Reviews: Favela do Paulinho
Boume Boubekeur masterfully blends the work of a journalist and a novelist against the backdrop of extreme violence in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, where poverty reigns and offers little hope for a better future for the young population. In parallel, the author weaves a powerful love story that prompts us to reflect on the meaning of happiness. A moving book that invites reflection on the fragility of the individual.
A very nice book, it complements the first volume.
I highly recommend it, great plot. :)
Pascale Bruley
The second book is really interesting both for its description of the jungle and, worse, the hell of the favelas.
Drugs, gang warfare, police assaults!
When you visit Rio de Janeiro, and you go up to the Corcovado viewpoint to admire Christ of Rio, you inevitably pass by favelas.
How can one imagine what goes on there...
The author describes violent scenes against a backdrop of magnificent love.
When Driss decides to return to Brazil, his beloved country, it's to reunite with his friends and Lisa, with whom he hopes to solidify his budding romance. Once there, reality—a mix of risks, carnival, and romance—is bound to catch up with him...
What a pleasure to see Driss again, drawn body and soul to his beloved Brazil. His attachment is unique and unwavering, and it sweeps us along in his wake.
The energy is palpable, crackling all around us as we turn the pages. The journey plunges us into an electric, frenetic atmosphere. Here we find the misery of the favelas, riddled with drug trafficking, but also the exoticism, the warmth, the music, the dance that inhabit and nourish our main character.
We admire Driss's sensitivity and his perspective on society's failings and his relationship with others. He's endearing in that he strives to remain true to himself while also wanting to avoid hurting others. His love story with Lisa reflects his genuine duality.
The writing is passionate, radiant. We become immersed in a complex environment whose nuances and subtleties we want to grasp.
Friendship and justice are values deeply ingrained in Driss, who is about to embark on a journey to meet his destiny. We are immediately moved, gripped by the urgency and the unstoppable madness that he cannot abide.
This story hits you like a scorching shot, leaving a raw and bitter taste in your mouth about life, love, and death that you can never erase!
I loved Boumé Boubekeur's novel "Favelo do Paulinho," which is the logical sequel to his first novel. It took me through the favelas and taught me the dangers of being born on the wrong side of the tracks. A love story softens this rather violent novel, and the author quotes my favorite writer, Stefan Zweig… magnificent, a must-read!
I loved the novel *L'homme de Rio Favela do Paulinho*; it transported me to a country I didn't know. The author's quest for identity reflects the struggles of French people of foreign origin. The plot involving gangs in the favelas surprised me, and the love story is beautiful. I saw that he's released a second novel; I can't wait to read it. Rose