Deftly portrays the humanity found in the lives of contemporary Egyptians, who are navigating a country that is constantly examining its relationship with its history, religion, gender roles, and class distinctions, in a collection of stories that focus on the exquisite emotion of everyday life. Original. 20,000 first printing. Alaa Al Aswany has won resounding critical acclaim for his deft and moving portrayals of the lives of contemporary Egyptians who constantly examine their relationship with Egypts history, religion, class, and gender distinctions. In Friendly Fire he once again demonstrates an extraordinary empathy for lost and searching souls as he focuses on the exquisite emotions of everyday life. In The Kitchen Boy and Dearest Sister Makarim, Al Aswany explores the hypocrisy of the class divide. The brief and tender Izzat Amin Iskandar is a heartrending view of youthful hope. And in the unforgettable novella The Isam Abd el-Ati Papers, the narrator carries us along a troubling journey through his painful relationships with his artist father and his self-centered mother, en route to a devastating collision of temptation and morality. Here are stories of generational conflict, love, repression, and the clash of Western and Arab ideals, all beautifully rendered by a true modern master.
