Memoirs of a Young Alien

To my Mother for her gift of life, her sacrifices and her unconditional love.

The death of a Mother is the first sorrow we grieve without her.

The Two Continents is the second novel in the trilogy of "Memoirs", the first of which - Memoirs of a Young Allien: THE EXILE - tells the story of my childhood in Alexandria and Lebanon.

I wanted to write Exile to pay tribute to my mother who, against all odds, without a husband and penniless, gave me the chance for a better life. In the Middle East region and at a time when women were completely destitute, my mother overcame all obstacles and survived for the well-being of her only son.

The Two Continents tells the story of three friends in search of an identity, a country, a life. It is also the story of my home country, Lebanon, which sank for fifteen years into an absurd and murderous civil war in which the belligerents showed unbounded hostility. Religious, political and military power must not engender resentment and violence. It must not only respect the minority, but above all protect the weakest and most deprived. The greatest victims of ethnic and religious cleansing were often civilians, particularly women and children. The wound left by this war is gaping and will take generations to heal.

Rico, emigrated to Canada with his single mother, narrowly escaping the civil war. As a teenager, he tries to adapt to his new environment and forge a future in his adopted country. Will he succeed in living the great North American dream?

Johnny, a young teenager, is growing up in the bowels of the Civil War. Refusing to take up arms, he escapes forced conscription at the last minute. As a street kid, he uses wiles and ingenuity to survive. Out of breath, he took the risk of fleeing illegally to Canada.

Rami, a childhood friend of Rico's, became passionate about his country's cause and took up arms to fight alongside the Christian militia. Disillusioned by the absurd turn that this fratricidal war takes, he abandons the armed struggle. Barely escaping death, he decides to emigrate to Canada to find a better life.