Men Don't Cry - by Faiza Guene Paperback

About the Book

Born in Nice to Algerian parents, Mourad is fueled by the desire to forge his own destiny. His retired father spends his days fixing up things in the backyard; his mother, bemoaning the loss of her natal village in North Africa. Mourad lives in fear of becoming an overweight bachelor with salt and pepper hair, living off his mother's cooking. When Mourad's father has a stroke, he makes his son promise to reconcile things with his estranged sister Dounia, a staunch feminist and aspiring politician, who had always felt constrained living at home. Now living in the Paris suburbs himself, Mourad tracks down Dounia and battles to span the gulf separating her and the rest of the family.

Book Synopsis

A tender and refreshing tale of family life, clashing cultures and belonging in France.

Review Quotes

'It's not an exaggeration to suggest that Guéne is doing for the people, especially the youth, of the banlieu what James Kelman and Agnes Owens have done for the deprived of Glasgow's housing schemes: that is, give a voice to those who have been excluded from literature ... Guéne is very evidently a natural novelist, a young writer of real talent'

'Ahléme has wit, wisdom and charisma that puts the reader firmly on her side as she does her best to find the small scraps of hope she needs to keep her going in tough situations'

Super-young, super-cool and fast becoming known as one of the hottest literary talents of multicultural Europe, Guéne takes us on a tour of tough suburbs of Paris and Algeria, where having the wrong-colour passport sentences you to half-life. Our home ... is an unforgettable narrator.

About the Author

Faïza Guène is a French writer and director. She was born in France in 1985 to parents of Algerian origin. Spotted at a writing workshop at the age of 18, Faïza made an astonishing literary debut with the international bestseller, Kiffe kiffe demain (Hachette Littératures, 2004), which has been translated into over thirty languages. This was followed by two further novels Du rêve pour les oufs. (Hachette Littératures, 2006) and Les gens du Balto. (Hachette Littératures, 2008). Faïza has acquired a reputation as one of France's most unique contemporary literary voices. Faïza has also directed several short films, including Rien que des mots (2004).