What do you think?
Rate this book
Niko
Six-year-old Niko Karaam has never known a life outside civil war. He rarely leaves his parents' small apartment, and from its small balcony he listens to the world outside tumble down one building at a time. But after a car bomb kills his pregnant mother, Niko is thrust into a much wider and confusing world without apartments or balconies, as he and his father Antoine embark upon the open seas on an impossible international adventure in search of a new place to call home. Throughout a twelve-year odyssey that leads them across seven countries, young Niko will have to choose between his swollen faith in an increasingly God-like and unreliable Antoine, and the pragmatic, hard-nosed alternatives that will ultimately lead to a better future.
Swiftly paced, poignantly moving, and beautifully imagined, Niko is the powerful epic story of what it takes to survive after war, of what to hold dear and what to leave behind in a world that won't let you have it
Swiftly paced, poignantly moving, and beautifully imagined, Niko is the powerful epic story of what it takes to survive after war, of what to hold dear and what to leave behind in a world that won't let you have it
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
4 people are currently reading
337 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 10, 2012
This novel opens very powerfully, in Lebanon during the civil war years when Niko is a small boy and his mother is expecting a second child. The first two chapters are beautifully written in their drama and shock effect, and raise expectations for the rest of the book that seem almost impossible to meet. The tension and sense of tragedy are nearly unbearable as father and son travel the Greek islands seen through the eyes of traumatized refugees desperately trying to rebuild their lives after unimaginable loss. Once Niko arrives in Canada, out of harm's way but also severely shaken by the loss of his father who has remained behind in Athens, he is adopted by immigrant relatives and forced to begin his life over in a strange country devoid of warmth, where survival is guaranteed but life has little meaning. With that transition to a safer, greyer world devoid of family values, the story of Niko loses much of its energy and focus as it becomes a tale of adaptation to a strange new environment. You could argue that this is inevitable, given that Montreal and Beirut are as far apart as tragedy and irony -- but I think some of the responsibility for the relative weakness of the final chapters (and particularly the climax, when Niko robs the till at Zeller's to go searching for his father, now a shipwrecked sailor with amnesia who has ended up in Chile after being found at sea, the sole survivor of a vessel that sank off the coast of Brazil...) belongs to the author, for failing to deepen and develop the character of Niko. In fact, from the shipwreck on, I stopped believing in a story that had seemed overwhelmingly real, and incredibly riveting up to that point. The geographic distance between father and son also becomes a distancing from reality. The magic begins to feel contrived and literary, as Niko suffers through adolescent exile marooned on Montreal's suburban shore with an aunt and adoptive uncle who are pursuing their own materialistic dreams as immigrants and 'new Canadians." Both Niko and his father seem detached and shallow, in different ways, from their inner reality as characters -- and maybe this reflects the psychic condition of post traumatic stress -- but I couldn't help thinking the novel failed to find a path to a believable conclusion worthy of its astonishing and unforgettable beginning.
September 19, 2023
I think that this story had a lot of potential, but I didn't love the execution of it. We get so little of Niko's internal thoughts once he parts from his father that he becomes a stranger even to the audience. The constantly shifting focus was interesting at times (I really enjoyed things from Yvonne's perspective, when we got it) but mostly I felt that I didn't get to know ANY of the characters as well as I would have liked to. The story lost a lot of its emotional impact for me because of that. Also, I am NOT a fan of how Nasrallah wrote women in this book. They are all either sex objects or mothers, and once they become mothers they are no longer seen as sexual or desirable in pretty much any way. Not a single woman in this book exists to do anything other than serve the men around them, except perhaps Beatriz right at the end. In a book that seems to portray something of the human search for home and belonging, I felt that the narrative/tone/focus was overwhelmingly and alienatingly male.
April 16, 2016
Une histoire qui m'a beaucoup touché. Les premières pages sont d'une cruelle beauté. Un roman sur les immigrants et l'horreur de la guerre mais surtout , une histoire de ceux qui y survivent... Et des dommages collatéraux que cela peut provoquer ! Magnifique traduction de Daniel Grenier .
June 16, 2018
Kitabın çabuk okunan, akıcı bir dili var. Hikayesi de zaman zaman yüreğinize dokunuyor ancak kurgusu biraz sıkıntılı. Zaman atlamaları, hikayeye tam kendinizi kaptırdığınız anda apar topar geçiştirilen bölümler okuma zevkini epey azaltıyor. Doğruyu söylemek gerekirse kendisi de benzer süreçlerden geçmiş Dimitri Nasrallah'dan daha güçlü bir hikayecilik bekliyordum.
April 15, 2016
Un récit intéressant sur un sujet très (trop?) populaire. Voir l'histoire à travers le regard de l'enfant, sans que celui-ci soit au commande de la narration (heureusement) apporte une dynamique intéressante. La traduction m'a un peu embêtée. À lire pour mieux comprendre les conséquences de l'immigration.
February 20, 2016
3.5 stars
January 1, 2021
Voilà un livre humain, touchant.
Niko et son père quittent Beyrouth, au Liban, après un attentat meurtrier à la voiture piégée qui leur vole mère et femme. Ensemble, ils partent à la recherche d’une terre d’accueil, mais cette quête s’avère difficile, impossible, malgré quelques espoirs, ici et là . Le père, soucieux d’offrir une vraie nouvelle vie à son garçon, prend une décision déchirante: séparer leur chemin. Niko, qui aurait préféré rester avec son père, coûte que coûte, complète son déracinement en allant vivre chez une tante et un oncle à Montréal. Mais comment se redéfinir sans fondement aucun? Une partie de lui cherche constamment son père, veut des réponses, une réunion, une confrontation, même. Niko refuse de vivre paisiblement, dans l’inconnu. «Quand l’histoire perd la trace des êtres aimés.»
Comme lecteur, je cherche des écrits qui me touchent, me sensibilisent, me font cheminer, réfléchir. «Niko», c’est exactement ça. Non, le scénario ne sort pas de l’ordinaire, avec l’opposition de notre confortable réalité à celle des pays en guerre. Le déracinement et la séparation sont des thèmes souvent abordés. Mais cette histoire ne manque de rien. Elle est parfaite dans sa simplicité, comme l’écriture de Dimitri Nasrallah. Un style sans artifices, un récit linéaire, accessible. Ça se lit tout seul, et cette plume épurée m’a incité à acheter un autre livre du même auteur, qui troque toutefois l’humanité du déracinement pour la bestialité du despotisme. Deux trames opposées, mais unies par l’universalité de son écriture.
«Niko» ne se hissera sans doute pas sur votre liste de coups de coeur, parce qu’il touche sans bouleverser entièrement, mais il me semble impossible de ne pas l’apprécier. Une lecture qui émeut, en bien et en mal, et qui nous fait valser émotionnellement, en toute sensibilité, en toute fluidité. Un voyage d’émotions sincères et universelles.
Je vous recommande «Niko» sans hésiter. Ce roman placera votre esprit entre parenthèses, le temps d’une escapade aussi tendre que triste, sans trop vous troubler. J'ai passé un beau moment.
Niko et son père quittent Beyrouth, au Liban, après un attentat meurtrier à la voiture piégée qui leur vole mère et femme. Ensemble, ils partent à la recherche d’une terre d’accueil, mais cette quête s’avère difficile, impossible, malgré quelques espoirs, ici et là . Le père, soucieux d’offrir une vraie nouvelle vie à son garçon, prend une décision déchirante: séparer leur chemin. Niko, qui aurait préféré rester avec son père, coûte que coûte, complète son déracinement en allant vivre chez une tante et un oncle à Montréal. Mais comment se redéfinir sans fondement aucun? Une partie de lui cherche constamment son père, veut des réponses, une réunion, une confrontation, même. Niko refuse de vivre paisiblement, dans l’inconnu. «Quand l’histoire perd la trace des êtres aimés.»
Comme lecteur, je cherche des écrits qui me touchent, me sensibilisent, me font cheminer, réfléchir. «Niko», c’est exactement ça. Non, le scénario ne sort pas de l’ordinaire, avec l’opposition de notre confortable réalité à celle des pays en guerre. Le déracinement et la séparation sont des thèmes souvent abordés. Mais cette histoire ne manque de rien. Elle est parfaite dans sa simplicité, comme l’écriture de Dimitri Nasrallah. Un style sans artifices, un récit linéaire, accessible. Ça se lit tout seul, et cette plume épurée m’a incité à acheter un autre livre du même auteur, qui troque toutefois l’humanité du déracinement pour la bestialité du despotisme. Deux trames opposées, mais unies par l’universalité de son écriture.
«Niko» ne se hissera sans doute pas sur votre liste de coups de coeur, parce qu’il touche sans bouleverser entièrement, mais il me semble impossible de ne pas l’apprécier. Une lecture qui émeut, en bien et en mal, et qui nous fait valser émotionnellement, en toute sensibilité, en toute fluidité. Un voyage d’émotions sincères et universelles.
Je vous recommande «Niko» sans hésiter. Ce roman placera votre esprit entre parenthèses, le temps d’une escapade aussi tendre que triste, sans trop vous troubler. J'ai passé un beau moment.
May 8, 2019
I absolutely adored this book! Niko was the perfect combination of great writing and a fascinating plot, whereas other books may excel in one domain, but not the other. The story itself was what surprised me the most because from the description, I was expecting the plot to center around Niko and Antoine's journey escaping the civil war, while Canada would be the ultimate destination. Yet, the events which unfolded were a major emotional rollercoaster, and the story took several twists and turns which I was not expecting. I really liked how the narrative shifted between characters, and the focus on Sami and Yvonne and their backstory was a great addition. Overall, this was such a poignant, heartfelt and superbly written book! I would say it would be awesome if there was a sequel since it ended on a bit of a cliff-hanger, but obviously, I understand that authors (ideally) don't continue a story just for the sake of keeping the momentum or popularity unless there is a substantial idea behind it. Nonetheless, this book was incredible in its own right! 5/5
January 18, 2022
Read for our book club. Beautiful writing, tight, linear story line, very thoughtful novel about the plight of a Lebanese man and his 6-year old boy fleeing Lebanon for Cypress, then Greece, then...to where?
Antoine decides to send his son (Niko) to Montreal to live with his Uncle and Aunt until Antoine can get established somewhere. But Antoine cannot get established. He has no money, no skills, and refugees get little or no status (for example, ability to work legally) in most countries, provided they are even allowed to stay. The plight of refugees from the Middle East is well-documented here.
Meanwhile in Canada, Niko pines and waits for his Dad to show up or send for him. To avoid spoilers I cannot say much more.
My favorite takeaway: "Wherever there is war, people who flee leave behind family. Keeping in touch is sometimes a luxury, but losing touch brings its own guilt."
This is an easy read, and a reasonably short book at 235 pages, and a gem. I recommend it highly.
Antoine decides to send his son (Niko) to Montreal to live with his Uncle and Aunt until Antoine can get established somewhere. But Antoine cannot get established. He has no money, no skills, and refugees get little or no status (for example, ability to work legally) in most countries, provided they are even allowed to stay. The plight of refugees from the Middle East is well-documented here.
Meanwhile in Canada, Niko pines and waits for his Dad to show up or send for him. To avoid spoilers I cannot say much more.
My favorite takeaway: "Wherever there is war, people who flee leave behind family. Keeping in touch is sometimes a luxury, but losing touch brings its own guilt."
This is an easy read, and a reasonably short book at 235 pages, and a gem. I recommend it highly.
June 12, 2019
A depressing story of what refugees face when their home country is torn apart. Even if things work out, life is never up to what it could have been, and the past can never be recovered. It only shows up in nightmares and selective memories. The subject is very appropriate for today, and the novel serves as a good indication of what some of our neighbors have been through. It’s a reminder to be compassionate. I found the ending a little too easy with the message of hope, even though Niko’s future with his teenage bride and baby will probably not turn out well.
April 12, 2023
I really enjoyed reading this book, more so than the author's recent Hotline. Not only does the story tell of the struggles that Niko faces in his new home in Canada, as well as his aunt and uncles's immigration struggles, it also follows Niko's father as he searches for a new life after leaving war torn Lebanon. Good character development and descriptive text provided the reader with a look into the difficulties experienced being exiled from one's home.
April 7, 2024
Ce livre m’a profondément touchée. L’histoire du petit Niko et de son père qui doivent quitter un Liban en plein guerre m’a montré la triste et dure réalité de trop nombreux humains qui doivent trouver refuge sur une autre terre que la leur lorsqu’y rester n’est plus une option et que la guerre détruit tout.
Les transitions entre la perspective du garçon et celle de son père tout au long du récit rythmaient celui-ci et nous transmettait toute la complexité de leurs situations respectives.
Un roman que j’ai beaucoup aimé.
Les transitions entre la perspective du garçon et celle de son père tout au long du récit rythmaient celui-ci et nous transmettait toute la complexité de leurs situations respectives.
Un roman que j’ai beaucoup aimé.
December 23, 2024
Un récit vraiment touchant, mais aussi très déchirant, d'une famille fuyant la guerre, témoignant par le fait même de tous les sacrifices et difficultés auxquels font face les personnes sans statut ou immigrantes. La fin m'a par contre parue trop courte et précipitée (et peut-être un peu irréaliste/à l'eau de rose).
November 4, 2023
Niko nait et vit à Beyrouth durant la guerre civile, et sera vite contraint de tout laisser derrière lui pour survivre. Récit du déracinement d’un enfant et de sa famille, de la quête de ses origines, mais aussi du temps qui passe et de ceux qui restent derrière.
August 22, 2017
Tragic story that is a relevant and important lesson in our current world.
February 11, 2018
I believe this story is the reality of many, too many, victims of war. I am thankful the author found a brilliant way to show us some of their paths.
Read
May 16, 2023Les thèmes de ce livre m’interpellent, les péripéties me remuent et me font affirmer qu’il faudrait en faire un film; malgré cela, un bémol : le style est un peu lourd, alambiqué.
August 23, 2024
Gives perspective to what refugees face. Heart wrenching.
November 7, 2011
Niko by Dimitri Nasrallah is about a arab boy named Niko who does not know a life outside of war.In the beginning he is six years old and living with his mother and father but after his mother gets killed in a bomb accident he and his father move to the neighbouring greek islands in search of a new life.The sort without war.But little by little they find that their new life does not give them enough money to survive. In desperation nikos father sends him off to live with his relatives in Canada so that he could be educated at school. As the years go by Niko and his father go out of each others lives until one day when his father goes missing while on his way to see him for the first time in years. Is his father dead?
I picked this book up because I had nothing to read and it looked interesting.
I finished this because the way the author wrote this book was different and I was curiouse of what would happened to Niko.
I would recommend this book to Mr. Gould because this is more of a book for older readers and he's an adult.
I picked this book up because I had nothing to read and it looked interesting.
I finished this because the way the author wrote this book was different and I was curiouse of what would happened to Niko.
I would recommend this book to Mr. Gould because this is more of a book for older readers and he's an adult.
February 6, 2017
Niko is a young boy who, with his father, leaves war-torn Lebanon in search for a brighter future. Niko has not yet started school at the beginning of the book, and by the end he is an adult. The story of immigration resonated with me and because I moved to Canada around the same time he did and was the same age as what he ended off at when I finished the book, I kept drawing parallels between my life and his. On the other hand, Niko’s history was a lot more coloured with violence and hardship than my own, so it was a little shocking to read about a man getting decapitated in Lebanon, then flip the page and be at a grocery store in Canada.
June 28, 2015
really well written and emotional !
July 27, 2024
Quelle belle découverte cet auteur qui nous amène loin tout en nous ancrant dans notre Montreal contemporain.
Read
February 23, 2018Want to find out more ? Just visit the New-Brunwick Public Library catalogue ! (Canada)
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.