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asiemsanyal's review against another edition
4.0
One Last Drink at Guapa invites us to view the world through the eyes of Rasa, a gay Arab man living in an unnamed Arab country, set against the backdrop of the Arab Spring. Over the course of 24 hours, we are privy to Rasa's struggles with the regime, his identity, and his fervent wish to bridge the two in the hope of living in a more tolerant country, where for a man to love and sleep with another man is notharam, and defying the regime is not fraught with danger.
The story begins with Rasa's grandmother peering through a keyhole, finding him in bed with another man, and screaming bloody murder. The rest of the day pans out in a series of episodes, present interspersed with past, and the reader follows Rasa as he leaves his house in a state of consternation, wondering if he will ever be able to talk with his grandmother about what she saw. In the meantime, under the directive of the current President, Guapa, the eponymous bar has been raided and sealed off to the public - this is that rare space in the city where queer folx can be themselves, where Rasa inhabits his identity without it feeling like a second skin, and where he meets the man who will change his life.
Over the course of the story, we begin to understand Rasa's complicated relationship with Teta, his grandmother, who raised him in the absence of his parents, his turmoil during his studies in the U.S. of A where he experiences the two strong forces of his sexual identity and the racism that others him as an Arab, and his insistence on substantiating the relationship he shares with Taymour, the man his grandmother caught him in bed with. At the end of the story, we are left with the idea of Rasa as a man who must make and has made difficult and bitter choices in his life, but we are hopeful that he steps into the future with a sense of positivity.
This book resonated with me because of the parallels I could draw between Rasa's country and mine. Homosexuality was decriminalised in India as late as 2018, and trans folx are still being denied their rights. How does one live out one's queerness within an oppressive nation-state? One seeks out oases such as Guapa, where for a few fleeting moments, one can truly shine through.
At the end of the book, I found myself not really able to blame any of the characters for Rasa's situation, and yet all of them were perhaps to blame in some way - we are shaped by our circumstances, after all. I would have loved to know more about Rasa's parents, especially his mother, but (and here is where the book ends and I extrapolate) I am hopeful his relationship with his mother will work out just fine. All he needs is time. All anyone needs is time, really.
I would recommend this to everyone. If you identify as queer and are at present unable to express yourself freely, here's to you - it will get better. Just give it time.
(Also, infinitely grateful to Saleem Haddad for introducing me to the mellifluous Fairuz and the orotund Umm Kalthoum)
The story begins with Rasa's grandmother peering through a keyhole, finding him in bed with another man, and screaming bloody murder. The rest of the day pans out in a series of episodes, present interspersed with past, and the reader follows Rasa as he leaves his house in a state of consternation, wondering if he will ever be able to talk with his grandmother about what she saw. In the meantime, under the directive of the current President, Guapa, the eponymous bar has been raided and sealed off to the public - this is that rare space in the city where queer folx can be themselves, where Rasa inhabits his identity without it feeling like a second skin, and where he meets the man who will change his life.
Over the course of the story, we begin to understand Rasa's complicated relationship with Teta, his grandmother, who raised him in the absence of his parents, his turmoil during his studies in the U.S. of A where he experiences the two strong forces of his sexual identity and the racism that others him as an Arab, and his insistence on substantiating the relationship he shares with Taymour, the man his grandmother caught him in bed with. At the end of the story, we are left with the idea of Rasa as a man who must make and has made difficult and bitter choices in his life, but we are hopeful that he steps into the future with a sense of positivity.
This book resonated with me because of the parallels I could draw between Rasa's country and mine. Homosexuality was decriminalised in India as late as 2018, and trans folx are still being denied their rights. How does one live out one's queerness within an oppressive nation-state? One seeks out oases such as Guapa, where for a few fleeting moments, one can truly shine through.
At the end of the book, I found myself not really able to blame any of the characters for Rasa's situation, and yet all of them were perhaps to blame in some way - we are shaped by our circumstances, after all. I would have loved to know more about Rasa's parents, especially his mother, but (and here is where the book ends and I extrapolate) I am hopeful his relationship with his mother will work out just fine. All he needs is time. All anyone needs is time, really.
I would recommend this to everyone. If you identify as queer and are at present unable to express yourself freely, here's to you - it will get better. Just give it time.
(Also, infinitely grateful to Saleem Haddad for introducing me to the mellifluous Fairuz and the orotund Umm Kalthoum)
pphector's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, and Homophobia
independent_wombat's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
crtsjffrsn's review
4.0
Rasa's life has changed dramatically overnight. Last night, his grandmother caught him in bed with his lover, Taymour. Tonight, Taymour is getting married to a woman. And one of his best friends, Maj, is missing, likely arrested sometime during the night. None of these are things he can be open about. And even if he could, his grandmother isn't speaking to him, and she's the only family he has. Beyond his personal struggles, the political situation in his country is getting worse. As a translator for foreign journalists, he gets called out on a job that puts him face-to-face with one of the leaders of the resistance. And with everything going on in his life, he can't help reflecting more and more on who he is and who he wants to be. He spent time in the United States, a land of "freedom." He came back home, and for a while he had hope for his people. But what does it mean to be free? And who gets to dictate how another person should live? If there will always be a power majority, what hope does the minority have?
Although the premise of this story seems simple, it's a rather deep read. I found myself thinking and reflecting quite often while I was reading. Rasa is an intelligent young man, and he's engaged in the world around him. He knows that some parts of his situation are beyond his control. He also knows that he needs to find a way to live with that if he's going to stop himself from breaking. While he lacks support in some areas of his life, he does have support in others. And maybe it's those others that need his focus.
I don't want to spoil too much, but there is one specific point in the book that I need to comment on. When Rasa is thinking back to his time in the United States, he describes his thoughts on being open about his sexuality. He mentions that he could choose to live openly. He could show up places and say he's proud of who he is. He could pretend to be comfortable in his skin. But that would be a lie. He wasn't comfortable. He was still trying to come to terms with who he is. His other option would be to make it known that he experienced discomfort and shame. But that would lead to people labeling him a victim of religion and society. Neither of those felt right to him, so he chose neither option.
This point got me thinking and reflecting. I sometimes have to remind people that coming out stories are still relevant. It can be easy to dismiss them as outdated as more people are coming out at younger ages. While some parts of society are becoming more accepting and open, that doesn't mean everyone feels comfortable being out. And some people are hesitant to speak up about it because it has nothing to do with religion or society. Coming out to yourself can be a difficult process on its own. And coming to terms with that can be difficult, even without any outside influences. So it's important to remember that there are all kinds of reasons that people struggle. And it's equally important that we tell and share those stories.
I also appreciated that this story focused on a young man from the Middle East. I almost never see LGBT stories that take place in that part of the world. And we need to have stories where people can find themselves. Just as much as we need stories where people can learn about those different from themselves.
[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
Although the premise of this story seems simple, it's a rather deep read. I found myself thinking and reflecting quite often while I was reading. Rasa is an intelligent young man, and he's engaged in the world around him. He knows that some parts of his situation are beyond his control. He also knows that he needs to find a way to live with that if he's going to stop himself from breaking. While he lacks support in some areas of his life, he does have support in others. And maybe it's those others that need his focus.
I don't want to spoil too much, but there is one specific point in the book that I need to comment on. When Rasa is thinking back to his time in the United States, he describes his thoughts on being open about his sexuality. He mentions that he could choose to live openly. He could show up places and say he's proud of who he is. He could pretend to be comfortable in his skin. But that would be a lie. He wasn't comfortable. He was still trying to come to terms with who he is. His other option would be to make it known that he experienced discomfort and shame. But that would lead to people labeling him a victim of religion and society. Neither of those felt right to him, so he chose neither option.
This point got me thinking and reflecting. I sometimes have to remind people that coming out stories are still relevant. It can be easy to dismiss them as outdated as more people are coming out at younger ages. While some parts of society are becoming more accepting and open, that doesn't mean everyone feels comfortable being out. And some people are hesitant to speak up about it because it has nothing to do with religion or society. Coming out to yourself can be a difficult process on its own. And coming to terms with that can be difficult, even without any outside influences. So it's important to remember that there are all kinds of reasons that people struggle. And it's equally important that we tell and share those stories.
I also appreciated that this story focused on a young man from the Middle East. I almost never see LGBT stories that take place in that part of the world. And we need to have stories where people can find themselves. Just as much as we need stories where people can learn about those different from themselves.
[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
marie314's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
roslink's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
pigeonpersona's review
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
This is an absolutely amazing debut novel that I was lucky enough to have picked up at random in a library. Through the eyes of the main character Rasa, we see the journey of a whole country and of himself. Through gut wrenching twists and turns, Rasa guides us to the present moment in his life. Navigating personal drama, governmental instability, foreign intervention, and the disappointment of his grandmother. Saleem Haddad knows exactly what he's doing, and I'm so excited to see whatever he does next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Homophobia
Moderate: Confinement, Religious bigotry, and War
mgsardina's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
joaniemaloney's review
4.0
A day in the life of Rasa, a young man reeling from his grandmother discovering him in bed with his lover, Taymour. There was always a danger of their relationship being revealed but he was lulled into not believing that it would be in this manner, so abruptly and possibly without much of a goodbye. Everything was a balancing act before, with both men careful to play their respective roles and not let anything slip in public:
Rasa's entire life consists of: his job as a translator, which he started with his friend Basma and doesn't pay well; his only familial relationship to his grandmother with his father having died of cancer and his mother having left before that; his affair with Taymour and the nights they get to spend together before the man leaves as dawn breaks; and his best friend, Maj, who he hangs out with at their favourite bar, Guapa, and hasn't been able to contact, fearing he's been taken away by the police. With one careless mistake, everything is unraveling at the seams.
There is so much longing on every page, not just for Taymour but for some sort of change in his life, his home, his country. In more youthful times, he had hopes of being a part of a revolution and tearing down the old ways, but that now is all but quashed, whether in the minds of the revolutionaries or violently by the government. The ones who still have the strength to fight on, to be attacked and attack themselves, impose more limits over how the population should live, and Rasa can't possibly belong to those groups either. Having failed at making anything of himself when he studied in America, Rasa has returned to live with his grandmother. He feels stuck. There's frustration over the rules and graces society imposes on him, and also frustration at himself being unable to go along and play the part of the man, living the life everyone expects of him, with a better job, a marriage with a wife and children. He's lost.
It's a very intimate read. The narrative almost lazily shifts here and there but it works. There's a clarity to the story of Rasa's life that is told, and the desire he so desperately feels for any connection, any sense of belonging, infuse these pages with urgency. The past and present, and the uncertain future, is pieced together with patience and a steady hand. Both Teta [his grandmother] and society's presence lingers throughout, forever trapping Rasa and limiting his decisions, continually unable to break free in any aspect of his life for fear of the consequences.
Quite a gem of a debut! I regret not listening to Fairouz (listening to this as I'm finishing up this review) or Oum Kalthoum as I was reading it.
'I began to go out with him to his social events. At dinner parties we sat beside each other. At the table he paid me no attention, but under it I would feel his foot brush mine. It would withdraw but soon enough it would be back. I admired the way he conducted himself, flitting between roles so naturally. He had that cool disinterest and controlled boom of a laugh that all successful society men have. He could be among a crowd of admirers and one quick glance my way would remind me where his heart was.'
Rasa's entire life consists of: his job as a translator, which he started with his friend Basma and doesn't pay well; his only familial relationship to his grandmother with his father having died of cancer and his mother having left before that; his affair with Taymour and the nights they get to spend together before the man leaves as dawn breaks; and his best friend, Maj, who he hangs out with at their favourite bar, Guapa, and hasn't been able to contact, fearing he's been taken away by the police. With one careless mistake, everything is unraveling at the seams.
'I loved Taymour because he was from here, because everything in him reminded me of everything here, because to love him was to love this city and its history. And yet I couldn't love him because he was from here and so held ideas of how to be and how to love, which would never fit in with the love that we shared.'
There is so much longing on every page, not just for Taymour but for some sort of change in his life, his home, his country. In more youthful times, he had hopes of being a part of a revolution and tearing down the old ways, but that now is all but quashed, whether in the minds of the revolutionaries or violently by the government. The ones who still have the strength to fight on, to be attacked and attack themselves, impose more limits over how the population should live, and Rasa can't possibly belong to those groups either. Having failed at making anything of himself when he studied in America, Rasa has returned to live with his grandmother. He feels stuck. There's frustration over the rules and graces society imposes on him, and also frustration at himself being unable to go along and play the part of the man, living the life everyone expects of him, with a better job, a marriage with a wife and children. He's lost.
It's a very intimate read. The narrative almost lazily shifts here and there but it works. There's a clarity to the story of Rasa's life that is told, and the desire he so desperately feels for any connection, any sense of belonging, infuse these pages with urgency. The past and present, and the uncertain future, is pieced together with patience and a steady hand. Both Teta [his grandmother] and society's presence lingers throughout, forever trapping Rasa and limiting his decisions, continually unable to break free in any aspect of his life for fear of the consequences.
Quite a gem of a debut! I regret not listening to Fairouz (listening to this as I'm finishing up this review) or Oum Kalthoum as I was reading it.