I am very much into memoirs these days, and nonfiction in general, but I love when I am getting my eyes on a literary memoir. Maryse Condé is an author I will definitely discover more of it in the next months, in addition to what I´ve already read about.
La vie sans fards - A life without Make-up, the plain translation from French, but the book was published in English under the title What is Africa to me? - is a late memoir of her wandering around the world, particularly within the African continent, looking for love and personal meaning.
The account is literally without any embellishments: during her frequent moves from one country to another: France to Guinea, to London, to Senegal, to Ghana. From one trip to another, she may carry some or all or none of her four kids. There are affairs, abuse, dictatorships, a failed marriage, friendships. A life unfolding that may lead her to who she became. She is learning new languages, new wordings, ultimately turning into a writer.
The natural way to share her story is an important testimony of the times she went through, the people she met, recent history, especially political, in many of the countries she experienced. Personally I´ve found shocking the ways in which her children experienced her decisions, being left behind to various acquaintances or friends, or being abusively kept away from her due to the moods of some of her lovers. But this belongs to her becoming as well.
The book starts when she mets her longtime husband and translator, the Englishman Richard Philcox who will stay on her side until her death in 2024, at 90.
Books like this helps to understand the inspiration for her books, that she started to publish from her 40s. It will help me to a better view of her works that I hope to be able to add to my reading list soon.
Rating: 4.5
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