Aliou cover art

Aliou

A Novel of the Backway

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About this listen

In trying times, a seeming soccer romance equates to life or death....

Local football star "Aliou Messi" is the picture of talent...but this, alone, may not be enough. The Arab Spring uprising has ushered in a dark age for rural poverty in Gambia, and Aliou's homeland is rocked by its horror. The chances of escape are slim, and every peril fringes every path. Diaspora could crush much more than dreams of gaming glory.

When his father passes away, Aliou is left to support the entire family - a responsibility that makes dropping out of school an increasingly dangerous concept. He, too, must consider a marriage engagement, his future wife and children. Pursuing his passion means risking it all - including the lives of others.

There does exist a bastion of peace, but getting there is the problem. Known to fellow Gambians as "The Backway", a daunting foot trek to Western Europe may represent Aliou's only hope for salvation. Can this man, but yesterday a boy, lead those he loves to safety? Scarcely could a crossroads represent more inner strife.

A touching tale of rural fiction and noir...

A treatise on the human condition...

Eric Reese outdoes himself - a master of his craft.

©2018 Eric Reese (P)2018 Eric Reese Literature & Fiction Marriage Sports Village
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Listener received this title free

A very well written and narrated short story of a child's dream of doing well for himself, his family and his village. The everyday detail makes the central character, Aliou, engaging. We are given a brief glimpse into the challenges of rural Africa when it meets the city and people have aspirations of the West. A worthwhile listen.

The Struggle.

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This could have been such a good listen. The storyline had so much promise and in parts was well written. However it felt as if I were reading the treatment for the story not the story itself. There was no development of characters or storyline and there were numerous narration editing issues.
I enjoyed what I heard but wish that more time had been invested in getting it right.

Rushed

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