The scene of the destruction of Dayr al-Bahr that Halim Barakat leaves us with at the end of his novel Six Days returns in The Return of The Bird to the Sea, translated as Days of Dust. The novel takes place during the six day war of 1967, over the course of which we follow … Continue reading Days of Dust
Tag: 1967
Halim Barakat's allegorical novella Sitat Ayam (Six Days, 1961) depicts the struggle of a fictional city (Dayr al-Bahr) under siege. The inhabitants of the city are confronted with an ultimatum to surrender or be wiped out. They choose to defnd the city, and the six days of battles end in the burning of the city. … Continue reading Halim Barakat: Six Days
Being Abbas El-Abd (2006) by Ahmed Alaidy is not as wickedly funny and sharp as it is touted to be. It's a little depressing. It's inspired by Chuck Palahniuk - and as this review notes, the influence shows. "Being Abbas el Abd has a theme and plot – and a twist ending – so similar … Continue reading Being Abbas El Abd