Book Review: The Exiles of God by Ashraf El Khamaisy (منافى الرب)

A daring, unique piece of work, filled to the brim with thought-provoking, bound-to-prove-controversial ideas (like obsession with death, fear of life, the enigma of faith, and sensuality as a conduit to spirituality). The prose is smooth, romantic, and hypnotic.

Even if the book is a tad too long, and the non-linear plotting a bit on the disorienting side, this is still a brilliant book, worth discovering. Long-listed for the "Arabic Booker Prize".

Book Review: The Blue Elephant by Ahmed Mourad (الفيل الأزرق)

I have to say I am somewhat puzzled by how successful this novel proved to be over the past year. It is an entertaining book on some levels, but it's also a deeply flawed one.

Badly written, plastic dialogue, superficial characterization, and a poorly constructed plot, consisting mainly of clichés lifted from dozens of American horror films, are some of the flaws that this book suffers from.

It being short-listed for the "Arabic Booker Prize" is mind-boggling!