Rabih Alameddine Libros

En 2003, Osama al-Kharrat regresa a Beirut, tras muchos años en Estados Unidos, para visitar a su padre agonizante. Allí entra de nuevo en contacto con su infancia, con la traumática guerra contra Israel, pero sobre todo con la figura de su abuelo, un hakawati o contador de historias profesional. Sus historias —sobre su llegada al Líbano como huérfano de las guerras turcas— se mezclan con cuentos tradicionales del Medio Oriente reimaginados, desde Abraham e Isaac hasta Fátima. El libro es una inmersión total en la cultura árabe, de la que parten todas las historias que van contándosenos en el libro, como si de una nueva versión de la historia de las Mil y una noches se tratase. A partir de una historia principal, que es la del propio autor del libro, se va ramificando con la historia de su abuelo, el hakawati. Y la historia de su abuelo va ramificándose en las distintas historias que se nos cuentan. Historias que se ramifican en historias contadas dentro de la historia. Pero nunca de un modo lineal, sino saltando de una a otra. Como un verdadero hakawati, Rabih Alameddine nos brinda Las mil y una noches de este siglo: una novela divertida y cautivadora que encanta desde sus primeras líneas. Una novela de gran calidad literaria que mezcla los mejores ingredientes de la narrativa de aventuras con la actualidad de Oriente medio.

The novel explores Sarah's journey of self-discovery amidst the complexities of her hybrid family and the backdrop of wartime Beirut. As she navigates her life in self-imposed exile in the United States, she sheds layers of pretension, revealing her authentic self. Supported by a close friend and her son, Sarah embraces both her dignity and the fragmented nature of her existence. The narrative is imbued with humor and heartache, presenting a poignant and memorable exploration of humanity. A reading group guide is also included.

WINNER OF THE PEN/FAULKNER AWARD FOR FICTION 2022. 'A beautiful, well paced, enraging, funny and heartbreaking book' - The Guardian. 'Spectacular . . . deeply poignant' - New York Times. Mina Simpson, a Lebanese doctor, arrives at the Moria refugee camp in Lesbos, Greece, after being called by a friend who runs an NGO. Distanced from her family except for her brother, Mina has long avoided her homeland. With a week off work and separated from her wife of thirty years, she seeks to make a meaningful impact among the many Western volunteers. Soon, a boat arrives carrying Sumaiya, a determined Syrian matriarch battling terminal liver cancer. She hides her diagnosis from her family, fiercely protecting them. As Mina and Sumaiya bond over this secret, Mina prepares a treatment plan with limited resources while grappling with the broader issues of displacement and her own limitations in providing aid. This narrative introduces a compelling heroine, leading readers through one of today's most pressing humanitarian crises. Alameddine skillfully intertwines stories of other refugees, creating a vibrant tapestry of tragic yet humorous portraits of resilient spirits. 'Alameddine hits a distinctly contemporary note with this new book about refugees . . . it feels totally authentic' - Sunday Times.

Aaliya Sohbi, a solitary woman in Beirut, navigates her reclusive existence filled with unshared literary translations and reflections on her tumultuous past. As she confronts her identity as an 'unnecessary appendage' in her family, her accidental hair mishap sparks a late-life crisis. Through her vibrant thoughts on literature, philosophy, and art, Aaliya grapples with memories of the Lebanese Civil War and the challenges of aging. A looming disaster forces her to reconsider her fragile life and the choices that have defined her.

Following the critical and commercial success of An Unnecessary Woman, Alameddine delivers a spectacular portrait of a man and an era of profound political and social upheaval.