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Sarab: A Novel
During the 1979 siege of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, a jihadi and a French officer she takes hostage form an unlikely bond...
On a morning in 1979, the world is holding its breath. A troop of terrorist fanatics occupy the Great Mosque in Mecca and take thousands of believers hostage. Among the insurgents, hidden in men’s clothes, is the girl Sarab.
When the counterattack starts, and paratroopers rain from the sky, she flees into the catacombs, where she encounters an unconscious French soldier. Through a sewer, she drags him outside and hides with him in an empty apartment. These two, who at first violently hate each other, tell a story that transcends all boundaries in Mecca, then in Paris.
On a morning in 1979, the world is holding its breath. A troop of terrorist fanatics occupy the Great Mosque in Mecca and take thousands of believers hostage. Among the insurgents, hidden in men’s clothes, is the girl Sarab.
When the counterattack starts, and paratroopers rain from the sky, she flees into the catacombs, where she encounters an unconscious French soldier. Through a sewer, she drags him outside and hides with him in an empty apartment. These two, who at first violently hate each other, tell a story that transcends all boundaries in Mecca, then in Paris.
- GenresFictionMiddle East
Unknown Binding
Published October 1, 2018
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About the author
Raja Alem
10 books80 followersRaja'a Alem is a Saudi Arabian novelist from Mecca/Hejaz. She received her BA in English Literature and works as a tutor for the Center for Training Kindergarten Teachers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 19, 2024
3.5 ⭐
Roman je zasnovan na resničnih dogodkih iz leta 1979, terorskem napadu militantne skupine na Sveto mošejo v Meki, glavne osebe in njihove usode pa so fikcija.
Prva poglavja opisujejo prve štiri dni napada in niso najbolj tekoče branje, a to se spremeni, ko se Sarab sreča z oči v oči s sovražnikom v obliki francoskega Rafaela - ne glede na okoliščine je med njima nerazložljiva privlačnost.
Sarab je odraščala v senci brata dvojčka in v beduinski saudski skupnosti itak kot ženska ni bila nič vredna. Po smrti staršev je na slepo sledila bratu (ker kaj bi sicer, sama), ko se je ta priključil skupini verskih ekstremistov - Sarab so tudi sprejeli, saj se je izdajala za fanta.
O Rafaelu pa ne zvemo nič, samo da je v enoti francoske policije, ki rešuje talce in se "pogaja" s teroristi.
Premis romana je odličen, resnično zgodovinsko ozadje, odnos med Beduinko Sarab, ki nosi za več življenj travm na sebi, in Parižanom Rafaelom, ki ima preveč življenj na svoji vesti. Žal pa je kar nekaj primanjkljajev v izvedbi - mogoče so ti posledica prevoda, ki je terjal priredbe s strani prevajalke, saj sam manuskript v arabščini še ni bil izpiljen in tudi še ni izšel. Vseeno mislim, da je knjiga vredna branja.
Roman je zasnovan na resničnih dogodkih iz leta 1979, terorskem napadu militantne skupine na Sveto mošejo v Meki, glavne osebe in njihove usode pa so fikcija.
Prva poglavja opisujejo prve štiri dni napada in niso najbolj tekoče branje, a to se spremeni, ko se Sarab sreča z oči v oči s sovražnikom v obliki francoskega Rafaela - ne glede na okoliščine je med njima nerazložljiva privlačnost.
Sarab je odraščala v senci brata dvojčka in v beduinski saudski skupnosti itak kot ženska ni bila nič vredna. Po smrti staršev je na slepo sledila bratu (ker kaj bi sicer, sama), ko se je ta priključil skupini verskih ekstremistov - Sarab so tudi sprejeli, saj se je izdajala za fanta.
O Rafaelu pa ne zvemo nič, samo da je v enoti francoske policije, ki rešuje talce in se "pogaja" s teroristi.
Premis romana je odličen, resnično zgodovinsko ozadje, odnos med Beduinko Sarab, ki nosi za več življenj travm na sebi, in Parižanom Rafaelom, ki ima preveč življenj na svoji vesti. Žal pa je kar nekaj primanjkljajev v izvedbi - mogoče so ti posledica prevoda, ki je terjal priredbe s strani prevajalke, saj sam manuskript v arabščini še ni bil izpiljen in tudi še ni izšel. Vseeno mislim, da je knjiga vredna branja.
August 17, 2022
Another book that was part of my quest to read a book from every country in the world. This time: Saudi-Arabia. Alem writes about the unlikely love between a religious fanatic and a french soldier. I think this book is a raw diamond. The overall prose is mostly excellent, the characters are multifaceted and the overarching story is interesting. Alem plays a lot with metaphors and symbolism. Especially colour and animals are a recurring theme throughout the novel and are connected to Sarab's personal development. There are, however, some elements of the language that were a bit distracting and I don't think that they were translation issues (I read the German translation). I think with these distracting elements out of the way, this would've been among the best books I've read. Still a very enjoyable book regardless and I will definitely check out more works written by Alem.
November 28, 2018
A horrendous look inside an ISIS type group, doesn't skimp on the vicious and evil. Also an interesting insight into the cruelty of Muslim women, directing the same disdain toward other women that they have felt. Sad.
March 24, 2025
من أجمل ماكتبت رجاء عالم.. البطلة سراب تأخذنا في رحلة داخل الجماعة الذين هاجموا الحرم عام ١٩٧٩.. رحلة سيكولوجية تجعلنا نرى أحداث ونحسها كأننا معهم
Sarah is a histrionical physiological novel through Sarab’s journey
Sarah is a histrionical physiological novel through Sarab’s journey
January 10, 2022
Sehr spannender und abwechslungsreicher Roman mit interessanter Rahmengeschichte.
February 9, 2024
Couldn’t even bring myself to finish it
August 20, 2024
(3.5)
November 27, 2024
3.5☆
Que rabia me dio el final. Si no hubiera sido por el final, le habría dado 4☆. Que rabia y que pena.
Que rabia me dio el final. Si no hubiera sido por el final, le habría dado 4☆. Que rabia y que pena.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews