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Playing Basra
Set in the urban heart of a big city, this novel follows the hilarious and tragic exploits of three well-intentioned but reckless brothers who try to survive poverty and misfortune through sheer determination. With vibrant style and engaging dialogue, this insightful narrative's portrays both lighthearted and serious issues—from joyriding and stealing bread to dealing with the disastrous consequences of army enlistment and a son's involvement in his father's accidental death. The first chapter , "Beer Bottles and Bowling Balls," was nominated for the prestigious Writer's Trust of Canada Journey Prize.
194 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Edward Brown
210 books2 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
December 17, 2025
This is the type of book, after I finished the last story, I wanted to spend more time with the characters.
So I started reading it again, and was immediately reminded of the comment, the only fiction worth reading, is the fiction worth RE-reading ie. the second time around, the experience of reading the material is enriched, when you pick up on things you didn't see, the first time around.
"In A Room Above A Variety Store" -- oh, wow! Second time around -- I actually got shivers!
Each story of this collection took me to places I did not expect to visit, which is quite an accomplishment. Each story surprised me, with where the material went -- you expect one thing, but then the characters end up going someplace different.
Another axiom of creative writing is, the best stories always have endings that are a complete surprise, but also, almost (for lack of a better word) -- inevitable (that sounds like a paradox, but it isn't, in the hands of an experienced storyteller: it's the gold standard!)
This is a collection of very solid writing -- craft doesn't call attention to itself, but good work rises to the level of excellence, with the application of craft.
The joy of second-hand bookstores is, every once in a while you stumble across an older title you've never seen before, did not even know existed -- and it sticks with you, after waiting quietly to be discovered, years down the road. (So thank God for second-hand bookstores!)
So I started reading it again, and was immediately reminded of the comment, the only fiction worth reading, is the fiction worth RE-reading ie. the second time around, the experience of reading the material is enriched, when you pick up on things you didn't see, the first time around.
"In A Room Above A Variety Store" -- oh, wow! Second time around -- I actually got shivers!
Each story of this collection took me to places I did not expect to visit, which is quite an accomplishment. Each story surprised me, with where the material went -- you expect one thing, but then the characters end up going someplace different.
Another axiom of creative writing is, the best stories always have endings that are a complete surprise, but also, almost (for lack of a better word) -- inevitable (that sounds like a paradox, but it isn't, in the hands of an experienced storyteller: it's the gold standard!)
This is a collection of very solid writing -- craft doesn't call attention to itself, but good work rises to the level of excellence, with the application of craft.
The joy of second-hand bookstores is, every once in a while you stumble across an older title you've never seen before, did not even know existed -- and it sticks with you, after waiting quietly to be discovered, years down the road. (So thank God for second-hand bookstores!)
Displaying 1 of 1 review