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The Country of Others

2.7(3)
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About the book

Alsace, 1944. Mathilde finds herself falling deeply in love with Amine Belhaj, a Moroccan soldier billeted in her town fighting for the French. After the Liberation, Mathilde leaves her country to follow her new husband to Morocco. But life here is unrecognisable to this brave and passionate young woman.

Suffocated by the heat of the Moroccan climate, by her loneliness on the farm, by the mistrust she inspires as a foreigner and by their lack of money, Mathilde grows restless. As violence broods and Morocco's own struggle for independence grows daily, Mathilde and Amine's refusal to take sides sees them and their family at odds with their own desire for freedom. How can Mathilde - a woman whose life is dominated by the decisions of men - hold her family together in a world that is being torn apart?

Editions (3)

ISBN9780571361625
PublisherFaber And Faber Ltd.
Publication Date08/05/21
Pages315

Reviews & Ratings

3 ratings

1 reviews

2.7

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  • 3.0

    This is one of those books you read and it leaves you hanging and unable to really rate it. It wasn’t bad, it was actually quite an interesting read and very gory. Amine is a bastard and generally all the men were portrayed as abusers and bastards. They had no care for the women most of the time and if they did, it was to appease their own conscience. Mathilde is not to be spared either, she was harsh to Aïcha and Selma mainly and it was disturbing to see a mother and woman not defend her own. It was sad to read but at the same time i also see her own fragility and depression that she had to contend with the entire time. Being in Morocco in Amine’s turf gave him “power” to treat Mathilde ruthlessly as she had no place to run. The society encourages women abuse and cared not for their education. I understand it was a time in history when the country was fighting for its independence but it was a brutal society. Of course now women have better opportunities but it feels like sometimes being from a certain religious background predisposes women to violence and unkindness.

    Nov 20, 2023

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