2010 (my review can be found on the LibraryThing page linked)
http://www.librarything.com/topic/54129#1010475 ( )

> Parfum de Poussière, de Hage RAWI (Alto, 362 p.)
Se reporter au compte rendu de H.-J. G.
In: (2008). Compte rendu de [Nouveautés]. Entre les lignes, 4 (2), pp. 48-49… ; (en ligne),
URL : https://id.erudit.org/iderudit/10549ac
Beyrouth-Est, 1982, autour des massacres des camps de Sabra et Chatila. Depuis sept ans, la guerre civile enflamme le Liban, pays où chrétiens, musulmans, juifs espéraient pouvoir échapper aux conflits des factions. Pendant que les bombes pleuvent sur le quartier chrétien, deux adolescents tentent de survivre : Georges, qui s'engagera dans les milices, et Bassam, le narrateur, obsédé par l’idée de fuir cet enfer. Le sort du premier sera aussi absurde et sanglant que cette guerre, quant au deuxième, il paie cher sa « liberté ». Ce premier roman de Hage, dans la magnifique traduction de Sophie Voillot, est possiblement basé sur des faits vécus par l'auteur. Le texte vous prend à la gorge, ne vous lâche pas : écriture concise, avec, ça et là, des envolées lyriques semées comme des bouffées d’air dans un enfer étouffant; superbe équilibre de la narration et, surtout, l'audace de présenter l’immigrant sous un jour inquiétant. Que savons-nous du réfugié que nous côtoyons? En terre d'accueil, nous offrons à l'exilé la paix, la sécurité, mais sa valise, qu'il n'ouvre que rarement, est remplie de souvenirs atroces. Une nouvelle voix venue d'ailleurs, aux accents bouleversants. A lire, même si vous n'avez pas le cœur solide. Alto, 362 p. — H.-J. G. ( )

I really, really wanted to like this book. Ever since I read the interview of the author in the Globe and Mail prior to the Gillers, it's been on my shortlist of books to read. So when Ibis3 offered it up I jumped at the chance. But (you knew there was going to be a but) I found Bassam an unlikeable character and I could not care about what was happening to him. Some would argue that he became the person he was because of the horrific experiences during the Lebanese civil war but my feeling, based upon incidents from his childhood that he narrated, was that he would have been a violent and manipulative adult anyway. Years ago I used to have to interview incarcerated criminals and what always struck me about them was that, when faced with a problem, their immediate solution was to commit a crime, either violent or property-based. And that's what I felt about Bassam. All kinds of people tried to help him but he always managed to drive them away.

In fact, about the only character I liked in the book was George's aunt Nabila. She genuinely seemed to care for George and Bassam without expecting anything in return. She should have been the one getting out of Beirut.

In a strange coincidence just as I was on my way to the computer to write this report, CBC led off its evening newscast with an article about the fighting in the Nahr el Bared camp. This quote from one of the militants in the camp shows that, even though the people and issues have changed, nothing is really different:

Meanwhile, Fatah Islam has continued to reject government calls for a surrender.

"This is not only impossible, this is unthinkable. Our blood is cheaper than handing over our weapons and surrendering," said Abu Hureira.

It's a sad commentary on life in the Middle East. ( )

A spectacular book about Bassam, a young Lebonese Christian, who lives in Lebanon in the early 80's. Told in first person/present tense, influenced by the language and rhythm of the Bible, Bassam struggles to deal with a world that is all encompassingly violent. ( )

An entertaining read though the testosterone-fueled stream of consciousness passages seemed overly-embellished. What was most compelling for this reader was the portrayal of various characters' participation in the Lebanese civil war being motivated from personal loyalty or gain rather than ideological conviction, that many of the combatants were boys who fought with an attitude of nihilism rather than idealism. ( )