IN THE COUNTRY OF OTHERS

Narrator Lara Sawalha transports listeners to post-WWII Morocco in celebrated Franco-Moroccan writer Leila Slimani's mesmerizing historical novel. It's the first in a trilogy and was inspired by the author's maternal grandparents. Sawalha has a pleasing voice, clear and softly accented, but it's her unhurried pacing, splendid evocation of settings and atmosphere, and exquisite phrasing that draw listeners into this story of dislocation, colonization, and family and societal expectations. The story centers on Mathilde, a young, white French woman who moves from Alsace to Morocco after marrying Amine, a Moroccan soldier. The narrative is episodic, moving from Mathilde and Amine to their family and community members, creating a complex picture of Moroccan society at this time. M.J. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2021]