"In the city of Beirut, five shabby dwellings circle a courtyard with a pomegranate tree weeping blood red fruit. The residents hear screams in the night as a boy is beaten by his father - a punishment for masturbating in his sleep. A crime not worthy of punishment: the neighbours gossip and decide that he must have tried to rape his sisters. The poems he writes are perhaps an even greater crime to his father, but ultimately a gift to his eldest sister, who narrates their story with a combination of brutal truth and stunning prose. In this mesmerizing novel, celebrated novelist and poet, Khoury-Ghata, presents the disintergration of a family and a country - both ruled by a fury fueled by fear."

Poetic, sad, haunting. Beautifully written. Well worth reading.

Next to KiwiinEngland as part of ApoloniaX's Asian VBB. I hope it's to your liking!

Thank you for sending this book, it looks very interesting.

Some of the sentences in this book will stay with me for a long time, the author creates lovely images in the mind in a story that is quite harrowing. Often I was thinking, if only...if only the mother spoke up, or the son made different choices. If only there was more understanding.

Thank you for sending this book to me Annimanni.

Posting as a RABCK to Sweden.
If you aren't familiar with Bookcrossing, take a few minutes to check out this very cool site. Bookcrossers LOVE books, and more than anything, they love to read books and then set them free for other people to find and enjoy. I would love it if you would leave a journal entry -- you can say where you found the book or how you liked it when you read it.

Thank you so much KiwiinEngland for aranging this Rabck that I was lucky enough to win!! The book arrived a while back but as I didn't know what it was I put it together with all the parcels I got for my birthday and didn't open it until today. I hope you haven't worried about it.

I'm really looking forward to reading this book, I'm interested in everything from and about the middle east!

I'm glad I got the opportunity to read this book, it was a powerful and moving story.

Surprise! :) I was thinking about what to do with this book and yours felt like the perfect home for it, I think you'll like it. Enjoy!

What a lovely surprise for a Monday that entailed going to the dentist !!...
This lovely surprise rabck certainly cheered me up. Thanks for thinking of me...

Oppem, the Bookcrosser who previously journalled this book, passed away on June 23, 2012. I had the privilege of meeting her dear family and "catching" her large collection of registered books. I will be releasing this one soon.

Releasing to the Pendleton Friends of the Library Book Sale in Pendleton, Oregon, USA.

To the finder of this book:

This book is gift, no strings attached, from me to you. You may keep it forever, pass it along to a friend, or release it into the wild to be found by someone else.

If you are new to BookCrossing, welcome! Enjoy the site, the book, and the BookCrossing community. I hope you'll join us...it's free! If you do, please consider using me, elizardbreath, as your referring member. You can even remain anonymous if you wish!

I hope you'll make a brief journal entry so all the previous and future readers can track this book's journey.

Thanks, and Happy BookCrossing! :)