Mohammed Mrabet

Abdeslam, "Lemon" leaves his family after a new teacher arrives at his school. The bright and rebellious youth finds a home with Bachir, a dock worker, Bachir drinks alcohol and frequents prostitutes. The writing at the beginning of the book is choppy with many short sentences, as Abdeslam matures so does the writing. Overall an interesting look at how a child sees the conflicts between Western and Islamic cultures.

Students in my undergrad Middle East Literture class found the title story very engaging. They read it alongside a selection from Frantz Fanon's Wretched of the Earth. As a result, some came to see it as a comment on the colonial experience; a child grows up lied to, never knowing his real father (his heritage thus kept from him) and eventually revolts. We had a great discussion (which they generated and sustained) over whether or not the boy's anger was justified, and whether the boy or the show more adults were more responsible for the outcome. Their reactions were strong, and mixed. I'd definitely use it again.

Note: Mrabet shows up briefly in the Bowles documentary "Let It Come Down." Kif use is mentioned. show less

Fascinating and disturbing. A great intro to North African fiction, especially for the many colonial and gender issues explored from a young boy's perspective. The protagonist also has a very strange relationship with his faith.

See also Mrabet's short story, "The Boy Who Set the Fire."

Great collection of short stories. Some funny, some insightful all contain referernces to Kief.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kief