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BOOKS

Years of Freckles

By the critically acclaimed Egyptian master-stylist, Waheed Tawilah. In a traditional Egyptian village, “freckles” are the physical stains of moral decay and historical trauma. Set within the oppressive walls of a patriarchal household, this novel exposes toxic power dynamics, contrasting male authority with the resilient suffering of women. We follow Ferial, trapped in a volatile marriage with a self-proclaimed “noble thief,” and a grandmother who suppresses her grandson’s death to prevent a village wedding from being ruined. Infused with dark humor, this stylistically innovative work is a haunting study of time, memory, and survival.

Waheed Tawilah

A distinguished Egyptian novelist and cultural expert who has served in the Arab League and the Katara Cultural Village. Known for his profound exploration of marginalized characters, cafe culture, and the nocturnal underworld of Arab cities, Taweela’s prose is characterized by its cinematic fluidity and deeply poetic vernacular. He won the prestigious Sawiris Cultural Award (Senior Writers category) in 2015 for his masterpiece Bab Al-Lail (The Door of the Night). His rich bibliography, which includes Ahmar Khafeef (Light Red), Hitha’ Fellini (Fellini’s Shoe), and Ganaza Gadida Li Emad Hamdy (A New Funeral for Emad Hamdy), consistently dissects the tragicomic realities of modern Arab life, cementing his status as a masterful storyteller of the human fringe.

FEATURED BOOKS

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Years of Freckles

Cosmetic Surgery

Kush Ko

Asha: The Scarab and the Moon

Without a Last Chapter

The Lady’s Tavern

Various Ways to Kill Ants