Writing spicy dialogues as an album of Yopougon Aya, a plot like the moon light on restless nights Cotonou The Thrill of the most heyday (2010), the first work of writer Jerome Nouhou Benin, is a nice surprise. No, this is not the novel of the year, but this fiction is taken lightly and well in breath, and under an appearance of superficiality, breaststroke issues deeper than it seems. Nelson sophomore year law student at the University of Abomey, a few minutes "zem" Capital. He shares a two-room apartment with two friends: Jojo, an inveterate womanizer who thinks only girls back in his face and beard of the owner, and Malko, very intellectual Pan back against the Lebanese, whom he accuses of exploit, plunder, brief to parasitize the country. Nelson, himself, thinks of his exams, fewer and fewer, and Josie, the untouchable daughter of a former minister, more and more ...
While in college he redoubled his audacity to seduce him that he must at all costs have, the one he sent in poems fevered thoughts where salaciousness vies with lyricism, radio distills sad news - a wave of attacks inflicted on the Lebanese community in the country - and Malko is increasingly rare in the apartment ... In the spirit of Nelson tormented by the beautiful Josie, a causal link becomes clearer gradually and, definitely, the exams finally become the least of his worries.
Several things in this novel. Pleasant to read, certainly, and full of linguistic discoveries. But also on the merits, The Thrill of the happiest days proves interesting for several reasons. First, the message explicit: Jerome Nouhou warns against xenophobia latent in society and Benin, which insidiously gaining ground. When this is not the Lebanese who take them for their rank, are the Ibos from Nigeria neighbor who is suspected of any crimes.
second point that caught my attention: The Thrill of the finest days staged with rare precision the middle class that emerged in the south of the Sahara. To my knowledge, few African novels are all included in the daily life of this part of the population in every major city on the continent, gaining momentum. What makes this book a work resolutely contemporary, rooted in its time, likely to challenge a wide audience: everyone will find resonances with their own experiences.
In fact - and the use of first person is not abroad - it is easily identified in Nelson, more or less carefree student who just wants to enjoy his golden years, studies the day, partied at night and working on his free time to make ends meet. Albeit with very specific issues: temptation of the West, women's empowerment, democratization of knowledge ... Other characters involved, which qualifies or specify the concerns, desires and horizons of this fringe, not gold, no longer quite penniless, Youth Benin.
The Thrill of the happiest days
Jerome Nouhou
The Plumed Serpent, 2010
338 p., 19 euros
