Sunday, October 12, 2008
In the Country of Men by Hisham Matar.
This book was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2006. It is a story about a 9 year old boy called Suleiman growing up in Tripoli, Libya. This novel is told in the first person and deals with Suleiman's, who has a family nickname of Slooma, relationships mainly with his mother but also his father, his father's friends plus the neighbouring children.
Suleiman is very close to his mother who tells him tales when she is drunk. He cares a lot about her and wants to protect her particularly when his father is away. He learns that people lie and he slowly works through these lies to discover that they are made to protect him rather than to mislead. This is a mother and son story set upon a time of great challenge in Libya when no political opposition was allowed.
I like the way Hisham writes. He tells a very clear story. He paints a very clear picture of life in Libya at that time. The reader feels that you are on holiday with Hisham in Libya for the first time and he is your guide.
There is a lot of humour in this book and to illustrate this I will quote from Page 78...
Another time he imported tyres from Poland. For days all he spoke about was how Polish car tyres were destined to be world-famous. 'Mark my words, as we now know China for silk, Japan for televisions, New Zealand for sheep, Poland too will become known for car tyres. You will see, this will be the most successful import into Libya since JCB's.'
Well, he imported the Polish tyres and as with the chickens, he did'nt order a few to try out first, he bought a whole shipload. 'When the market demands, Slooma, you must be in a position to respond,' he said, walking me through the warehouse where they were stored. It was strange and wonderful to be surrounded by columns and columns of black rubber tyres piled on top of one another. Moosa's lips were moist, and he had a big proud smile on his face.
The tyres sold very well, but, as soon as August come, Moosa's Polish tyres melted. It was a big problem - and it definitely wasn't funny - because his customers, feeling cheated, returned to him furious, demanding their money back. On one occasion the tyres melted completely, gluing the car to the road. In a fit of rage, its owner threatened to teach Moosa a 'good lesson'. On more than one occasion Baba has to intervene to rescue Moosa from an angry customer. He would pay them back their money, apologizing repeatedly, unable to completely lose his smile. And to the man who wanted to teach Moosa a good lesson, Baba paid more money, apologized harder and, after the man was gone, burst out laughing.
Moosa refused to talk about this venture. The only explanation I remember him giving for his mistake was, 'It doesn't get very hot in Poland.' Mama and Baba didn't allow him a grieving period, they immediately started teasing him about the episode: 'Moosa, how's the weather in Poland today?' 'Listen, do you think we can have another set of those world-famous tyres for next winter?' 'For God's sake, Moosa, if you marry a Polish girl, remember to take her home during the summer.'...
I cannot knock this book but cannot vote it a hit either. It is a very warm novel, full of family love, communal spirit and local colour. It gives the reader a warm parental glow. You want to care for Suleiman. I really enjoy ethnic novels but this is not of the same high standard of Khaled Hosseini and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
The reader takes away from this book strong feelings about a mother/son relationship, support within marriage, the dangers of opposing an oppressive political system and the telling of lies to protect the vulnerable, which in hindsight is wrong. You close the book and it forces you to reconsider the relationship you have with your own mother.
This book was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2006. It is a story about a 9 year old boy called Suleiman growing up in Tripoli, Libya. This novel is told in the first person and deals with Suleiman's, who has a family nickname of Slooma, relationships mainly with his mother but also his father, his father's friends plus the neighbouring children.
Suleiman is very close to his mother who tells him tales when she is drunk. He cares a lot about her and wants to protect her particularly when his father is away. He learns that people lie and he slowly works through these lies to discover that they are made to protect him rather than to mislead. This is a mother and son story set upon a time of great challenge in Libya when no political opposition was allowed.
I like the way Hisham writes. He tells a very clear story. He paints a very clear picture of life in Libya at that time. The reader feels that you are on holiday with Hisham in Libya for the first time and he is your guide.
There is a lot of humour in this book and to illustrate this I will quote from Page 78...
Another time he imported tyres from Poland. For days all he spoke about was how Polish car tyres were destined to be world-famous. 'Mark my words, as we now know China for silk, Japan for televisions, New Zealand for sheep, Poland too will become known for car tyres. You will see, this will be the most successful import into Libya since JCB's.'
Well, he imported the Polish tyres and as with the chickens, he did'nt order a few to try out first, he bought a whole shipload. 'When the market demands, Slooma, you must be in a position to respond,' he said, walking me through the warehouse where they were stored. It was strange and wonderful to be surrounded by columns and columns of black rubber tyres piled on top of one another. Moosa's lips were moist, and he had a big proud smile on his face.
The tyres sold very well, but, as soon as August come, Moosa's Polish tyres melted. It was a big problem - and it definitely wasn't funny - because his customers, feeling cheated, returned to him furious, demanding their money back. On one occasion the tyres melted completely, gluing the car to the road. In a fit of rage, its owner threatened to teach Moosa a 'good lesson'. On more than one occasion Baba has to intervene to rescue Moosa from an angry customer. He would pay them back their money, apologizing repeatedly, unable to completely lose his smile. And to the man who wanted to teach Moosa a good lesson, Baba paid more money, apologized harder and, after the man was gone, burst out laughing.
Moosa refused to talk about this venture. The only explanation I remember him giving for his mistake was, 'It doesn't get very hot in Poland.' Mama and Baba didn't allow him a grieving period, they immediately started teasing him about the episode: 'Moosa, how's the weather in Poland today?' 'Listen, do you think we can have another set of those world-famous tyres for next winter?' 'For God's sake, Moosa, if you marry a Polish girl, remember to take her home during the summer.'...
I cannot knock this book but cannot vote it a hit either. It is a very warm novel, full of family love, communal spirit and local colour. It gives the reader a warm parental glow. You want to care for Suleiman. I really enjoy ethnic novels but this is not of the same high standard of Khaled Hosseini and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
The reader takes away from this book strong feelings about a mother/son relationship, support within marriage, the dangers of opposing an oppressive political system and the telling of lies to protect the vulnerable, which in hindsight is wrong. You close the book and it forces you to reconsider the relationship you have with your own mother.
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]