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Four Ladies : From the Middle Eastern Storyteller, Comes a Collection Of Short Stories Influenced By Four Major Cities That He’s Lived in; Damascus, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur and Shanghai.
From Middle Eastern storyteller, Hussin Alkheder, comes a collection of short stories influenced by the four major cities he’s lived in: Damascus, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, and Shanghai. These four grand ladies have played important roles in his life journey.
In the Four Ladies, we find three stories based in Damascus, the cradle of history: Hand Made Crutches makes us feel the suffering of a mother with four daughters and a disabled son; The Green Bus gives a glimpse of Damascus both before and after the war; Love in the Time of Corona portrays the way some Middle Eastern deal with the virus. Next, Hussin is our tour guide in the luxurious city of Dubai: Baking Bread, is a murder mystery; Lucky Ending tells how a Syrian tourist in Dubai is reminded of his house when he sees the fantastic buildings; and Hamama is a sad story about a road-killed pigeon. From there we fly to the enchanting city of Kuala Lumpur: Akev takes place in one of the modern buildings of Kuala Lumpur opposite the twin towers; The Power of Words tells of a conversation between the words on the page when they interrupt their author’s writing; in Bedtime Story we learn of a father who lacked parental love. The last three stories come from the mega city of Shanghai, with its miraculous system: The Writer takes us into the future to meet a construction tycoon who dreamed of being a writer; The Cure introduces us to a spiritual man who spent ten years feeding stray cats on the streets of Shanghai; and finally, On the Metro deals with a passenger who thinks he sees evidence of a murder on a passenger’s smartphone.
In the Four Ladies, we find three stories based in Damascus, the cradle of history: Hand Made Crutches makes us feel the suffering of a mother with four daughters and a disabled son; The Green Bus gives a glimpse of Damascus both before and after the war; Love in the Time of Corona portrays the way some Middle Eastern deal with the virus. Next, Hussin is our tour guide in the luxurious city of Dubai: Baking Bread, is a murder mystery; Lucky Ending tells how a Syrian tourist in Dubai is reminded of his house when he sees the fantastic buildings; and Hamama is a sad story about a road-killed pigeon. From there we fly to the enchanting city of Kuala Lumpur: Akev takes place in one of the modern buildings of Kuala Lumpur opposite the twin towers; The Power of Words tells of a conversation between the words on the page when they interrupt their author’s writing; in Bedtime Story we learn of a father who lacked parental love. The last three stories come from the mega city of Shanghai, with its miraculous system: The Writer takes us into the future to meet a construction tycoon who dreamed of being a writer; The Cure introduces us to a spiritual man who spent ten years feeding stray cats on the streets of Shanghai; and finally, On the Metro deals with a passenger who thinks he sees evidence of a murder on a passenger’s smartphone.
137 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 5, 2021
4 people are currently reading
360 people want to read
About the author
Hussin Alkheder
6 books127 followersHussin Alkeder, a native of Damascus, Syria, first drew breath in the vibrant city. His formative years were spent navigating the winding alleys of Al-Shagoor street, where he attended the venerable old primary school, imbibing the essence of his cultural heritage.
Over the span of twenty-three years, Hussin's roots remained firmly planted in Damascus, forging a deep connection with the city's rich tapestry of traditions and history. However, destiny beckoned him to explore beyond his homeland's borders, and he eventually embarked on a new chapter in his life, finding himself drawn to the bustling cosmopolitan marvel of Dubai.
For eight transformative years, Hussin luxuriated in the embrace of Dubai's multicultural milieu, absorbing its myriad influences and forging connections with people from all corners of the globe. Yet, this ceaseless thirst for cultural exploration continued to pull him, propelling him further eastward towards the captivating realm of Shanghai, China.
In Shanghai, Hussin delved into the mystique of far eastern cultures, immersing himself in the vibrant urban landscape and unraveling the secrets of this ancient civilization. As he roamed the bustling streets and serene temples, the profound allure of Asia left an indelible mark on his soul.
With an enriching array of experiences and a kaleidoscope of cultures etched into his being, Hussin found himself propelled towards a newfound passion - the art of storytelling. His creative spirit culminated in the masterful creation of his debut non-fiction novel, "The Victorious Blood," a literary testament to the triumphs and tribulations of Imam Hussain 's journey, painted with vivid strokes of truth and wonder.
Thus, the life of Hussin Alkeder traverses continents, cultures, and literary realms, as he pens a literary odyssey destined to captivate the hearts and minds of avid readers across the globe.
Over the span of twenty-three years, Hussin's roots remained firmly planted in Damascus, forging a deep connection with the city's rich tapestry of traditions and history. However, destiny beckoned him to explore beyond his homeland's borders, and he eventually embarked on a new chapter in his life, finding himself drawn to the bustling cosmopolitan marvel of Dubai.
For eight transformative years, Hussin luxuriated in the embrace of Dubai's multicultural milieu, absorbing its myriad influences and forging connections with people from all corners of the globe. Yet, this ceaseless thirst for cultural exploration continued to pull him, propelling him further eastward towards the captivating realm of Shanghai, China.
In Shanghai, Hussin delved into the mystique of far eastern cultures, immersing himself in the vibrant urban landscape and unraveling the secrets of this ancient civilization. As he roamed the bustling streets and serene temples, the profound allure of Asia left an indelible mark on his soul.
With an enriching array of experiences and a kaleidoscope of cultures etched into his being, Hussin found himself propelled towards a newfound passion - the art of storytelling. His creative spirit culminated in the masterful creation of his debut non-fiction novel, "The Victorious Blood," a literary testament to the triumphs and tribulations of Imam Hussain 's journey, painted with vivid strokes of truth and wonder.
Thus, the life of Hussin Alkeder traverses continents, cultures, and literary realms, as he pens a literary odyssey destined to captivate the hearts and minds of avid readers across the globe.
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May 8, 2021I won this book in a GoodReads giveaway.
Reading the author’s short bio, he seems to have led quite an interesting life: born and raised in Syria, then moved to Dubai, Malaysia, and China. This collection of short stories are set in these various places.
The stories were a hit or miss with me. I enjoyed “The Green Bus” because it had the strongest sense of place. It was interesting to view Damascus from the POV of someone who is returning to the place where they grew up. Very few places stay the same, whether it’s through events or viewing it from a different perspective.
The other one I enjoyed was “Lucky Ending” about two men from Dubai trying to steal from a visiting Indian. I think this idea could be turned into a full-length story.
The ones I didn’t enjoy so much were set in the KL section. There was nothing in these stories that made me appreciate that they were set in Malaysia. I also enjoy short stories when there is a theme running through them. These ones were extremely varied.
Reading the author’s short bio, he seems to have led quite an interesting life: born and raised in Syria, then moved to Dubai, Malaysia, and China. This collection of short stories are set in these various places.
The stories were a hit or miss with me. I enjoyed “The Green Bus” because it had the strongest sense of place. It was interesting to view Damascus from the POV of someone who is returning to the place where they grew up. Very few places stay the same, whether it’s through events or viewing it from a different perspective.
The other one I enjoyed was “Lucky Ending” about two men from Dubai trying to steal from a visiting Indian. I think this idea could be turned into a full-length story.
The ones I didn’t enjoy so much were set in the KL section. There was nothing in these stories that made me appreciate that they were set in Malaysia. I also enjoy short stories when there is a theme running through them. These ones were extremely varied.
Displaying 1 of 1 review