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Critica Books The literary magazine Critica Books is a subsidiary of the Mason Ewing Corporation.

The Other Side of the DocksIn The Other Side of the Docks, Ivy Pochoda takes us to the Red Hook neighborhood, an isolate...
11/12/2024

The Other Side of the Docks

In The Other Side of the Docks, Ivy Pochoda takes us to the Red Hook neighborhood, an isolated strip of Brooklyn where adolescence is filled with dreams and disillusionments. One sweltering night, inseparable friends Val and June set out on an inflatable raft for an adventure that will change their lives. In this neighborhood, watched over by the Statue of Liberty, social divides are palpable, separating housing projects from gentrified areas.

Pochoda paints Red Hook with immersive precision, creating characters and settings so vivid that they feel real. The neighborhood’s identity, social bonds, and the weight of past stories blend with love, hatred, and nostalgia in this novel with the feel of an urban chronicle. A captivating and realistic journey into the heart of a transformed Brooklyn. đŸ—œ

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L’autre cĂŽtĂ© des docks !

Dans L’autre cĂŽtĂ© des docks, Ivy Pochoda nous transporte dans le quartier de Red Hook, une langue de terre isolĂ©e de Brooklyn, oĂč l’adolescence est teintĂ©e de rĂȘves et de dĂ©sillusions. Lors d’une nuit Ă©touffante, Val et June, deux amies insĂ©parables, dĂ©cident de prendre le large en canot pneumatique pour un pĂ©riple qui va bouleverser leurs vies. Ce quartier, oĂč la statue de la LibertĂ© les regarde de face, incarne la fracture sociale, entre citĂ©s et zones gentrifiĂ©es.

Pochoda nous dĂ©crit Red Hook avec une prĂ©cision immersive et des personnages et des dĂ©cors si  qu’on s’y croirait. L’identitĂ© du quartier, les liens sociaux, et le poids des histoires passĂ©es se mĂȘlent Ă  l’'amour, la haine et la nostalgie dans ce roman aux allures de chronique urbaine. Un voyage envoĂ»tant et rĂ©aliste au cƓur d’un Brooklyn mĂ©tamorphosĂ©. đŸ—œ




The Supremes: A Tribute to Friendship and ResilienceIn The Supremes, Edward Kelsey Moore immerses us in the lives of thr...
11/12/2024

The Supremes: A Tribute to Friendship and Resilience

In The Supremes, Edward Kelsey Moore immerses us in the lives of three inseparable African American friends, Odette, Clarice, and Barbara Jean, who have built their friendship into a foundation that helps them weather life’s trials. This trio, affectionately nicknamed “the Supremes,” gathers every Sunday at a restaurant in their small Indiana town—a place rich with memories where, through laughter and tears, they share the joys and disappointments of life. 🌾

Odette, fearless and unconventional, secretly converses with ghosts and faces cancer in her own unique way, while Clarice, patient and wise, endures her husband’s infidelities. Barbara Jean, embodying both beauty and sorrow, navigates the storms of her own memories and heartaches. Moore’s writing is full of humor and sensitivity, crafting a portrait as endearing as it is vibrant of these ordinary heroines who, despite the challenges of segregation and the twists of modern life, continue to shine. A touching and heartwarming novel that celebrates friendship and humanity as acts of resilience. đŸ’«

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Les SuprĂȘmes : Une ode Ă  l'amitiĂ© et Ă  la rĂ©silience 

Dans Les SuprĂȘmes, Edward Kelsey Moore nous plonge dans la vie de trois insĂ©parables amies afro-amĂ©ricaines, Odette, Clarice et Barbara Jean, qui ont fait de leur amitiĂ© un pilier pour traverser les Ă©preuves de la vie. Ce trio, surnommĂ© affectueusement “les SuprĂȘmes”, se retrouve chaque dimanche dans un restaurant de leur petite ville de l’Indiana, un lieu chargĂ© d’histoires oĂč entre rires et larmes, elles abordent les bonheurs et les dĂ©sillusions de la vie. 🌾

Facing the waves: an adventure by Michelle NkamankengIn her book "Waiting for the Waves," published in 2016, Michelle Nk...
04/14/2024

Facing the waves: an adventure by Michelle Nkamankeng

In her book "Waiting for the Waves," published in 2016, Michelle Nkamankeng, a young South African author born in 2008, captivates readers! Michelle's adventure, at the age of 7, at the beach, highlights the polarity of love and fear, her love for the big waves coupled with her fear of this imposing natural force. The story recounts her inner struggle between love and fear, and how the support of her family helps her overcome her fears. đŸ˜±

This story highlights the contradictions of emotions: by freeing oneself from fear, one gives oneself permission to truly feel the beauty of nature. An excellent book for children and adults about overcoming fears with family support. And the good news is that, with her young age, author Michelle Nkamankeng has not finished surprising us! đŸ€©

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Affronter les vagues: une aventure de Michelle Nkamankeng

Dans son livre "Waiting for the Waves", paru en 2016, Michelle Nkamankeng, jeune auteure sud-africaine nĂ©e en 2008, captive les lecteurs ! L'aventure de Michelle, ĂągĂ©e de 7 ans, Ă  la plage, souligne la loi de la polaritĂ© de l'amour et de la peur, son amour pour les grandes vagues couplĂ© Ă  sa peur de cette force naturelle imposante. Le rĂ©cit relate son combat intĂ©rieur entre amour et peur, et comment le soutien de sa famille lui permet de surmonter ses craintes. đŸ˜±

Cette histoire met en lumiĂšre les contradictions des Ă©motions : en se libĂ©rant de la peur, on se donne la permission de vĂ©ritablement ressentir la beautĂ© de la nature. Un excellent livre pour les enfants et les adultes sur le dĂ©passement de ses peurs avec le soutien de la famille. Et la bonne nouvelle, c’est qu’avec son jeune Ăąge, l’auteure Michelle Nkamankeng n’a pas fini de nous Ă©tonner ! đŸ€©




 

Nigeria according to SoyinkaCaptivating exploration at the heart of Nigeria, "Chronicles of the Land of the Happiest Peo...
04/14/2024

Nigeria according to Soyinka

Captivating exploration at the heart of Nigeria, "Chronicles of the Land of the Happiest People in the World" by Wole Soyinka, released in August 2023, reveals an enchanting universe blending ancestral mysteries and contemporary issues. Soyinka, Nobel Prize laureate in Literature in 1986, immerses us in a narrative where Dr. Menka and his friend Duyole Pitan-Payne find themselves caught in a whirlwind of enigmatic events, between ritual practices and political intrigues.

Each element, whether it's characters or places, opens doors to unsuspected directions, while the plot unfolds like an exciting detective story, between family secrets and quirky leads. Soyinka skillfully weaves a dense and captivating narrative, offering a fascinating dive into the intricacies of a society in full transition.

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Le Nigéria selon Soyinka 

Exploration captivante au cƓur du NigĂ©ria, "Chroniques du pays des gens les plus heureux du monde" de Wole Soyinka, paru en aoĂ»t 2023, dĂ©voile un univers envoĂ»tant mĂȘlant mystĂšres ancestraux et enjeux contemporains. Soyinka, laurĂ©at du prix Nobel de littĂ©rature en 1986, nous plonge dans un rĂ©cit oĂč le docteur Menka et son ami Duyole Pitan-Payne se trouvent pris dans un tourbillon d'Ă©vĂ©nements Ă©nigmatiques, entre pratiques rituelles et intrigues politiques. 

Chaque Ă©lĂ©ment, qu'il s'agisse de personnages ou de lieux, ouvre des portes vers des directions insoupçonnĂ©es, tandis que l'intrigue se dĂ©voile comme une palpitante enquĂȘte policiĂšre, entre secrets de famille et pistes loufoques. Soyinka tisse avec habiletĂ© un rĂ©cit dense et captivant, offrant une plongĂ©e fascinante dans les mĂ©andres d'une sociĂ©tĂ© en pleine mutation.




The refugee tragedy« Refugee » by Alan Gratz, published on July 25, 2017, unfolds a complex and moving narrative. The au...
02/08/2024

The refugee tragedy

« Refugee » by Alan Gratz, published on July 25, 2017, unfolds a complex and moving narrative. The author, renowned for his nineteen successful novels, explores the intertwined destinies of Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud, offering a poignant reflection on survival, courage, and the search for home across eras and continents.

The strength of the work lies in how Gratz exposes the brutality of the experiences lived by these refugee children at different times, without avoiding reality. The narrative, although intended for a young audience, does not spare the details, providing a both captivating and educational reading. « Refugee » transcends the boundaries of the youth genre, offering a striking perspective on universal human challenges.

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Le drame des réfugiés

Refugee » d’Alan Gratz, paru le 25 juillet 2017, dĂ©ploie une narration complexe et Ă©mouvante. L’auteur, renommĂ© pour ses dix-neuf romans Ă  succĂšs, explore les destins entrelacĂ©s de Josef, Isabel et Mahmoud, offrant une rĂ©flexion poignante sur la survie, le courage et la recherche d’un chez-soi Ă  travers les Ă©poques et continents.

La force de l’Ɠuvre rĂ©side dans la maniĂšre dont Gratz expose la brutalitĂ© des expĂ©riences vĂ©cues par ces enfants rĂ©fugiĂ©s Ă  diffĂ©rentes Ă©poques, sans Ă©luder la rĂ©alitĂ©. Le rĂ©cit, bien que destinĂ© Ă  un public jeune, ne mĂ©nage pas les dĂ©tails, offrant une lecture Ă  la fois captivante et Ă©ducative. « Refugee » transcende les frontiĂšres du genre jeunesse, offrant une perspective saisissante sur les dĂ©fis humains universels.
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The Hell of SetheIn Toni Morrison’s dazzling « Beloved, » published in September 1987, the reader is plunged into the de...
02/08/2024

The Hell of Sethe

In Toni Morrison’s dazzling « Beloved, » published in September 1987, the reader is plunged into the depths of post-Civil War Ohio, around 1870. It is there that Sethe, a former slave, attempts to rebuild her life haunted by an unspeakable act: sacrificing her child to spare him from the inhumane cruelty of slavery. Eighteen years later, an enigmatic young girl, calling herself « Beloved, » bursts into her existence, the name engraved on the tombstone of her deceased daughter.

Beyond the plot, Morrison immerses us in a narrative where emotions, reactions, and human paradoxes intertwine with stunning mastery. The tragedy transcends the traumatic event, extending to the complex moral aftermath and choices that mark Sethe’s life. The author succeeds in creating a tapestry where dignity, love, loneliness, and misfortune coexist!

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L’enfer de Sethe

Dans l’éblouissant « Beloved » de Toni Morrison, paru en septembre 1987, le lecteur est plongĂ© dans les mĂ©andres de l’Ohio post-Guerre civile, vers 1870. C’est lĂ  que vivait Sethe, une ancienne esclave, tentant de reconstruire sa vie hantĂ©e par un acte indicible : avoir sacrifiĂ© son enfant pour le soustraire Ă  la cruautĂ© inhumaine de l’esclavage. Dix-huit ans plus t**d, une Ă©nigmatique jeune fille, se faisant appeler “Beloved”, fait irruption dans son existence, le nom gravĂ© sur la tombe de sa dĂ©funte fille.

Au-delĂ  de l’intrigue, Morrison nous plonge dans un rĂ©cit oĂč les Ă©motions, les rĂ©actions et les paradoxes humains s’entremĂȘlent avec une maĂźtrise stupĂ©fiante. La tragĂ©die dĂ©passe le simple Ă©vĂ©nement traumatisant, s’étendant aux sĂ©quelles et aux choix moraux complexes qui marquent la vie de Sethe. L’auteure rĂ©ussit Ă  crĂ©er une toile oĂč la dignitĂ©, l’amour, la solitude, et le malheur cohabitent !
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