tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post5793965369664869355..comments2024-03-08T03:18:48.591-05:00Comments on Lotus Reads: Kiffe Kiffe Tomorrow by Faiza GueneLotus Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-48541187952364179362008-01-08T13:20:00.000-05:002008-01-08T13:20:00.000-05:00Just a quick comment on verlan. To say that the b...Just a quick comment on verlan. To say that the book was translated from "verlan" is a little misleading. It would be tough to write an entire paragraph, let alone an entire book in verlan. SOME verlan is used in the book but overall the novel is written in French. Yes, it is casual French, FULL of slang, and it is great fun to read. However, I'm not sure you can label "verlan" as a language at all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-50024434410592184712007-12-14T04:24:00.000-05:002007-12-14T04:24:00.000-05:00Hi Lotus. I googled Faïza Guène as I just read abo...Hi Lotus. I googled Faïza Guène as I just read about her book on The Guardian website and your review was on the first page! Congratulations, your site looks great. I was reading about a new French film about an Algerian family in France called 'La Graine et le mulet' when I came across this author - sounds like an interesting book.a.c.t.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16347794269630638479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-78980196030996942042006-11-16T10:46:00.000-05:002006-11-16T10:46:00.000-05:00hi! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
i hope your daughter ...hi! I'm glad you enjoyed it!<br />i hope your daughter gets to read it as well. faiza guene is still so young; i hope she has many more wonderful books to write in the future!nomadicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17412410622244954585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-75705020962966181882006-11-16T10:16:00.000-05:002006-11-16T10:16:00.000-05:00This looks like a really interesting book! I agre...This looks like a really interesting book! I agree, it doesn't seem like a sweet coming of age book. It's seems much more serious.MLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15818786098417686889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-28199649056031741232006-11-13T04:09:00.000-05:002006-11-13T04:09:00.000-05:00my comment didn't come through the last time aroun...my comment didn't come through the last time around. Anyway I heard of this one before. Also selling by the name Just Like Tomorrow. Will read sooon!Saalehahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12607453476839291138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-20014899625171488162006-11-12T07:56:00.000-05:002006-11-12T07:56:00.000-05:00Hi, Anali!
Lovely to see you here! Yes, I think ...Hi, <b>Anali!</b><br /><br />Lovely to see you here! Yes, I think you summed it up quite nicely, it is the act of desperate people, ones who feel they have few or no options left to them...<br /><br />Hi, <b>Angela</b> <br /><br />Thanks for the clarification, you have assisted so much in helping me understand the contentious social issue at the heart of this book. I shall be keeping an eye out for news tidbits on on how France deals with this issue in the future.<br /><br />Hi, <b>J'm amuse!</b><br /><br />Love your blogger ID and your blog. Hope you get back to reviewing soon and thanks so much for the nice comment!Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-59679790361505822422006-11-11T20:06:00.000-05:002006-11-11T20:06:00.000-05:00I also enjoyed this book. It was refreshing to re...I also enjoyed this book. It was refreshing to read a French book with a different worldview.<br /><br />Thanks for not only visiting my blog, but for leaving a comment linking me to your wonderful world of reading. I am quite impressed!je m'amusehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11342669027669775610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-34462989279346925952006-11-11T15:56:00.000-05:002006-11-11T15:56:00.000-05:00Honestly, it isn't a color issue, because there ar...Honestly, it isn't a color issue, because there are black french people...French people just generally don't like non-French people and Arabic-French people are non-French in these people's minds. <br /><br />As far as I can tell, the French government is doing their best to ship these people out of the country. They just passed a lot of laws concerning them.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08517218658953992674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-64147043188635213272006-11-11T12:55:00.000-05:002006-11-11T12:55:00.000-05:00This book looks really good. I think I heard about...This book looks really good. I think I heard about it a few months ago, but forgot to follow-up. Thanks for reminding me. <br /><br />I remember hearing about the riots and not being too surprised. Desperate people do desperate things. If you feel like you have nothing to lose, then nothing really matters. I think it's similar to what is happening all over the world. It's just popping up in places where it might not normally be expected.Lisa Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08096947438461486505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-51524810391240078332006-11-11T10:06:00.000-05:002006-11-11T10:06:00.000-05:00Angela thanks so much for your insights into the r...Angela thanks so much for your insights into the riots. It is quite shocking that the native French (the whites) didn't even realize how marginalized the French-Arabic youth felt until the riots. It is very dangerous to live in such ignorance. Have things improved for them (the people in the banlieus) since the riots?Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-62765486740393255412006-11-11T06:23:00.000-05:002006-11-11T06:23:00.000-05:00Wow, living in a Paris suburb last year when these...Wow, living in a Paris suburb last year when these riots broke out was scary! I remember one of the dorms where I lived was burned in the middle of the night while people were in there. And I also remember when two cars explodes outside my window at 5 a.m. (when cars burn, they explode when the fire reaches the gast tank-for some reason it didn't register when it happened). <br /><br />All of this prompted me to ask my "white French" French friends what was going on. Their answers were shocking and disappointing because they generally believed that is was just a bunch of thugs burning cars for fun (an initial report stated that as many as 70 percent of the cars that burned were burned by the owners for the insurance money). <br /><br />But as an outsider, and perhaps as an American, everything that was happening was more upsetting. My French was really bad at the time, so it wasn't as if I could go out in the streets and ask people what was happening, so I had to ask my students. Most of my students grew up in the banlieue and were of Arabic, Morrocan, North African decent and there answers were a little more insightful.<br /><br />The people from previous French colonies are not really "French." The "real French" don't consider these people as French although their countries were colonized by the French and many of them are 3rd or 4th generation whose parents and grandparents were born in France. They are still North African or Morrocan, etc. So the lines of discrimination are legally and socially drawn. It is no wonder that these people feel like the laws of France do not apply to them....they aren't really French according to the society in which they live. <br /><br />I don't know, but I think this is why it happened and why it still continues. It is true, Arabic looking people do get harrassed by the police more often then others and even my some of my friends make the distinction between the French French folks and French-Arabic folks.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08517218658953992674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-7524695476713659352006-11-10T16:18:00.000-05:002006-11-10T16:18:00.000-05:00Asha, I'm half afraid that if you take to reading ...Asha, I'm half afraid that if you take to reading full time you might not be able to share all those wonderful recipes with us! :)Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-634520622897664282006-11-10T15:13:00.000-05:002006-11-10T15:13:00.000-05:00Another gem from you, or your reviews rather Lotus...Another gem from you, or your reviews rather Lotus! Wish I had time sit and just read and read and read!!:))FHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16120251231228218853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-12391027973494084502006-11-10T14:08:00.000-05:002006-11-10T14:08:00.000-05:00Hi, Beenzzz
Yes they are, aren't they? Some rev...Hi, <b>Beenzzz</b> <br /><br />Yes they are, aren't they? Some reviewers have described this as a 'Catcher in the Rye' but I think they tend to do that anytime an angst-driven teen is the protagonist of a story!<br /><br /><br />Hi, <b>equiano</b><br /><br />Oops, hope you weren't the author of the Newsweek review - the one I quoted from! ;) No, I know what you mean, it is an easy read, but it sure packs a punch. BTW, I am so enjoying your blog!Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-79921442961571869912006-11-10T13:49:00.000-05:002006-11-10T13:49:00.000-05:00I suspect I am one of those you accuse of describi...I suspect I am one of those you accuse of describing the book as light :) I defend myself by saying that stylistically it IS an easy read (you could take it on a beach holiday, no problem). I agree with you completely that Guene does a great job of capturing life for people living in the banlieues, and her teenage perspective is wonderfully consistent. Hope your daughter enjoys it!equianohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13259340054005982291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-84783722054842598462006-11-10T13:33:00.000-05:002006-11-10T13:33:00.000-05:00This looks like a great book. What an interesting...This looks like a great book. What an interesting topic too.... the diaspora experience. You know how much I love this. Coming of age books are best!Beenzzzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15167283834612916683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-83626450961494484252006-11-10T13:26:00.000-05:002006-11-10T13:26:00.000-05:00Awwww, Beloved, thank you for all the wonderful th...Awwww, Beloved, thank you for all the wonderful things you say, we've had similar tastes right from our bookcrossing days, haven't we? :)Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-36918349063269701472006-11-10T11:35:00.000-05:002006-11-10T11:35:00.000-05:00Another great post my friend. I too would like to ...Another great post my friend. I too would like to read this book . Oh, what TBR list I am gathering. Hope my Hub will let me buy them all.lol<br />I remember reading about the riots and felt ashamed. I worry it will happen hear. I should say I was worried but after Nov 7th. I worry no more. We cut Bush's arrogant ways. He is a limping lame duck!!!!<br />:-) Hooray!<br />Just want to say I am so glad you read my poem and liked it. I had a hard time with it. I wanted to use my own drawing but could not download in time.<br />Keep up the great reviews Lotus. You fill me with so many different views of this world of ours.<br /><br />love-bdCassiopeia Riseshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02625091389788114012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-85552270242724536272006-11-10T09:19:00.000-05:002006-11-10T09:19:00.000-05:00Hi, Susan
Such a pity that the people in the ban...Hi, <b>Susan</b> <br /><br />Such a pity that the people in the banlieus had to resort to so much violence and destruction before the French government could be persuaded to take notice of their living and social conditions. Multiculturalism has never been France's strong suit, which is surprising when you consider that they have one of the largest number of immigrants of any European state.<br /><br /><br />Hi, <b>Melissa</b> <br /><br />*big grin* You know me so well. Recently I have had my anthropologist hat on a lot! I ought to do something concrete with the big passion I have for this subject, no?<br /><br />I'm hoping Angela will share her insights. I am looking forward to her comments.<br /><br />Hi, <b>jenclair</b> <br /><br />You do have a point - I'm hoping that a lot of people will be persuaded to read the book. It is light but not exactly lighthearted.Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-41617913240231223802006-11-10T08:42:00.000-05:002006-11-10T08:42:00.000-05:00From your description, the term "lighthearted" doe...From your description, the term "lighthearted" does seem dismissive; however, it may also mean that more people will read it and perhaps discover more than they intended.jenclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-70622961929799934202006-11-10T07:26:00.000-05:002006-11-10T07:26:00.000-05:00this book must have appealed to the anthropologist...this book must have appealed to the anthropologist in you! speaking of the anger among youth in paris reminds me of angela's ordeal... maybe she could shed even more light on this issue.hellomelissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11109229454400994627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-28708060130807438702006-11-10T05:41:00.000-05:002006-11-10T05:41:00.000-05:00One of the sad things about those riots was that m...One of the sad things about those riots was that many people in downtown Paris knew nothing about why those kids would become so destructive. It seems like the dire situation in the banlieus was not news until then. When France won the World Cup in 1998 the multicultural soccer team became a symbol of the multiethnic "success" of France. A lot of people now see that as false.Susan in Italyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03504876361780195313noreply@blogger.com