The Hakawati by Rabih Alameddine

The Hakawati

Rabih Alameddine

528 pages • first pub 2008 (editions)

fiction historical magical realism adventurous challenging reflective slow-paced

Description

An inventive, exuberant novel that takes us from the shimmering dunes of ancient Egypt to the war-torn streets of twenty-first-century Lebanon.In 2003, Osama al-Kharrat returns to Beirut after many years in America to stand vigil at his father’s d...

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Community Reviews Summary of 73 reviews

Moods

adventurous 75%
mysterious 75%
reflective 66%
emotional 50%
funny 50%
inspiring 50%
challenging 25%
hopeful 25%
relaxing 25%
informative 16%
sad 16%
lighthearted 8%

Pace

medium 50%
slow 33%
fast 16%

Plot- or character-driven?

A mix: 87% | Character: 12%

Strong character development?

Yes: 60% | It's complicated: 40%

Loveable characters?

Yes: 100%

Diverse cast of characters?

Yes: 77% | It's complicated: 11% | No: 11%

Flaws of characters a main focus?

Yes: 66% | It's complicated: 33%

Average rating

4.17

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Content Warnings

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