This was one of the most complicated books I’ve ever read in my entire life. As someone who is absolutely not familiar with Algerian literary styles and writing, this turned out to be quite the brain workout, if I’m being honest.

Nedjma tells the story of four Algerian men, and the love they all seem to have for this woman, the eponym character, Nedjma. It is set during French occupation, and after World War II. Reading about my own country’s history through fiction was the most interesting part of this book, as it has allowed me to learn about some events, and the way they may have impacted the population at the time. I found it very interesting how through the narration, which is done through all of the characters’ point of view, we travel in Algeria, seeing different landscapes and cities pan out in the pages. In times where liberation is on everyone’s mouthes, and following the devastating massacre of Setif in 1945, Nedjma is more than just a woman. Kateb Yacine paints her out to be the face of a nation, the nation itself, and the infatuation these men have with her is transposed to the devotion they have for their country. Never explicitly fighting to have her, but always making sure she is out of harm’s way, the author inks out the desire of every Algerian back in the day : freedom.

I do have to admit that keeping up with the narrators was extremely hard, because it is never explicitly stated who is telling the story at which point in time, and it felt difficult to keep up with the timeline as well, as the author jumps in time and reverts, with no warning whatsoever.

Overall, it was a great read, albeit a difficult one, and I’m hoping to read more books by Kateb Yacine in the future !