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#Chad
review
Texreader
Never | Ken Follett
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Pickpick

Follett writes brilliant historical fiction and I‘ve read some of his war books. But this book proves he can write complex thrillers. It‘s definitely an on the edge of your seat most of the time as events transpire in #Chad, North Korea, China, and the US. This is a very dark book. Be in the right mindset when you read it—maybe skip the news while reading it. I listened to the audio. The narrator blew me away, capable of voicing different ⬇️

Texreader genders, ages, and many nationalities and always keeping them well differentiated. Extremely well done. Book and audio highly recommended. #readingafrica2022 2y
Hooked_on_books I agree. This was really good. Bleak, but well done. 2y
TrishB Loved this one too 👍🏻 2y
Librarybelle Excellent review! 2y
CoverToCoverGirl 💯agree! 2y
51 likes5 comments
review
Texreader
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Pickpick

There is no joy in this book, about “forced African labor” to build a railroad across #Congo to the Pacific in the 1920-30s. “Recruited” (often captured) from #Chad all the way to Congo, they were chained together when walking or standing for weeks on end on river barges to their work sites. Forced to work under pain of death with practically nothing to eat (less than fed to Nazi concentration camp victims) using no tools to clear forests & dig ⬇️

Texreader tunnels with nothing but their bare hands, the men died in droves. If you thought slavery had ended in the 19th century then you are sadly mistaken. The French claimed to be bringing civilization to Africa: the railroad! In his intro the author tried to dismiss the notion this book is “pain porn.” But I‘m not sure how it could be otherwise. This is an extraordinarily dark chapter in French history. We are the better for being made aware of it ⬇️ 2y
Texreader and how, despite many trying to raise the alarm about what was happening, the great machinery of government power and bureaucracy trivialized and covered it up. Little known because of the almost immediate World War II, the author is using this book to try to resurrect the facts for a modern audience. It‘s well written and researched but beware trigger warnings abound. #readingafrica2022 This book works for #RepublicofCongo. (edited) 2y
Librarybelle Stacking 2y
63 likes3 stack adds3 comments
blurb
Texreader
Never | Ken Follett
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#readingafrica2022 challenge update. I‘m currently reading books for #Chad (tagged book), #WesternSahara, #Kenya (for #foodandlit) and will start tomorrow an audiobook for the #RepublicofCongo. @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

Librarybelle So impressive!! 2y
Hooked_on_books Wow, you‘re almost there! 🥳 2y
Itchyfeetreader So impressive I have not given this one the focus it deserves - it‘s going to be a two year journey for sure 2y
See All 6 Comments
Cinfhen Amazing progress!!! 2y
BarbaraBB Agreeing with all of the above! 2y
Megabooks Great job!! 2y
54 likes6 comments
blurb
Texreader
Never | Ken Follett
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Jumping into this chunkster for #Chad #readingafrica2022. I‘m also counting it as my second #chunksterchallenge of the year at 802 pages. Maybe I‘ll finish it by year‘s end. @Amiable @BarbaraBB @Librarybelle

I‘m behind on reviews so I‘m going to work on those before starting this bad boy.

Amiable Looking forward to your thoughts! I have a complicated relationship with Ken Follet‘s books. 😀 2y
51 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
Texreader
Never | Ken Follett
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I also just bought this one because, well, Follett. And it‘s set in #Chad. #readingafrica2022 @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

KristiAhlers And this is me going to the bookstore to pick this one up. 2y
CoverToCoverGirl It‘s a really good read! 2y
55 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
BarbaraBB
JOURNEY. | ABDUL. MUSA ADAM
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Pickpick

When he is just 7 years old, the army kills Abdul‘s entire family and burns his home in Darfur. He flees to a refugee camp in #Chad. Via Lybia (another war) he manages to cross the Mediterranean and make it to England, a young boy with PTSD, all alone in the world. Today he is a British citizen and jockey of royal horses. Like his journey, his story is hard & emotional.

#ReadingAfrica2022 🇹🇩
#19822022 #2020 #52BooksIn52weeks #PhotographsInside

Librarybelle What a harrowing journey 3y
Cinfhen This was an emotional read but also hopeful @Librarybelle ♥️ 3y
BarbaraBB @Librarybelle You can say so. And so many young Africans who try to do the same don‘t succeed. This testimony feels really important 💔 3y
Megabooks Wow. That does sound very emotional. 3y
Suet624 Wow. 3y
83 likes5 comments
quote
Texreader
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We are now in #Chad! Still hoping I might finish this one tomorrow for one of my goals for #20in4 #readathon but I‘ve got a ways to go. I‘m at 73%, chapter 82 of 112. I‘m trying to make some progress tonight

#readingAfrica2022 #Libya #Malta #Niger

review
Hooked_on_books
Never | Ken Follett
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Pickpick

Never exposes the true interconnectedness of our world, starting with events occurring in #Chad which eventually echo into US/China relations. This book is terrific and incredibly engaging, but if world events are distressing to you at the moment, I would not recommend reading this. It might be too much. It gets very bleak.

#ReadingAfrica2022

BarbaraBB I am intrigued! 3y
Librarybelle I knew this was his newest one but did not know what it was about. It does sound intriguing! 3y
52 likes2 comments
review
Cinfhen
JOURNEY. | ABDUL. MUSA ADAM
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Pickpick

Another powerful memoir read for #ReadingAfrica22 - Abdul Musa Adam was only 6 years old when his entire family, except for a 3 year old brother is killed by insurgents in #Sudan. Only 2 adults survived the massacre and the 4 flee by foot to #Chad. In Chad Abdul becomes separated from his brother as he journeys to #Libya then France & eventually UK. This is an amazing book of courage, resilience and unspeakable experiences. Inspiring & emotional.

Cinfhen I‘m using for #chad but would also work for #Sudan & #Libya @BarbaraBB @Librarybelle I thought the audio was perfect 3y
Librarybelle Lovely review ❤️ 3y
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Cinfhen I loved it @Librarybelle 💜😭 3y
BarbaraBB Thanks, I am in need for one for Chad and this one sounds very good! 3y
Cinfhen I found this memoir really touching & informative. I probably learnt the less about Chad but that‘s a tough country to find books for so I‘m going with it @BarbaraBB 3y
Centique You‘re reading so many amazing books at the moment! Stacked, stacked and stacked 😍 3y
Cinfhen Yay @Centique and I owe you an email xxx 3y
66 likes3 stack adds8 comments