Leaving Tangier

This book ended up being a quicker read than I thought. Though since Egypt, I've been avoiding literature about North Africa, the Middle East, and Islam - for reasons inexplicable - this book drew me because it dealt with the combination of North Africa and Europe, which has always fascinated me.

The characters, though strong, devolve quickly. Azel is at first likable, even easy to relate to. But things fall apart once he gets to Spain. His sister Kenza also faces numerous difficulties such as the betrayal of love.

Thematically, this book focuses on religion, immigration, gender, and the residue of colonialism. I found Ben Jelloun's writing to be accessible, intriguing, and extremely descriptive. While this was not one of my favorite books, I would certainly recommend it.