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Posted December 5, 2009
The Night Counter
As I began my read I thought "Oh well at least it isn't terrible". By the time I finished I was thinking "WOW! What an amazing, quirky, interesting book." Found myself learning a wee bit about another culture, interested in ALL the characters, turning page after page in anticipation of the next turn of plot.
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This is a terrific tale that keeps the audience wondering whether Fatima suffers from dementia or is a clever modern day fantasy
Lebanese immigrant Fatima Abdullah is dying, but shows no interest in a reconciliation with her estranged husband Ibraham or for that matter with her children sprawled all over the country as she prefers to ignore their issues. She has no desire to see any of her ten offspring; their children except Amir or even her pregnant great-granddaughter; they did not want to hear her prattle about her 1001 Arabian Nights countdown.
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Instead she stays with her gay grandson Amir, who welcomes her insanity in Los Angeles as an actor who knows his town is filled with crazies so his attitude is why not one more with his blood. For the last 992 nights ever since Scheherazade visited her demanding she tells her stories, Fatima has complied. When her tales end, Scheherazade insists so does her life; as happens with everyone. With nine to go, the octogenarian expects to be dead next week even as Ibraham wants to be there for her; as does the FBI who believe the Abdullah family are a sleeper terrorist cell because of Amir's name and his association with a former lover under federal surveillance due to his former lover Amir being under federal surveillance.
This is a terrific tale that keeps the audience wondering whether Fatima suffers from dementia or is a clever modern day fantasy. Fatima obviously owns the fast-paced novel as she begins her final countdown to what she expects is her death. Her family especially heartbroken Amir, whose lover dumped him during the countdown, provide solid support as all of them except her host assumes she is certifiable; whereas her host thinks she is an eccentric lovable kook. Sherazade plays a key role, but like the Memorex commercial one will ponder is she real or imagined as does the circular logical FBI finding perceived terrorists under any Arab sounding rock. Alia Yunis provides a powerful modern day family thriller with the twist of the FBI "interrogates" Sherazade.
Harriet Klausner -
Non-stop entertainment!
I was fortunate to read the un-proofed galley of the Night Counter and am so excited I need to review it.
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This book is so much fun to read and entertaining on so many levels, the Night Counter is a wonderful blend of fantasy and family that is worthy of Scheherazade herself. In a twist on the classic story, Scheherazade visits Fatima nightly, to hear her stories. Fatima realizes that her last night of storytelling is quickly on the horizon and she has lots to do and decide before her story comes to an end. As we travel with Fatima (and Scheherazade) through her life past and present in Lebanon and throughout the U.S.A., we find ourselves fascinated observers of lives filled with misery, foolishness, yearning and love. The Night Counter is a delightful journey through the lives of a big family, who are separated by more than distance and will touch that piece in each of us that is forever bound to and by family.