July ended up being a weird time to read this novel. Set during the war, and frequently referring to the destruction of the city, the falling bombs, it was just two weeks after finishing the book that the explosion of stockpiled weaponry at the port destroyed the city.

This book took me a long time to get into, and it isn't a long book. Bassam, the main character, and George (AKA De Niro) are two friends trying to make ends meet in a city in the middle of a war. Bassam works the port, and De Niro, at a casino. Over time, De Niro gets wrapped up in the Christian milita, gaining power and connections, Meanwhile Bassam tries to avoid the war, and increasingly his friend George, before eventually escaping to Europe.

This is the second book I've read by Rawi Hage, the first being [b:Cockroach|8787256|Cockroach|Rawi Hage|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348757402l/8787256._SX50_.jpg|4040733], and both have failed to connect with me. I think both are strongly connected to the sense of desperation, and despondency as one's life condition worsens, and the absence of drive, or of purpose, is present in the style of the writing. While this is a stylistic choice to communicate those emotions through the literal words on the page, I find it harder to connect with than other styles.

All that being said, I did enjoy the book by the end, and I'm glad to have read it. The language has moments of hilarity and happiness and fun, and the descriptions of Beirut and the surrounding area are unforgettable.