you would like to talk about my last read: Azazel the novel, written by the Egyptian scholar Youssef Ziedan, which won the international award for best novel in Arabic in 2008. I read it because m'è taken the desire to explore new literary and understand more about the Arab culture. I read it because it was well reviewed by ' "International and because he won the major prize of the above (premiums per se are not a guarantee but at least they avoid the corners).
I must say that I liked. Well written, in first person as a biography, the protagonist manages to sketch well but does not make a hero but showing the limits (and it is appreciated that the author has not spoiled her character too). A man in the thousand vicissitudes of his life, finally able to find himself through his "demon" in the acquisition and loss of reference points and the discovery of his own will.
The stories are set between Egypt and Turkey, in 400 AD, historical era that is becoming "fashionable" thanks to the rediscovery of the figure of Hypatia (Agora the film) which is discussed in the book. Much more interesting though is that we speak of those years of debate about Christianity, the problems of orthodoxy on the Trinity and the nature of Christ, and that there is talk of movements Arianism as heretics, religious clash that was also a clash of power and politics. Book that, in any case, arouses curiosity of a theological nature, without heavy to be read.
course, the beginning is strange to read a book about Christianity, written by a Muslim, and perhaps may sound like reading a book about Italy written by an Englishman (and View Room, with its British style, is a unparalleled freshness). But given the curriculum of the student research must have been definitely set, and depth.
short, a good book.
was published this year in Italy, published by Blacks Pozza, with translation from Arabic of Lorenzo and Daniel Declich Mascitelli. And I tell you because then I have the excuse to link to the blog of Declich , that if you're interested in current affairs and the Arab culture would say that is the case to throw an eye.
http://30secondi.wordpress.com/
