A review by mochavonbee
The Hakawati by Rabih Alameddine

5.0

This is a book of stories that all blend into each other which means the structure is very fluid. I really liked this aspect of the book, though there were a couple of parts in the middle where it started to lag a little, but it picked up again quickly. However, Readers who prefer a clear, linear structure could find the format frustrating. Part of the story is set in the present, some stories concern the family history, others are historical legends and others are pure legend. I think mainly, it's about the importance of story and how legends are created and why they endure... though it's very open to interpretation. I would recommend it to anyone interested in fairytales and legends, especially Arabian ones.