MASTER OF THE ECLIPSE

Precisely observed tales of love, loss, exile and other quotidian matters from Lebanese-American poet/novelist Adnan (Sitt Marie Rose, 1999, etc.).

Fanatics and their actions figure here and there throughout the book, as rather simple plots unfold in careful, impeccably chosen language. But usually the enemies are self-imposed, taking the form of fears, worries and regrets. Often the stories’ protagonists are writers or intellectuals, and they are often displaced; Adnan writes happily of the world of academic conferences, readings, signings and workshops. Other characters are from the streets: prostitutes and cab drivers and soldiers. All seem possessed by the knowledge that the world is a tragic place and likely to get more, rather than less, burdensome. Says one exile, pining for a Beirut that no longer exists and revealing hard-won knowledge about the way things work, “Love is the most important matter we have to deal with, but it is always the hardest.”

Discerns whole worlds in little slices of life.