The Eternal Audience of One, by Rémy Ngamije

 Rémy Ngamije has written an intriguing and painful coming of age story about an intelligent and unusually insightful young man. His name is Séraphin, born in Rwanda to educated, prosperous parents who were forced to flee their country, along with their three sons. Séraphin has memories of living in different places, before settling in Windhoek, Namibia.

Everywhere his family has lived, they have been treated with diminished respect for being immigrants, sometimes called refugees, which in some places has a derogatory implication.Séraphin, always atune to his surroundings, is very sensitive and easily angered by this unfairness. Additionally, he is verbally talented and able to interpret and articulate what he sees.

During most of this novel,  Séraphin is attending law school in Cape Town, South Africa, and dreaming of remaining there. As we follow Seraphin's adventures with his group of friends, we see a South Africa in which Apartheid has ended, but racism is still very much apparent. 
 
Rémy Ngamije's writing style is beautiful, I love the inner dialogue Séraphin has with himself, and the characters of his friends are well developed and interesting. Their conversations are sometimes hilarious and usually philosophical. We are in brilliant company. 

Also, I love the way we are let into the stories of the adults in Séraphin's life, especially each one of his parents. They, too, were bright young people, working hard to achieve their dreams. And suffering in similar ways.

This is an extraordinary coming of age story. There may be some instances when Séraphin might be immature and not totally likeable, but then, just like any other person his age, he must do his own growing up. In Séraphin's case, growing into himself is full of a number of mean, grievous  obstacles, but he is up to the challenge. 

I highly recommend this. It is both thought provoking and beautiful. For me, it was an educational peek into another culture, as well. 

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read a magnificent book I might not have discovered, otherwise.