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Sarab: A Novel
November 1979. Violence has broken out in the holiest site of Islam after a charismatic rebel and his devoted followers have announced the coming of the Mahdi and seized the Grand Mosque in Mecca. Among the insurgents is a young woman, Sarab, disguised as a man. As the horror and chaos of the siege reach their peak, she escapes and encounters a French officer from the opposing side. They form an unexpected bond, as hostility turns to attraction, but the violence of both of their pasts will return to haunt them.
Award-winning writer Raja Alem’s extraordinary narrative stretches from Saudi Arabia’s Najd desert to the heart of Paris. In her typical bold and captivating style, this most unusual of love stories unpicks faith and fanaticism, alienation and redemption, and ultimately what it means to be human.
Award-winning writer Raja Alem’s extraordinary narrative stretches from Saudi Arabia’s Najd desert to the heart of Paris. In her typical bold and captivating style, this most unusual of love stories unpicks faith and fanaticism, alienation and redemption, and ultimately what it means to be human.
- GenresFictionMiddle East
343 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 16, 2018
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About the author
Raja Alem
9 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