historical times and with interesting cultural bearings. Finally, I will recommend this to those passionate about human rights, freedom, activism, adventures, and reality.
******
A Dream For Peace
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Vitality System by Kyle Gonzalez
