This is an entertaining read. The writing style is both simple and beautiful. The characters are believable. A good book

Men don't cry because Mourad's father says so and Mourad doesn't know the reasoning behind it.
I really enjoyed this book. It was witty and funny with plenty of laugh out loud moments. Written from the first person perspective of Mourad Chennoun who belongs to an Algerian family living in Nice, France, the reader sees the world through his thoughts and viewpoints.
Mourad is the youngest child in the family and the only brother of elder sisters Dounia and Mina. Dounia is a rebel and refuses to conform to her family's traditions whilst growing up. She eventually ends up leaving her family for good and is disowned by her parents.
A few years later, their father, Big Baba, has a stroke and Mourad moves to Paris after getting a job as a secondary school teacher. He goes to live with his cousin Miloud (who is on an expired student visa) and Miloud's lover, Liliane. Dounia has now become an outspoken feminist and strives to become a politician. It is in Paris that both Mourad and Dounia finally reconnect and Mourad gets an insight into her life.
My favourite character was Mourad's "Maman" - his mother with her completely over the top reactions to everyone and everything.
Faiza Guene has also used this book to voice her opinions about society and xenophobia.

This is a fast paced coming of age novel about Mourad, from his turbulent adolescence with his eldest sister leaving the house, to his experiences being a schoolteacher in Paris. There were parts that were funny and insightful, but on the whole, I found the narrative voice of Mourad far too misogynist to really enjoy the book. His eldest sister, Dounia, who leaves the house is far more interesting, and I can't quite understand why the writer's so tremendously judgmental about her, or the future she chooses- would someone who's such a radical feminist join a right wing political party? Mourad never really encounters any opposition to his views, or seems to develop empathy at all. The book has a diverse cast of characters, but for a book that seems to want to subvert cliches, every character apart from Mourad are complete stereotypes- the Indians bobble their heads and clutch their idols , the blonde women only want to be reality stars. I would recommend Sabri Louatah's books instead, for a far more nuanced depiction of the diversity of life in France- better plotlines, fascinating characters.

This author writes really well, and this is a good story with some nice humor. This is a niche story, but those that read this will probably enjoy it a lot.

I really appreciate the free ARC for review!!