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A review by cruelspirit
Arabesques by Anton Shammas, Vivian Eden
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book has caught my eye for a while now. Last year I was looking at the upcoming releases from NYRB and noticed Arabesques. As someone who is from Palestinian Christian ancestry I immediately knew to add this my TBR. Stories from someone of this background are near none existent and even just awareness of their being such a thing as a Palestinian Christian is baffling to some people.
I was also drawn to the the idea of an ancestorial, multigenerational tale that took place not only in the Levant but in Iowa. As someone who's spent their life in the Midwest, these correlations were too good to be true. Of course, a good book doesn't need to appeal to every aspect of your personal life but it definitely put it higher up on my list of books to read.
When I actually got to reading Arabesques I was surprised by just how much more this book has in store for its readers. Yes, it is a multigenerational tale that is written as an autobiography but in terms of prose, form, and overall concept this book offers so much more.
This book is split into two distinct sections that are alternated between sections of the book. These are the sections of "The Tale" and "The Teller". The tale is the multigenerational tale of author Anton Shammas' extended family as they live through the actual events of the last century in Lebanon, British Mandate Palestine, and Occupied Palestine. "The Tale" offers insight into the story of Shammas family and the motives of various members. This section is told in a very jumbled manner, jumping time periods and perspectives often. This can make for a confusing or even difficult read but I found it to be reflective of an elder family member actively telling you the story of your ancestors. That being said I still did find it difficult to manage and maintain clarity throughout the story.
The second section is "The Teller" which tells the story of an international writers conference being held in Iowa City. This section feels a lot more abstract and symbolic, rather than telling a grounded story. Here we meet a vast array of characters from various nationalities; some of which are Palestinian and Israeli. It isn't initially made clear the point of this portion of the book and I will avoid delving too far into it for spoilers but you know early on there is something to look out for. While both sections hold mystique this one is more so where my attention was drawn.
I began to wonder what "The Teller" was trying to convey. Were the interactions between the narrator and the Israeli character just split components of the author's mind? This book was initally written in Hebrew, a very unlikely choice for a non Jewish Palestinian, and the author did go to an integrated high school. I could very easily see this as a way to explore and reckon with conflicting ideals; it's even hinted at that these two characters are a schizophrenic mindset of the same being early on.
The other hypothesis I was working with was that these international writers were a stand in for a model UN of sorts. Where many of them would act on their national stereotype rather than as individuals. This was made apparent with many of the European onlookers who would gawks and be amazed at a Palestinian and Israeli existing in the same space; almost coaxing them into conflict. Another example was towards the end where the narrator and Michael Abyad are having a very important and bonding conversation just to be rudely interrupted by the Israeli character. This could be seen as the way Arabs are unable to work together or connect better due to constant distraction from Israeli involvement.
After reading Elias Khoury's afterward I'm more confident in my hypotheses, as he hints at similar interpretations as well. That being said I'm sure there are even more ways to interpret this section as I cannot confidently say I caught everything on this initial read. There is so much packed into this sub 300 page book that I know I did not get it all.
While I am not usually someone for stylistically embellished prose I did enjoy it quite a bit. There are so many beautifully written sections and I can only commend the translator for capturing as much of this beauty as they did. The sections in "The Tale" often feel like ancient folklore the way they are told but it's important to remember how modern the events of this book are, even for being published 35 years ago. If anything, this book is worth reading just for Part 3's description of the Nakba.
I got way more out of this book than I was expecting and really enjoyed it. I will say you do need to know a decent amount of the history, geography, and culture of the region to fully get into this book. Shammas may indulge in the familial tale but doesn't really clarify much of the world it inhabits for readers who are unaware. This may be its biggest barrier to entry. I am by no means an expert in these things and would sometimes find myself lost, which isn't easy when the narrative is confusing enough already.
That being said, this book is rewarding to those who put in the effort. I found the ending to be great and a payoff for working through more difficult sections. This is definitely a book that will get you thinking about the bigger elements surrounding it. I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for great literature from this part of the world, those who like unique and experimental works from NYRB, and fans of Borges and Barth (two names that were mentioned towards the end of the book that I've read and agree offer a similar feeling).
I was also drawn to the the idea of an ancestorial, multigenerational tale that took place not only in the Levant but in Iowa. As someone who's spent their life in the Midwest, these correlations were too good to be true. Of course, a good book doesn't need to appeal to every aspect of your personal life but it definitely put it higher up on my list of books to read.
When I actually got to reading Arabesques I was surprised by just how much more this book has in store for its readers. Yes, it is a multigenerational tale that is written as an autobiography but in terms of prose, form, and overall concept this book offers so much more.
This book is split into two distinct sections that are alternated between sections of the book. These are the sections of "The Tale" and "The Teller". The tale is the multigenerational tale of author Anton Shammas' extended family as they live through the actual events of the last century in Lebanon, British Mandate Palestine, and Occupied Palestine. "The Tale" offers insight into the story of Shammas family and the motives of various members. This section is told in a very jumbled manner, jumping time periods and perspectives often. This can make for a confusing or even difficult read but I found it to be reflective of an elder family member actively telling you the story of your ancestors. That being said I still did find it difficult to manage and maintain clarity throughout the story.
The second section is "The Teller" which tells the story of an international writers conference being held in Iowa City. This section feels a lot more abstract and symbolic, rather than telling a grounded story. Here we meet a vast array of characters from various nationalities; some of which are Palestinian and Israeli. It isn't initially made clear the point of this portion of the book and I will avoid delving too far into it for spoilers but you know early on there is something to look out for. While both sections hold mystique this one is more so where my attention was drawn.
I began to wonder what "The Teller" was trying to convey. Were the interactions between the narrator and the Israeli character just split components of the author's mind? This book was initally written in Hebrew, a very unlikely choice for a non Jewish Palestinian, and the author did go to an integrated high school. I could very easily see this as a way to explore and reckon with conflicting ideals; it's even hinted at that these two characters are a schizophrenic mindset of the same being early on.
The other hypothesis I was working with was that these international writers were a stand in for a model UN of sorts. Where many of them would act on their national stereotype rather than as individuals. This was made apparent with many of the European onlookers who would gawks and be amazed at a Palestinian and Israeli existing in the same space; almost coaxing them into conflict. Another example was towards the end where the narrator and Michael Abyad are having a very important and bonding conversation just to be rudely interrupted by the Israeli character. This could be seen as the way Arabs are unable to work together or connect better due to constant distraction from Israeli involvement.
After reading Elias Khoury's afterward I'm more confident in my hypotheses, as he hints at similar interpretations as well. That being said I'm sure there are even more ways to interpret this section as I cannot confidently say I caught everything on this initial read. There is so much packed into this sub 300 page book that I know I did not get it all.
While I am not usually someone for stylistically embellished prose I did enjoy it quite a bit. There are so many beautifully written sections and I can only commend the translator for capturing as much of this beauty as they did. The sections in "The Tale" often feel like ancient folklore the way they are told but it's important to remember how modern the events of this book are, even for being published 35 years ago. If anything, this book is worth reading just for Part 3's description of the Nakba.
I got way more out of this book than I was expecting and really enjoyed it. I will say you do need to know a decent amount of the history, geography, and culture of the region to fully get into this book. Shammas may indulge in the familial tale but doesn't really clarify much of the world it inhabits for readers who are unaware. This may be its biggest barrier to entry. I am by no means an expert in these things and would sometimes find myself lost, which isn't easy when the narrative is confusing enough already.
That being said, this book is rewarding to those who put in the effort. I found the ending to be great and a payoff for working through more difficult sections. This is definitely a book that will get you thinking about the bigger elements surrounding it. I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for great literature from this part of the world, those who like unique and experimental works from NYRB, and fans of Borges and Barth (two names that were mentioned towards the end of the book that I've read and agree offer a similar feeling).