Vestine, a black legend
You may have noticed, I am not talking about my readings. There are several reasons for this, reasons that seem valid enough to me that I respect. I spare you the listing. I will do even more with exceptional, I'll leave this course of action. For today I'd like to talk about a book I just finished. "Vestine, a black legend", is published by Actes Sud Junior, in the collection "one voice".
When I say I'll talk about the book, it's just a formula. I will not tell you, because this book does not generate the words, it generates feelings. Laughing, crying, feeling sick and wild hopes.
Vestine, now 27, has lived the Rwandan genocide at the age 11. Virginie Jouannet-Roussel lends his pen, his words, his feelings, to translate his memory pointillist Africa.
Some of you who read this blog, know this: Virginia is a friend. With it I've done the most work of proofreading and rewriting of the manuscript of my book before sending to the publishers expected. What you do not know, however, is that there is between her and me neither complacent nor false pretenses. And I do not speak Vestine if I did not feel sincere, if it was not an absolute necessity for me. This text
mature for several years. It existed in several versions, which have nearly been published in their time, by other publishers. But it probably lacked a little something for that alchemy is perfect. In its current version is the editor who came to fetch him. Who had read through a contest, and has called Virginia for the asking. This means it is not trivial.
"Vestine", as published today, reads in one sitting. It is a breath of breath, a melody, a whirlwind. It is a book of incredible strength, a dazzling beauty, both in the horror in the hope that it survives.
I'll tell you no more, I do not know. What I know, simply, is that we do not encounter every day a book like this. And it deserved that I do not keep this discovery to me.
the way, hat also Actes Sud. This book, its contents and its history, is the best answer to those who claim that major publishers are lazy all soft that only publish texts idiots spawned by peoples, by simple cronyism and ease.