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Lebanese Blonde
Lebanese Blonde takes place in 1975-76 at the beginning of Lebanon's sectarian civil war. Set primarily in the Toledo, Ohio, "Little Syria" community, it is the story of two immigrant Aboodeh, a self-styled entrepreneur; and Samir, his young, reluctant accomplice. Together the two concoct a scheme to import Lebanese Blonde, a potent strain of hashish, into the United States, using the family's mortuary business as a cover. When Teyib, a newly arrived war refugee, stumbles onto their plans, his clumsy efforts to gain acceptance raise suspicion. Who is this mysterious "cousin," and what dangers does his presence pose? Aboodeh and Samir's problems grow still more serious when a shipment goes awry and their links to the war-ravaged homeland are severed. Soon it's not just Aboodeh and Samir's livelihoods and futures that are imperiled, but the stability of the entire family.
- GenresFiction
296 pages, Hardcover
Published July 30, 2012
About the author
Joseph Geha
5 books13 followersBorn in Lebanon and raised in the USA, Joseph Geha is the author of Through and Through: Toledo Stories (Graywolf: St. Paul, 1990), a collection of short stories inspired by his experiences growing up in an émigré Arab American community. In 2009, Syracuse University Press published a second (expanded) edition.
Joe's novel, Lebanese Blonde (University of Michigan: Ann Arbor, 2012), is the winner of the 2013 Arab American Book Award.
He has also been granted the Pushcart Prize, a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, and his fiction has been chosen for inclusion in the Permanent Collection, Arab American Archive, of the Smithsonian Institution.
Over the years Joe's fiction -- along with his poetry, essays and plays -- has appeared in numerous periodicals and anthologies, including Epoch, Esquire, The New York Times, The Northwest Review, Homeground, The Iowa Review, New York Quarterly, Oxford Magazine, The Amherst Review, Kaleidoscope, A Nation's Voice, Crazyquilt, The New Virginia Review, Growing up Ethnic in America, Big City Cool, Homeground, and The Quarterly.
Married to novelist Fern Kupfer, he lives in Ames, Iowa, where he is a professor emeritus of the Creative Writing Program at Iowa State University.
Joe's novel, Lebanese Blonde (University of Michigan: Ann Arbor, 2012), is the winner of the 2013 Arab American Book Award.
He has also been granted the Pushcart Prize, a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, and his fiction has been chosen for inclusion in the Permanent Collection, Arab American Archive, of the Smithsonian Institution.
Over the years Joe's fiction -- along with his poetry, essays and plays -- has appeared in numerous periodicals and anthologies, including Epoch, Esquire, The New York Times, The Northwest Review, Homeground, The Iowa Review, New York Quarterly, Oxford Magazine, The Amherst Review, Kaleidoscope, A Nation's Voice, Crazyquilt, The New Virginia Review, Growing up Ethnic in America, Big City Cool, Homeground, and The Quarterly.
Married to novelist Fern Kupfer, he lives in Ames, Iowa, where he is a professor emeritus of the Creative Writing Program at Iowa State University.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 9, 2013
There’s a terrific chapter about midway through “Lebanese Blonde” that finds the protagonist, a Lebanese-born but thoroughly Americanized young man named Sammy taking his aging, cigar-chomping Uncle Waxy to the dentist. A medical emergency arises, and in an ambulance on the way to the hospital Sammy tries to comfort his uncle with the few Arabic phrases he knows. Unfortunately, they are all terms of condolence that he’s picked up at the family’s funeral home. It’s a funny, poignant scene that says a lot about the book’s themes of family and how old world ways get altered or disappear completely as an emigrant family assimilates. “America grasps you by the ankles of your children,” goes a wonderfully written line in the book’s opening chapter.
Author Joe Geha came to America from Lebanon as a child and grew up in Toledo, Ohio, where his story is based. He knows his characters so very well and writes about them with immense affection and humor.
The plot revolves around Sammy getting pulled into his cousin Aboodeh’s scheme to smuggle high-grade hashish from Lebanon (hence the title). Family and the war in Lebanon cause complications though. As does a strange Lebanese “cousin” named Teyib who shows up in Toledo. He’s a schemer, too, with plans to make it big in America. America, however, proves bigger than he ever imagined. Teyib is a terrific creation and proves to be the most memorable character in a book filled with memorable characters.
Be warned: Geha weaves a lot of food into this story and after reading it you might find yourself wanting a Lebanese cookbook.
Author Joe Geha came to America from Lebanon as a child and grew up in Toledo, Ohio, where his story is based. He knows his characters so very well and writes about them with immense affection and humor.
The plot revolves around Sammy getting pulled into his cousin Aboodeh’s scheme to smuggle high-grade hashish from Lebanon (hence the title). Family and the war in Lebanon cause complications though. As does a strange Lebanese “cousin” named Teyib who shows up in Toledo. He’s a schemer, too, with plans to make it big in America. America, however, proves bigger than he ever imagined. Teyib is a terrific creation and proves to be the most memorable character in a book filled with memorable characters.
Be warned: Geha weaves a lot of food into this story and after reading it you might find yourself wanting a Lebanese cookbook.
September 24, 2013
Two young immigrant cousins living in the "Little Syria" community in Toledo Ohio are caught up in a smuggling dilemma. They help out in their uncle's funeral home. Sammir (Sammy) is very naïve & doesn't know what is going on. His cousin Aboodeh insists that they can make good money importing "trinkets". Sammy journeys to Lebanon with his cousin to talk to other "cousins" who are helping with this deal. It is there that the young Sammy realizes that they are making deals to smuggle Lebanese Blonde hashish into the states, using the funeral business as a cover. Sammy is somewhat an unwilling partner, but soon sees that they CAN make big money. Altho he never really wants to be involved & somehow seems not to be.
Another "cousin" is coming from Lebanon to help them. It is where Teyib comes into the picture. The character of Teyib is likeable to me, you see him struggling in the states, being a new immigrant. But you like him. I think the idea that he would cook & use his skills that he learned in his home country helps the family like him also. But they are never really sure who he is.
They are all soon caught up in a plan that goes all wrong. But I am not sure if I understood what happened to Teyib. I wanted him to be safe under his new name, which was pretty funny. Teyib, where are you?! Good book!
Another "cousin" is coming from Lebanon to help them. It is where Teyib comes into the picture. The character of Teyib is likeable to me, you see him struggling in the states, being a new immigrant. But you like him. I think the idea that he would cook & use his skills that he learned in his home country helps the family like him also. But they are never really sure who he is.
They are all soon caught up in a plan that goes all wrong. But I am not sure if I understood what happened to Teyib. I wanted him to be safe under his new name, which was pretty funny. Teyib, where are you?! Good book!
June 5, 2013
Written by a friend of a friend--quite enjoyable!
May 11, 2013
This story is intriguing and in the end, leaves you with still some mystery. It's a bittersweet ending. You follow
the main character, Sam, through what starts out as a familiar, large but close-knit family of
traditional immigrants, through a year or so of changes and transformations to his own character.
It did start off a little slowly but is a compelling story. Also with all the detailed descriptions of cooking, it made me long for
Lebanese food, which I am hard pressed to find in small-town Iowa.
the main character, Sam, through what starts out as a familiar, large but close-knit family of
traditional immigrants, through a year or so of changes and transformations to his own character.
It did start off a little slowly but is a compelling story. Also with all the detailed descriptions of cooking, it made me long for
Lebanese food, which I am hard pressed to find in small-town Iowa.
October 29, 2012
I really enjoyed this book about a young Lebanese American who makes the transition between the old world and the new. This book is full of food and family, as well as hashish and mortuary practices, so it's full of smells! Although it's published by an academic press, there is nothing academic about it--it's an easy, fun read. I'm going to have to research several of the dishes described in the book which are literally food for the soul.
July 15, 2023
My husband and I both loved this story of Lebanese immigrants in Ohio. Our favorite character was Teyib, the mysterious "cousin." Lots of page-turning action and wonderful descriptions of Lebanese food. My copy has a few drool marks.
April 14, 2013
Still reading and enjoying and pacing myself to avoid finishing too fast!
January 6, 2024
I found this novel especially interesting as I grew up close to the setting of Toledo, OH and married into a large 1st generation Lebanese family. Geha's novel centers around the Tammouz family, of the Christian Lebanese diaspora. Sam is convinced by his cousin Aboodeh to be a cash investor in a scheme to import Lebanese Blonde hashish, using the family mortuary business as cover. The cousins make the trip to Lebanon to set up the deal. Sam is pickpocketed by a guy named Teyib (not a real name). Teyib uses Sam's identity, makes his way to the address in the wallet of Toledo, and passes himself off as their cousin. There is more than a whiff of My Cousin Vinnie in the novel, but it's well written, the characters are unique and fleshed out. Very enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews