Glimpses from the Life of Maugoud Abdul Maugoud and Two Postscripts

Glimpses from the Life of Maugoud Abdul Maugoud and Two Postscripts, by Yusuf Sharouni, is an Arabic short story about a man (the narrator) who seems to be estranged from happiness. The story goes on to suggest that at some point he may or may not have committed some crimes. I felt this story was quite an accomplishment for the author, especially when compared to some of the other stories in the book. It was entertaining, though I felt it was a little too long. The author did a nice job of keeping a consistant theme throughout the writing.


The Gap in Kaltouma's Fence

The Gap in Kaltouma's Fence, by Ibrahim Ishaq Ibrahim, is an Arabic short story about a man who learns that a woman he knows has been recently married. He can't understand why she got married because she holds people to high standards, much like her grandfather. As the man learns, she married a highly dignified individual which made the situation easier for him to understand. I felt this story was a little easier to read than the others in the book. It had a better flow and seemed to have a stronger storyline.


At a Woman's House

At a Woman's House, by Mohammed Ahmed Abdul Wali, is an Arabic story about a man who is left alone in a dark, dingy room to care for a small baby. The man rambles on throughout the story about several things. He inquires about what is wrong with the baby, where his parents are at, and so forth. This story made little sense and leaves the reader with many questions. I was not able to figure out the point of the story.


Another Evening at the Club

Another Evening at the Club, by Alifa Rifaat, is an Arabic story about a newly married couple. The man's wife lost a ring and assumed their servant, Gazia took it. The husband eventually turned Gazia over to the police until she admitted to stealing it. I felt this story was very well told. It kept my attention and in the end, I was glad that I read it.


My Brother

My Brother, by Mohammed El-Bisatie, is an Arabic short story about a young man and his relationship with his brother. The brother seems to have a developmental disability of some type. The young man loves his brother very much and does everything he can to take care of him. Toward the end of the story the brother unintentionally injures the young man, which is the ironic part of the story. The young man takes great care of the mentally challenged brother, only to be beaten in return. This was an interesting story that really reminded me of the difficult lifestyles some people must endure.


Advice from a Sensible Young Man

Advice from a Sensible Young Man, by Bahaat Taher, is an Arabic short story about an old man trying to obtain help from a young man for his addiction to opium. The young man refused to help the old man, despite his desperate pleas for help of any kind, because the old man has done nothing but lie and deceive in the past. At the end of the story the old man crosses the street and ends up getting hit by a car, killing him. This story reminds me very much of what is going on today with drug addiction. Almost every drug addict tries to get help through someone else, but what they don't realize is that they must first help themselves. This story was a very good illustration of that concept.


The Cypriot Man

The Cypriot Man, by Tayeb Salih, is a story about a man who loves to be with women. The story tells about his encounters and how he got to where his is at that time. The man comes across a person known as the Cypriot Man. He tries to track the Cypriot Man down, but the man proves to be very elusive. I thought this story was very interesting and it was surely more entertaining than the previous stories.