Beirut Hellfire Society, by Rawi Hage

This is one those novels that will change the way you look at death and burial methods – and Beirut. Rawi Hage has managed to write something profound, beautiful, moving and joyful about a place as depressing as Beirut in wartime, and a situation as sad as the people of that city who are casualties of the war. Believe me, I had entirely no interest in Lebanon or Beirut or Middle Eastern wars. But then I bought this because it was longlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize in 2018. Longlisted – I think it should have won. (Read more)