CategoryNovels

“Building a Bridge Between Death and Life” 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗛 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗥𝗢𝗦𝗘𝗦 𝗔 𝗡𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗟 𝗕𝗬 𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗟 𝗕𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗧𝗔𝗪𝗜     Reviewed by Salman Zain-ul-Deen* In his latest novel, Times of Death and Roses, Palestinian novelist, Adel Bishtawi, has his hero, Ali, say to his heroine, Rana: “The time of death has departed but it still hangs somewhere yonder. This I know: I sometimes hear it calling...

TRACES OF A TATTOO A novel by Adel Bishtawi Read Chapter 9 Shortly thereafter Aroub pushed her hands deep into the bathrobe pockets and started swinging them while wondering if Wissam was aware of the strategically-conceived trap she had set up for him in her room. Wissam knew nothing of the sort. He put his spectacles on as they descended the last few steps. “That’s much better, the snow blurred...

Traces of a Tattoo by Adel Bishtawi Read chapter 14 Washington: Uncle’s house Next morning 5783w Samir held up both hands to his sister. “Could anything worse happen to me on my wedding day?” He complained, angry and frustrated. “My body is covered with spots, and now I have my hands covered with blisters. How am I going to get married?” Alia examined her brother’s hands for the tenth time. She...

Traces of a Tattoo Read Chapter 18 London: Mill Hill Cemetery Two weeks later 3844w Hisham pulled the sagging flowers out of the submerged vase and laid them inside a plastic bag which Wissam held open. He took the bag from his son, knotted its opening and laid it on the wet grass. He then picked up a fresh bunch, removed the translucent wrapping and shook it gently. The flowers and surrounding...

𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗘𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗔 𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗢𝗢 A novel by 𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗟 𝗕𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗧𝗔𝗪𝗜 Reviews ● “The scars of failed love are often more painful than the wounds.” ● …Traces of a Tattoo earns one of its distinguished qualities from its scrupulous monitoring of its characters in their silence, speech and movements: in its scrutiny of their reactions, their deep and ambiguous fears, their sense of guilt and anxiety; and...

   Nouri Jarrah 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗘𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗔 𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗢𝗢 𝗕𝗬 𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗟 𝗕𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗧𝗔𝗪𝗜 A review by the distinguished Syrian poet and writer Nouri Jarrah Traces of a Tattoo seeks to convey several messages. Some relate to the woman and constitute a basic concern for the novel. The woman is, matter of fact, at the centre of the writer’s attention. To him, the woman is a reservoir of power and ability: she always finds her...

The Virgin’s Conception 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗘𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗔 𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗢𝗢 𝗕𝗬 𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗟 𝗕𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗧𝗔𝗪𝗜 A review by Hussam ul-deen Mohamed PART I Traces of a Tattoo is one of the most beautiful Arab novels I have read in recent years. It acquainted me with this surprising solitary writer, jeweller and skilled craftsman who proved both creative and entertaining. But this novel is not simply about achieving the challenging balance...

Fathers, Sons, the Memory, and Love in the Computer Age 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗘𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗔 𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗢𝗢 𝗕𝗬 𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗟 𝗕𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗧𝗔𝗪𝗜 Reviewed by the distinguished Moroccan literary critic Mohammed Alloutt Traces of a Tattoo is no ordinary novel. Evoking the example of giant literary Arabic works such as Cities of Salt by Abdulrahman Munif, The Boys of our Neighbourhood by Najib Mahfouz, Midday Spectra by Bahoush Yassin (Morocco), it is...