DuBois Publishing | Couscous with Tata Hannah

Huguette F Zerbib has written a personal memoir of life in a small Algerian town.
Recently, the author's granddaughter asked her: "Grand'mère, what is our background?"
This volume could be seen as an answer to that question: Couscous with Tata Hannah is a memoir of a largely vanished world and of Jewish North Africa. Memory and storytelling are central to Jewish life and the writings incorporate the author's personal experiences followed by anecdotes about an older generation, orally passed down by her aging mother.

Couscous with Tata Hannah is a memoir of a largely vanished world and of Jewish North Africa. Memory and storytelling are central to Jewish life and the writings incorporate the author's personal experiences followed by anecdotes about an older generation, orally passed down by her aging mother.

Press & Reviews

Harville | A delightful read | 8 October 2019
Couscous with Tata Hannah is a wonderful read. It takes the reader to a different place and time, bringing Jewish North Africa to life through the eyes of the feisty author. It is delightful, entertaining, informative, and there is so much to resonate with, although the stories are based on events from long ago. Huguette Zerbib has an unusual and distinctive voice, and she stays in character with the little girl who slowly grows in understanding as the stories unfold. It took me to an exotic place, and I simply loved it.

Marcie | Beautifully written. A lovely book. | 8 October 2019
Beautifully written, Couscous with Tata Hannah is a series of fascinating and amusing tales of the author’s life and family in Jewish North Africa - and, later, when they moved to France having effectively been forced out of Algeria. The style of writing is engaging, and viewing the author’s world through her eyes as a child is what really grabbed me. Tata Hannah (the author’s Aunt Hannah) has an interesting mix of characteristics. In getting to know her over the final chapters of the book, and her inability to adapt to the lives of family members and the Parisian lifestyle, I felt sympathy sprinkled with frustration. The final chapter works so well because we have, as readers, had sufficient insight into what Tata Hannah held most dear to appreciate the humour of the end. A lovely book.

FMT | So many flavours and characters that I could almost taste the words. | 5 November 2019
I really enjoyed this book. It’s a wonderful assemblage of events plucked from the memory of such an interesting life. Each story is peppered with so many flavours and characters that I could almost taste the words. A book to be delved back into, and re-read many times.

Amanda Hall | This book is a page turner in bite sized chapters, each a short story in its own right. | 14 December 2019
I am thoroughly enjoying Huguette Z Zerbib’s book ‘Couscous with Tata Hannah’. The writing is incredibly vivid and readable. I visited Morocco in the mid 1980s and was struck by the sense of timelessness of the country, a quality captured so beautifully here by the writer. The author shares profound insights into the fragility of human nature that struck her from a very young age.
I only have time to read last thing, before I go to sleep, so the structure of small, eventful chapters is perfect.
I highly recommend this memoir as a great read.

kathye | A vanished world | 5 September 2019
A fascinating glimpse into a vanished world. Well written and very interesting.