32

by sahar mandour, Nicole Fares (Translator)

In this finely observed novel, five young Lebanese women navigate their professional and social lives in a city interrupted by random explosions. It is not a war zone, but there is no peace either; Beirut stands at the edge of both. These women, much like their country, have been shaped by the events of a long civil war, their childhood spent in shelters, their adolescence in an unrecognizable city under rapid reconstruction. And here they are now, negotiating the details of their adult lives, fighting to protect their identities, voices, and relationships in a society constantly under questioning.
Talk of politics and gossip by the young and old animate the coffee shops. Heated debates and power dynamics unfold in bars and on the streets. Mandour’s funny and defiant style invites an intimacy, giving readers a glimpse into the absurdities and injustices of everyday life in Lebanon. With empathy and a deep honesty, Mandour narrates the lives of these women who struggle to create their own destiny while at the same time coming to terms with the identity of their Mediterranean city.

Genres: Novels, Middle East, Literature

157 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 12, 2010

About the author

ولدت سحر مندور في عام 1977 في بيروت، لأم لبنانية وأبٍ مصريّ. درست علم النفس في «جامعة القديس يوسف». تعمل صحافية في جريدة «السفير» البيروتية منذ العام 1998.
إلى هذه الرواية التي صدرت للمرة الأولى في العام 2007 في بيروت، صدرت لها رواية «حب بيروتي» (2008).
كما صدر لها في ديسمبر 2010 رواية "32" عن دار الآداب.
وفي ديسمبر 2012، صدرت روايتها الرابعة "مينا"، عن "دار الآداب".

Reviews

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting slice of life in modern-day Beirut that isn't totally defined by the Lebanese Civil War. The author has written some really comprehensive academic articles about queerness and postcolonialism, so I really hope her novels touching on these issues- particularly Mina- will be translated into English.

[Creative · Rating 2 out of 5]

لا اعلم سبب محاولتي لقراءه روايه اخري لسحر مندور وانا لم تعجبني روايتها حب بيروتي كذلك. لا احب اسلوبها في السرد. تكتب هنا عن سيدات بعمر الثلاثينات باسلوب مراهقه.

[Pamela]

Beirut. Lebanese women navigate adulthood within the context of something that is close to war but not quite. Interesting in its context and nice to see the coming of age story that everyone understands. Discussion topics: Religion, social realities, pay equity, growing older as a young woman.

[!Tæmbuŝu]

Reviewed by The Complete Review

[Jody · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, but I just didn't.

[Mohamed Yehia · Rating 2 out of 5]

مزيج اليومي والروائي..أحيانا كانت تطول الحوارات بشكل واقعي ولكنه يحتاج لمعالجة فنية

[Abusoua Abdulgaoud · Rating 2 out of 5]

هل هي يوميات ؟
او وصف لحياة تجري ؟
هناك اشياء تحدث بعيدا عنا قد لاتحدث فرق لدينا لكنها تلقي ضوء

[Jolynne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beirut, both beautiful and not so beautiful.