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A review by juusosalmi_
Guapa by Saleem Haddad
4.0
"Being gay, that wasn't for me. My homosexuality would leave me alienated wherever I went. In America the gay world touched my life at the margins, through references and images and occasional conversations with men and women who celebrated their homosexuality with pride. As far as I could see there was nothing to be proud about. There was only pain, humiliation, and shame."
Guapa written by Saleem Haddad, is a story set over the course of twenty-four hours. The story follows Rasa, a gay man living amid the political and social upheaval of an unnamed Arab country. Rasa spends his days translating for Western journalist and pining for the nights when he can sneak his lover, Taymour, into his room. One night Rasa's grandmother (the woman that raised him) catches them in bed together.
"Because Mama was upset a lot there were onions in everything: with our stuffed grape leaves, our bamia, our morning eggs, and our fresh fish on Fridays."
I found Haddad's writing to be extremely beautiful! I literally had to hold myself back from underlining every other sentence. I think he managed to describe all of the feelings Rasa felt almost perfectly!
"All around me I smelled loneliness and rejection, and it smelled like butter."
BUT, even if I found his writing to be gorgeous, I have to say, I was a bit confused throughout the reading experience. I think, I could have understood stuff better if I would have better understanding of Middle Eastern culture and history. I have hard time understanding what was actual reality and what was only fiction?! While Haddad wanted the readers to not really know which Middle Eastern country this book took place on, there were places (like al-Sharqiyeh) and other huge hints of what country this book may take place in. I also have no idea whether this book took place in current days or many centuries ago!? Maybe, I would have preferred to know better what was fiction and what was the truth, because this book just made me a bit confused. Maybe that was the point? I don't know...
"The possibility of abandonment colored what we had. The fear of it lingered between us, so that rejection became an ever-present threat. We were in competition, Taymour and I, over who would leave first. The threat of abandonment is worse than to be abandoned, I think. I couldn't stand the waiting, so I introduced Taymour to Leila."
While being written five years ago, I sadly doubt, books (and other media) like this one have caused any major change. This book is extremely important to read and to REALLY understand, I think, so that we could change the situation many Middle Eastern countries are at, in the moment. After the way Iranian government treats women (and sure, some other communities), has gotten more view on media, this book got a much deeper and more concrete basis, which was very needed! I think other people, may as well, have a poor understanding of Middle East, so I definitely think this book is very important and solid book to read and learn from!
I think this book is something I will be thinking of for quite some time!
Guapa written by Saleem Haddad, is a story set over the course of twenty-four hours. The story follows Rasa, a gay man living amid the political and social upheaval of an unnamed Arab country. Rasa spends his days translating for Western journalist and pining for the nights when he can sneak his lover, Taymour, into his room. One night Rasa's grandmother (the woman that raised him) catches them in bed together.
"Because Mama was upset a lot there were onions in everything: with our stuffed grape leaves, our bamia, our morning eggs, and our fresh fish on Fridays."
I found Haddad's writing to be extremely beautiful! I literally had to hold myself back from underlining every other sentence. I think he managed to describe all of the feelings Rasa felt almost perfectly!
"All around me I smelled loneliness and rejection, and it smelled like butter."
BUT, even if I found his writing to be gorgeous, I have to say, I was a bit confused throughout the reading experience. I think, I could have understood stuff better if I would have better understanding of Middle Eastern culture and history. I have hard time understanding what was actual reality and what was only fiction?! While Haddad wanted the readers to not really know which Middle Eastern country this book took place on, there were places (like al-Sharqiyeh) and other huge hints of what country this book may take place in. I also have no idea whether this book took place in current days or many centuries ago!? Maybe, I would have preferred to know better what was fiction and what was the truth, because this book just made me a bit confused. Maybe that was the point? I don't know...
"The possibility of abandonment colored what we had. The fear of it lingered between us, so that rejection became an ever-present threat. We were in competition, Taymour and I, over who would leave first. The threat of abandonment is worse than to be abandoned, I think. I couldn't stand the waiting, so I introduced Taymour to Leila."
While being written five years ago, I sadly doubt, books (and other media) like this one have caused any major change. This book is extremely important to read and to REALLY understand, I think, so that we could change the situation many Middle Eastern countries are at, in the moment. After the way Iranian government treats women (and sure, some other communities), has gotten more view on media, this book got a much deeper and more concrete basis, which was very needed! I think other people, may as well, have a poor understanding of Middle East, so I definitely think this book is very important and solid book to read and learn from!
I think this book is something I will be thinking of for quite some time!