This novel is amazing! Alameddine is truly a hakawati himself, painting both contemporary Beirut and ancient places (as sprung out of Arabian nights, the Bible or the Quran) in vibrant colours. Ancient stories or myths are woven together with the tales of a family gathering around the dying patriarch, the grandfather, who has amazing stories of his own. I have a feeling that I don't want this book to end...

Images in the collage from John Douglas, Hand of Fatima, and Global Voices Online.