The Hakawati by Rabih Alameddine

The Hakawati

Rabih Alameddine with Marina Rotondo (Translator), Francesco Nitti (Translator)

751 pages • first pub 2008 (editions) user-added

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 78 reviews

Moods

adventurous 62%
mysterious 62%
reflective 56%
emotional 50%
funny 50%
inspiring 37%
challenging 31%
hopeful 25%
sad 25%
informative 18%
lighthearted 18%
relaxing 18%
dark 12%
tense 6%

Pace

slow 43%
medium 43%
fast 12%

Plot- or character-driven?

A mix: 75% | Character: 25%

Strong character development?

Yes: 53% | It's complicated: 38% | No: 7%

Loveable characters?

Yes: 91% | No: 8%

Diverse cast of characters?

Yes: 83% | It's complicated: 8% | No: 8%

Flaws of characters a main focus?

Yes: 76% | It's complicated: 23%

Average rating

4.18

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Content Warnings

Submitted by users as part of their reviews

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