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avik's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best books I've read in ages. If you aren't put off by high postmodernism, I can't recommend this book more.
georgehunter's review against another edition
4.0
On page 118 Alameddine explains the book: "I wanted to write an endless book of time. It would have no beginning and no end. It would not flow in order. The tenses would make so sense. A book whose first page is almost identical to the last, and all the pages in between are jumbled with an interminable story. A book which would make both Kant and Jung proud. I was not able to do it. Besides, I would have been copying the master. Borges did it before me."
This, of course, occurs after pages 37 and 38, in which Krishna and Julio Cortázar are imagined in conversation. Cortázar asks"...do we have to wait until someone dies before we find his life's unity, the sum of all the actions that define a life? The problem consists in grasping that unity without becoming a hero, without becoming a saint, or a criminal, or a boxing champ, or a statesman, or a shepherd; to grasp unity in the midst of diversity, so that unity might be the vortex of a whirlwind." Krishna complains, "Why is it you humans constantly search for a deeper meaning?" Cortázar replies, "to sell books." Krishna explains, "What if I told you life has no unity? It is a series of nonlinear vignettes leading nowhere, a tale, told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. It makes no sense, enjoy it." Krishnamurti jumps in, "the purpose of life is to understand it." As becomes clear through the book, they are all right.
Representation without substance, without power, is not enough. And yet, although I greatly enjoyed this book for the witty playfulness and the laughs - justified by an intelligent ruse message about fragmentation (which also enables the AIDS-Lebanon parallels) - what I most enjoyed about the book was that it simply exists. This mix of gayness and Americanness and Arabness speaks to me. I didn't find the book especially challenging - just some good fun - but it does give a sense that one exists beyond oneself, that a 'we' exists, and that this 'we' has its own community, imaginary, writers and literature (Alameddine). For me, that is beautiful.
This, of course, occurs after pages 37 and 38, in which Krishna and Julio Cortázar are imagined in conversation. Cortázar asks"...do we have to wait until someone dies before we find his life's unity, the sum of all the actions that define a life? The problem consists in grasping that unity without becoming a hero, without becoming a saint, or a criminal, or a boxing champ, or a statesman, or a shepherd; to grasp unity in the midst of diversity, so that unity might be the vortex of a whirlwind." Krishna complains, "Why is it you humans constantly search for a deeper meaning?" Cortázar replies, "to sell books." Krishna explains, "What if I told you life has no unity? It is a series of nonlinear vignettes leading nowhere, a tale, told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. It makes no sense, enjoy it." Krishnamurti jumps in, "the purpose of life is to understand it." As becomes clear through the book, they are all right.
Representation without substance, without power, is not enough. And yet, although I greatly enjoyed this book for the witty playfulness and the laughs - justified by an intelligent ruse message about fragmentation (which also enables the AIDS-Lebanon parallels) - what I most enjoyed about the book was that it simply exists. This mix of gayness and Americanness and Arabness speaks to me. I didn't find the book especially challenging - just some good fun - but it does give a sense that one exists beyond oneself, that a 'we' exists, and that this 'we' has its own community, imaginary, writers and literature (Alameddine). For me, that is beautiful.
nadiawesome's review against another edition
5.0
I did not expect this book to be THIS good, I really cried multiple times because of the sheer depth and emotion, the fragmented narratives and different forms of writing seem so chaotic but they make so much sense. It’s so beautifully written and perfectly structured. It’s gonna stay with me for a long time
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