The Belly of the Atlantic [Paperback]

Fatou Diome (Author), Ros Schwartz (Translator), Lulu Norman (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2008

“This charming, vivid and poetic book captures the poignancy of immigrant life and all the unresolved pain of Africa's relationship with its former colonial powers.”—Michela Wrong

Salie lives in Paris. Back home on the Senegalese island of Niodior, her football-crazy brother Madické counts on her to get him to France, the promised land where foreign footballers become world famous. The story of Salie and Madické highlights the painful situation of those who emigrate. It is a moving account of one of the great tragedies of our time.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"'When it comes to immigration, cliches are abundant. With her first novel, Fatou Diome sweeps them all away. This well-written saga grips the reader at the same time as it confronts prejudice' Le Figaro 'With this powerful novel, epic and tumultuous, Fatou Diome confirms her enormous talent' Le Canard Enchaine 'It's the humour of the book that entices the reader to want to know more about its author... The Belly of the Atlantic is a great read that you can't put down' Le Monde"

About the Author

Born in 1968 in Niodior, Senegal, Fatou Diome moved to Strasbourg in 1994. She has taught at Strasbourg University and currently presents a cultural programme on the televison station FR3. She is the author of a collection of short stories called La Preference Nationale. The Belly of the Atlantic is her first novel.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Serpent's Tail (September 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1852429038
• ISBN-13: 978-1852429034
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #205,142 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great read, January 26, 2008

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This review is from: The Belly of the Atlantic (Paperback)

Full of lush, lyrical language, philosophical sayings and descriptions of village life on the island of Niodior off the coast of Senegal, the novel is fairly short but manages to cover a lot of ground. Narrated by Salie, a native of Niodior living in Paris, it covers themes of individualism vs. collective identity, gender roles, the impact of colonization, and identity. Also addressed are the role of Islam in the community of Niodior, especially on gender roles and the identity of women. This is a worthwhile journey through the two different worlds that Salie moves between as well as her own inner journey toward finding an identity of her own.