468 pages
Historical Literary Fiction

The world, it seems, changes little in spite of protests about injustice and inequality. This novel, set essentially in the Paris student riots (I prefer rebellion, protests, political activism) of 1968, relates the times as seen through the eyes of some students and an artist who understands and befriends the workers.

The situations it describes, and the causes of those very real and justified protests, continue to this day all around the world. Those with wealth and those in power clearly never take the necessary notice of the bulk of humanity. They clearly care little for ‘ordinary’ people and do less for them.

But the story is also very much a love story, a tale about relationships within and outside of family. It is about friendship, brotherhood, prejudice, ignorance, fascism, communism, education and its lack, and so much more.

Emotionally, this is a tale that bring tears, laughter, enjoyment, horror, anger, pain, happiness, and empathy. Populated by so many characters we can easily know and empathise with, it takes us through the turmoil and violence of that Paris rebellion, an event that has been duplicated the world over, often to little effect. That, in the case of Paris, it brought about some much-needed social changes at least brings hope that protest can do some good. But the powers that be, cushioned from everyday reality by sycophants and those supporters who hope to join their gravy train, rarely take the action necessary to bring about real justice, real equality of opportunity, real reductions in poverty, ignorance, and prejudice. Rather, they stoke the feelings of alienation and worthlessness suffered by so many under their control, hoping by doing so they will deflect attention from their own failings, greed, and lust for power and instead place it with the uneducated poor of the world.

This is a book full of argument, exposition, discussion and thought, yet it is also so much about humanity’s potential for compassion, love, cruelty, injustice, courage, hope, determination, and hatred. There is a narrated passage about the Holocaust that movingly personalises the treatment of and feelings of the Jewish community so demonised and destroyed by the Nazis. There is an aspect that deals with our uncertain relationship with the inevitable prospect of the death of a suffering loved one. There are themes of loyalty, justice, struggle, and persistence.
It is a damn good read that may make you cry, laugh, and yell with anger. Well worth the time to absorb and experience.

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[Any review is a personal opinion. No reviewer can represent the view of anyone else. The best we can manage is an honest reaction to any given book.]