Synopsis (taken from Amazon)
Shahrazad’s Gift is a collection of linked short stories set in contemporary Cairo—magical, absurd and humorous. The author focuses on the off-beat, little-known stories, far from CNN news: a Swedish belly dancer who taps into the Oriental fantasies of her clientele; a Japanese woman studying Arabic, driven mad by the noise and chaos of the city; a frustrated Egyptian housewife who becomes obsessed by the activities of her Western gay neighbor; an American journalist who covered the civil war in Beirut who finds friendship with her Egyptian dentist. We also meet the two protagonists of McCullough’s Confessions of a Knight Errant, before their escapades in that story. These stories are told in the tradition of A Thousand and One Nights.
Review
Each story stands alone, but some characters overlap, making this collection more interesting. Readers get a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people and the idiosyncrasies that span the world.
I enjoyed the variety of stories with diverse characters. From America to Cairo to Japan and other places, life holds similarities throughout cultures. We all have struggles and smiles. Of course, there are differences, and the author does a great job of giving the characters the uniqueness they deserve.
I was entertained throughout the book, but the one that stood out to me was Fatima’s New Teeth. I don’t want to spoil it, but this story’s message is poignant. It happens frequently, and we need to be more conscious of it. Read it, and you will understand!
If you like an interesting read with some humanity, this is the book for you.
Get your copy here (affiliate link – thank you for the support).
