African Leo Book Review

Hello everyone. My brother Barış recommended this book to me. He is also on this platform and he writes with the name @barika. He really loves books, and he also loves cinema. Now he is studying Radio and Television. It is his third university, so he is a person who tries different roads and keeps learning. Because of this, I feel his suggestions are not random. When he says a book is good, usually it is really good. He told me about Amin Maalouf for a long time. He said I should read him because the stories are deep but also easy to follow.

Before, he recommended Samarkand, but I did not read it yet. A few months ago we went to a book fair together. While walking between the stands, I saw African Leo. The cover looked interesting and different, so I stopped. My brother saw it and said, “Buy this one, you must read it.” He said the writing style is very good, the story goes smoothly, and it does not feel heavy even when it talks about serious things. He also said I will like it because it is connected to our geography and history. The author is from Lebanon, and I also feel close to that region. So I bought the book with curiosity.

The main character is Hasan. The book tells his life and his journey. It is not only a personal story. It also shows a political and social atmosphere. There are wars, conflicts, and hard times. Hasan has relationships with his family and with people around him. Because of the war and problems, he has to leave his country. He travels to new places and meets new people. Sometimes he returns, sometimes he moves again. Many times, he does not travel because he wants adventure. He travels because he must. This makes the story more emotional and more real, because you understand he is not fully free. He is trying to survive and also trying to find a place where he can live.

What I liked most is the language. It is simple and very fluent. I did not struggle while reading. I felt the pages move fast. Also the descriptions are strong but not too long. Because of this, I could imagine everything clearly. I felt like I was walking with Hasan. I felt like I was a friend of Hasan, listening to him and seeing what he sees. While reading, I had a feeling like “I am there.” I could almost smell the streets, see the people, and feel the weather. The book takes you to North Africa and different places, and later the story also connects to Ottoman times. There are parts that made me feel like I am seeing old Istanbul in my mind. I liked this a lot because I love stories that travel in time and place.

This book also gave me a personal feeling. Hasan can leave places and continue his life. He leaves something behind, but he does not let it stop him. He does not stay stuck in one place or one sadness. He keeps moving forward. Sometimes he looks like he is alone, but he still continues. This was inspiring for me. It made me think about life, about strength, and about how people can rebuild themselves again and again. I liked this idea because many people in real life also have to move and start again.

Now I have around 50 pages left. Honestly, I read slower because I do not want it to end. I still do not know the ending. I did not write spoilers, and even after finishing I would not like to spoil. I can say this book is warm, interesting, and also meaningful. I recommend it to everyone. Especially if you like history, travel, identity stories, and this region, you will enjoy it.