Do You like book I Sweep The Sun Off Rooftops (1998)?
I was curious to read stories about the Middle East and picked up the book enthusiatically at the library. Unfortunately, what I got was below my expectations.The quality of the little stories in the book varies greatly. It seems that the stories have been written at different times in the author's life, some are memories told through a child's voice, some are coming of age and others about marriage/sex, etc.. I thought that at times the author has described the role of women in a negative way and it was a bit depressing.
—Christine
Nearly every story is this collection is a gem, and the writing is exceptionally terse and powerful. Young children on an Oil compound in the middle east are horrified to learn that their Indian servants have been cooking their pet rabbits, their distress calling into question the treatment of servants and the self-serving naivete of children. A woman moves from Morocco to London and learns the humiliations of freedom. Another woman wants to get a divorce but cannot ask for one, so she feigns insanity, which further traps her in her marriage. And my favorite story, "The Land of Dreams" beautifully portrays the impossible reconciliations of culture between the west and east, when a Denmark missionary is proposed to by a Yemeni man. I love the sensations this book provoked- of austerity and sensuality, of intense focus and vague alienation, very excellent.
—Molly
I had high hopes for this book of short stories based in Lebanon and started reading with some of those hopes fulfilled. Gradually I found a certain sameness creeping in, primarily of writing style and tone, negativity toward most "others" in whichever protagonists' life and constant wistfulness, dreaminess. Perhaps this comes of living in a war zone. This would not account for the style itself which sometimes seems to bludgeon the reader with its words.There were a few stories I liked, primarily "The Spirit is Engaged Now (You May Want to Hold). Others such as "The Land of Dreams" just didn't seem to have substance, seemed to be completely unreal, beyond any possible meaning of the title I could come up with.I didn't finish all stories, but read 2/3rds of the book, and feel that was enough to make a meaningful review of this book.
—Sue
