David DiopAt Night All Blood Is Black

Insanely captivating brilliant narrative from main character Alfa. His voice transfixed and completely locked me in. I read 75% of this novel when I first picked it up and forced myself to put it down. David Diop 's story flows. It tells how Alfa's tormented mind started during his youth recollection of seeing his mom leave to find her father and siblings. That part of his youth influenced his growth and independence driving him to move in with his more than best friend, Diop and his family. Fast forward, Alfa catapulted into accepting his war torn battlefield and realm he fit into being disturbed emotionally and psychologically as a functioning soldier of war.Losing his more than best friend right in front of him on the battlefield pushed him completely out of the realm of physical war. Hell bent into raw emotional , psychological and spiritual combat with the enemy, he avenged his more than best friend's death, with episodes of hearing voices, out of body experiences, hallucinations, that were clearer signs of his deteriorating mental state. I  wasn't surprised but had to reread chapters 21 to 24 because Alfa's double mindedness then, suicide(ation)almost didn't seem accomplished in the end. This reader understands,  Alfa"reasoned" his life is in  his own hands to appease himself. He probably says/thinks who should he have to beg?  Very Well Written! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾🤗❤

I really feel like, for some reason, Diop started writing one book, one idea, and he lost the thread of it about halfway through and finished a completely different book. I liked the first half. I didn't so much like the second half. I wonder why he did that. I assume it's because he's inexperienced and none of the publishing houses really have editors anymore who can keep an inexperienced writer on track.

I’d heard good things about this story and decided to give it a go. It gives you a great understanding of the ways of war and how it can change a person by slowly pushing them to the depths of darkness, but other than that… the book was okay.It was a hypermasculine (the best word I can use to describe how the women in the story were often reduced to plot devices, and how many of the metaphors were women-centric, not in the greatest way) ride into the repetitive ramblings of a man changed by not only war but his friend’s slow, painful death.I’m curious to read David Diop’s other novel, and hope I enjoy it more than AT NIGHT ALL BLOOD IS BLACK.

This is such a powerful novella, with powerful introspective writing. Brings to the fore the horrors of war and paints the gradual descent into madness with vivid strokes that leave you terrified and breathless.The background story of the protagonist is rich and affecting. It's a visceral experience to be put into the shoes of this protagonist - Never before have I appreciated first person narrative quite so much! The writing has its mesmerizing rhythm, marked by recurring phrases.In a nutshell, I appreciate it most for its very effective use of first person narrative, strong (and again, effective) theme of duality / the double and a mesmerizing quality of writing featuring phrases recurring like in a religious litany.It's a book to experience.

When the war started, France went to Africa to get warriors from the different tribes of their colonies. The African soldiers were not use to this style of war. The protagonist (Alfa) saw his best friend died. He begged Alpha to kill him and Alfa didn't do it. This hunted him for the rest of his life. Because some awful things Alfa did in the war that he ended in a psychiatric ward. He repeated a couple of phrases that were his mantra. His soul was broken. The last 10 pages were very confusing. He switch from first person to third person. What did he do? I hope is not what I think.

It describes horror so eloquently. , Every aspect of this book is pure. The words, the rhythm an beauty is just beauty.

This book had me finish it in one day and then buy it for people and beg them to read it. The story has so much depth, and the very start will break your heart.

The author starts with a seemingly straightforward story about the death of a man’s dearest friend, and by degrees becomes a tale by the surviving friend of his descent into madness. Isn’t that what being in combat does to normal people? Beautifully written.

Alia, a ‘Chocolat’ soldier in the French army (WWI), symbolizes the broad and narrow desecrations of war: land, humans…and the human spirit, or soul. Alia cannot submit to the entreaties for a quick death by his grievously wounded friend, Mademba, who dies in agony. He then converts his sorrow and guilt into self-loathing and seeks revenge for Mademba’s cruel death by stealing across enemy lines at night (when “all blood is black”) and exacting retribution by killing a German soldier. One hand of each victim is severed as a trophy/symbol of his vengeance, penance…and deepening madness. Initially, Alia is seen as heroic by his mates; then, in fear, as a “demm” (sorcerer), a devourer of souls. Our current sterile term is PTSD. This is a harrowing tale of how the battlefields of war devour souls.

A great piece of literature. It reaches the depth of human relationships. Kudos to the writer. And it has different style of story telling.

Highly recommended short reading. Beautifully written, untold story. Very insightful nook about mental health and personal struggle. African settingvwss lovely.

Along with 'Xala' and "So Long a letter', At Night joins Senegalese and modern classics. The powerhouse of African writing is truly exemplified in Diop's novel. War compounds all emotion. Diop conveys the horror, terror, mendacity and barbarism of war in a lyrical manner with a compelling multi faceted protagonist. detailing his home life, his best friend, his first love, village life, his mother and his family, his comrades etc all add a colourful tapestry to the forays in no man's land.Wonderful written, I loved the imagery, the disconnect from his world and the changes that happen because of the war. Mostly l really enjoyed the repetition of words that act almost like the chorus of a Greek tragedy that highlight the repetitiveness of war, reinforce images and help desensitise the reader from the barbarity of war.The book was also perfectly balanced in that the story feels truly complete and the reader truly satisfied.I highly recommend and I will look out for more Diop.

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