John Phillips (19)

The prose is very, very dull--not difficult to read, but just an effort. But the book is such a great telling of Algeria's recent history that I'm willing to overlook the writing. If you're interested, and you should be, you should read this book. Know, however, that the early chapters are the weakest (incredibly broad history of the distant, distant past... very broad history of the colonial past... not very enlightening). But after decolonization things really pick up, and it's a disturbing, but 'enjoyable' read. E&P's interpretation of the history is, in sum: any time the country started to get some sort of stability, either a leader would die, the economy would crash, or some other external event would impose itself to ruin that chance of stability. Very sad reading.… (meer)