Guapa

I initially kept putting off buying Guapa, even though it would lurk in the recommendations section, and even though I was drawn to its plot. In hindsight, I think delaying the purchase was needless hesitation on my part. Anyway, when the book did arrive, I did not waste any time reading it, and finished it in two days (which is fast by my snail-like reading speed).There's a great deal of misinformation about the lives of the LGBT community in the Middle East, and Guapa offers a small glimpse of what it is really like. The pace of narration is fast, sometimes urgent - and Saleem Haddad deftly captures the flashbacks that play out in the 24-hour period of the protagonist's personal crisis. There were several instances where I could connect with cultural references, especially the concept of shame, family honour (the what-will-people-say arguments we've all heard repeated so often), the idea of manhood, because these are as pervasive in India as they are in Rasa's homeland. The humour points keep the narrative from descending entirely into the dourness of the topic, and only elevate the author's nuanced observation of people's behaviour.Some of the events towards the climax seemed a little stretched, but we are willing to let them be. This is a brave effort and needs to be seen as such.Guapa might come across as a quick read, but it is a must-read for anyone who wishes to know what life is like for the queer community in societies that are completely against the idea, or are in denial about the community, or violent enough to mete out punishment, even capital, to homosexual men and women. Guapa leaves you with that sense of hope when everything around you is crumbling, but you are determined to survive.

There is a widespread and erroneous impression Arab(ic) literature is distant and exotic, because in Edward Saïd-ian terms: “oriental(ist)”. In fact we could distinguish:Arabs writing in Arabic in Arab landsArabs writing in Arabic in exileArabs writing in English/FrenchThe repressive nature in many of the 26 Arabic-speaking countries means many authors are living among us.Saleem Haddad is not (just) a political exile, but is fleeing the social opprobrium weighing on his sexuality, and chooses to write in English, albeit with a liberal smattering of Arabic words.Even in the unnamed city (it’s Baghdad) where “Guapa” (from the name of the nightclub where Rasa, Maj and Taymour find an oasis of tolerance), English gives expression to modern social values at variance with the conservativism of society at large.Orphened Rasa lives with his authoritarian grandmother (“teta”) in somewhat reduced circumstances; against the odds, he finds the perfect love in Taymour… SPOILER ALERT: is doesn’t end well.But the joy of this book really doesn’t reside in the storyline, but in the glimpse of a gay liberation on a personal and societal level that could have been our own just 50 years ago, and that Alan Turing would all too readily have recognised.

Absolutely loved this book.

Haddad's "Guapa" provides a beautiful portrait of the fight for and the problems with homosexuality in the Arab world. He provides a nuanced description of the many facets of the characters and how they are perceived as well as how they function within the confines of this world. The familial dynamics and the incessant desire to be accepted make this a very interesting and timely read. It left me with the hope for the cultures of the world, and also with a deeper understanding of the complexities of coming out outside of the expectations of the United States.

Tolles mutiges Buch. Jedem aufgeschossenen Mensche zu empfehlen. Arabischer Frühling, Homosexualität in der arabischen Welt und das alles verpackt in einem Buch. Selbst für englisch-ungeübte leicht zu lesen, und dabei mit viel Tiefe und Authentizität. Absolute Empfehlung für aufgeschlossene Leser, die mit Neugier die Welt betrachten.

This book takes the reader on a roller-coaster day of events and memories, which shape the life of a young Middle Eastern man and the political & social landscapes around him. Importantly, this is so much more than a 'gay / LGBTI' story: the protagonist’s homosexuality serves as a lens and anchor for a wide-reaching discovery of social norms & values in a turbulent Middle East, varying from Islamic extremism, the fight or plight of democracy, cultural stereotypes and the ever looming anvil of family, honour and 'Eib.' An overall fresh & fast pace is combined with pages of introspection and reflection, which invitingly pull you out of the story and into a consideration of your own perceptions and values. Guapa is a coming of age novel that is unscrupulous in showing the characters’ fears, stubbornness, passions and anger. It is quite a feat to present a story like this without creating one-dimensional go-to stereotypes, something Haddad masterfully avoids. It wouldn't be amiss to recommend this novel as an accessible and exciting starting point for people who want to get a flavour of human lives behind the media's headlines and 'Breaking News' bulletins about the Middle East.