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The Night Counter
After 85 long years, Fatimah Abdullah is dying, and she knows when her time will come. In fact, it should come just nine days from tonight, the 992nd nightly visit of Scheherazade, the beautiful and immortal storyteller from the epic The Arabian Nights .
Just as Scheherazade spun magical stories for 1,001 nights to save her own life, Fatima has spent each night telling Scheherazade her life stories, all the while knowing that on the 1,001st night, her storytelling will end forever. But between tonight and night 1,001, Fatima has a few loose ends to tie up. She must find a wife for her openly gay grandson, teach Arabic (and birth control) to her 17-year-old great-granddaughter, make amends with her estranged husband, and decide which of her troublesome children should inherit her family's home in Lebanon--a house she herself has not seen in nearly 70 years. All this while under the surveillance of two bumbling FBI agents eager to uncover Al Qaeda in Los Angeles.
But Fatima’s children are wrapped up in their own chaotic lives and disinterested in their mother or their inheritances. As Fatima weaves the stories of her husband, children, and grandchildren, we meet a visionless psychic, a conflicted U.S. soldier, a gynecologist who has a daughter with a love of shoplifting and a tendency to get unexpectedly pregnant, a Harvard-educated alcoholic cab driver edging towards his fifth marriage, a lovelorn matchmaker, and a Texas homecoming queen. Taken in parts, Fatima’s relations are capricious and steadfast, affectionate and smothering, connected yet terribly alone. Taken all together, they present a striking and surprising tapestry of modern Arab American life.
Shifting between the U.S. and Lebanon over the last hundred years, Alia Yunis crafts a bewitching novel imbued with great humanity, imagination, and a touch of magic realism. Be prepared to be utterly charmed.
Just as Scheherazade spun magical stories for 1,001 nights to save her own life, Fatima has spent each night telling Scheherazade her life stories, all the while knowing that on the 1,001st night, her storytelling will end forever. But between tonight and night 1,001, Fatima has a few loose ends to tie up. She must find a wife for her openly gay grandson, teach Arabic (and birth control) to her 17-year-old great-granddaughter, make amends with her estranged husband, and decide which of her troublesome children should inherit her family's home in Lebanon--a house she herself has not seen in nearly 70 years. All this while under the surveillance of two bumbling FBI agents eager to uncover Al Qaeda in Los Angeles.
But Fatima’s children are wrapped up in their own chaotic lives and disinterested in their mother or their inheritances. As Fatima weaves the stories of her husband, children, and grandchildren, we meet a visionless psychic, a conflicted U.S. soldier, a gynecologist who has a daughter with a love of shoplifting and a tendency to get unexpectedly pregnant, a Harvard-educated alcoholic cab driver edging towards his fifth marriage, a lovelorn matchmaker, and a Texas homecoming queen. Taken in parts, Fatima’s relations are capricious and steadfast, affectionate and smothering, connected yet terribly alone. Taken all together, they present a striking and surprising tapestry of modern Arab American life.
Shifting between the U.S. and Lebanon over the last hundred years, Alia Yunis crafts a bewitching novel imbued with great humanity, imagination, and a touch of magic realism. Be prepared to be utterly charmed.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
39 people are currently reading
900 people want to read
About the author
Alia Yunis
5 books30 followersBorn in Chicago, ALIA YUNIS is a PEN Emerging Voices Fellow. She has worked as a journalist and filmmaker in several countries. As the daughter of an environmental engineer and a UN diplomat, she grew up in the Midwest, particularly the Twin Cities, and in Beirut during the civil war, graduating from high school in Athens, Greece. She completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Minnesota and American University in Washington, DC. Her fiction has been published in several anthologies. She teaches film and television at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
May 18, 2015
A modern and innovative retelling of The Arabian Nights centered on Fatimah Abdullah, an old matriarch who tells her life story to Scheherazade in an attempt to alleviate the latter's boredom. The novel begins on Fatimah's 992nd night while she also starts to plan her own funeral, because she believes that by tale 1001, she will complete her purpose and pass away. Alia Yunis moves us back and forth between Fatima's present-day situations as well as the scenarios that encompass her sprawling family.
I enjoyed how Yunis dispersed the idea of identity in The Night Counter: she moved away from Arab-American stereotypes and portrayed an array of experiences. She gives us glimpses into the lives of Amir, Fatimah's out-and-proud gay grandson, Zade, a dysfunctional and uncouth matchmaker, Dina, a Texas-homecoming queen who goes to volunteer in Gaza, and more. Yunis deconstructs the idea that only one type of Arab-American exists, and she paints Fatimah's family with eclectic color and vivid personality.
While I did not love this book with all of my heart, I would recommend it to those with an interest in The Arabian Nights, Arab-American identity, frame stories, or humanity in general. A good college read that exposed me to culture and a family outside of my own.
I enjoyed how Yunis dispersed the idea of identity in The Night Counter: she moved away from Arab-American stereotypes and portrayed an array of experiences. She gives us glimpses into the lives of Amir, Fatimah's out-and-proud gay grandson, Zade, a dysfunctional and uncouth matchmaker, Dina, a Texas-homecoming queen who goes to volunteer in Gaza, and more. Yunis deconstructs the idea that only one type of Arab-American exists, and she paints Fatimah's family with eclectic color and vivid personality.
While I did not love this book with all of my heart, I would recommend it to those with an interest in The Arabian Nights, Arab-American identity, frame stories, or humanity in general. A good college read that exposed me to culture and a family outside of my own.
December 31, 2009
I loved this book. But what made it different from most books, for me at least, is the way in which I read it. It was not a book that consumed me, that I felt I needed to devour. I did that with my other favorites, like Harry Potter (die-hard fan here) and East of Eden. Instead I digested it over the course of a few nights, kind of like the nights you read about in the book.
The subtle, wry humor in this book made it an enjoyable, entertaining, but also thought-provoking novel. I think Yunis did a fantastic job at portraying family unity despite the diverse people comprising the family. From this compilation of vignettes, I felt that I got to know each member of the family, and had some insight as to who they were and what their lives were like.
Yunis crafted a compelling story that is important because of its treatment of families and history. It also addresses Arab-American lives in modern times without overemphasizing issues pertaining to terrorism or the post-9/11 world. I feel that this novel could be extrapolated to other hyphenated American communities, making it an even better tale.
The subtle, wry humor in this book made it an enjoyable, entertaining, but also thought-provoking novel. I think Yunis did a fantastic job at portraying family unity despite the diverse people comprising the family. From this compilation of vignettes, I felt that I got to know each member of the family, and had some insight as to who they were and what their lives were like.
Yunis crafted a compelling story that is important because of its treatment of families and history. It also addresses Arab-American lives in modern times without overemphasizing issues pertaining to terrorism or the post-9/11 world. I feel that this novel could be extrapolated to other hyphenated American communities, making it an even better tale.
December 20, 2020
This was a gorgeous read. In her eighties, Fatima has divorced her husband, left Detroit and moved in with her grandson, Amir, in LA. For the past 991 days, she has been visited each night by Scheherazade and has told Scheherazade about her childhood in Lebanon. She believes she will die in 10 days time and must still decide which of her children deserves to inherit her house in Lebanon. At times, I laughed out loud at some of the comedy, but it also tells of the stories that we tell each other in families to maintain secrets and facades. I had such fun reading this, highly recommend.
April 19, 2018
This is tale of an extensive Lebanese family that immigrated to the U.S. in the early 1900s. The appearance of Scheherazade, as well as the ways many tales are told that all flow into one main tale gives the novel a magical realist bend. However it's really a story about immigrants and how it is important for family members to care for each other really talk to each other.
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October 20, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
This book appealed to me (when I originally placed it on my TBR list) because it was about an old lady (I could relate) who was an Arab immigrant in America (I could not relate.) I was hoping to learn something.
And I did learn a little about the Arab/Muslim culture. Particularly even if you don’t practice the religion you’ve been raised in, you still carry a lot of the baggage that comes with the religious beliefs you held from your formative years.
In this mostly humorous novel, with serious undertones, Fatima Abdullah is 85 years old. She’s planning her funeral. Sheherezade has been visiting her for 999 days. (Sheherezade is the mythical storyteller from the famed One Thousand and One Nights, a collection of well-known Middle Eastern folktales.) Fatima has these ongoing conversations with the aforementioned mythical character whom only she can see. Everyone else thinks she is talking to herself and going bonkers. Fatima has divorced her husband Ibrahim fairly late in life and gone to live with her grandson Amir in LA. Amir is an aspiring actor, also gay, which of course Fatima cannot accept. She has been constantly (for the last 999 nights) been trying to arrange a marriage for him, preferably with a nice Arab girl, of Lebanese descent would really be great.
The book begins on the 999th night and each night Fatima tells Scheherazade a story about one of her children. They live all over the place, mostly in various US states; no one lives near her and none have come to visit for years. Amir keeps everyone in the family up to date with a weekly email. Sheherezade gets on her magic carpet and flies to each location to check them out. Fatima was the mother of 10, two of which died, the remaining are seven daughters and one son.
I refuse to tell any more of this story. It was entertaining. Dysfunctional families are pretty much all the same no matter the cultural differences.
ATY Goodreads Challenge - 2024
Prompt #46 - A book related to night
This book appealed to me (when I originally placed it on my TBR list) because it was about an old lady (I could relate) who was an Arab immigrant in America (I could not relate.) I was hoping to learn something.
And I did learn a little about the Arab/Muslim culture. Particularly even if you don’t practice the religion you’ve been raised in, you still carry a lot of the baggage that comes with the religious beliefs you held from your formative years.
In this mostly humorous novel, with serious undertones, Fatima Abdullah is 85 years old. She’s planning her funeral. Sheherezade has been visiting her for 999 days. (Sheherezade is the mythical storyteller from the famed One Thousand and One Nights, a collection of well-known Middle Eastern folktales.) Fatima has these ongoing conversations with the aforementioned mythical character whom only she can see. Everyone else thinks she is talking to herself and going bonkers. Fatima has divorced her husband Ibrahim fairly late in life and gone to live with her grandson Amir in LA. Amir is an aspiring actor, also gay, which of course Fatima cannot accept. She has been constantly (for the last 999 nights) been trying to arrange a marriage for him, preferably with a nice Arab girl, of Lebanese descent would really be great.
The book begins on the 999th night and each night Fatima tells Scheherazade a story about one of her children. They live all over the place, mostly in various US states; no one lives near her and none have come to visit for years. Amir keeps everyone in the family up to date with a weekly email. Sheherezade gets on her magic carpet and flies to each location to check them out. Fatima was the mother of 10, two of which died, the remaining are seven daughters and one son.
I refuse to tell any more of this story. It was entertaining. Dysfunctional families are pretty much all the same no matter the cultural differences.
ATY Goodreads Challenge - 2024
Prompt #46 - A book related to night
September 17, 2009
The blend of realism and magic reminded a bit of Alice Hoffman but with a unique middle eastern point of view. I loved the characters! Fatima is an older woman. She has had a large family of sons and daughters, and she wants each of them to find happiness. When she is visited by the legendary Scheherazade who is no stranger to story-telling, Fatima tells her the story of her family from her two husbands to her many children.
I am so impressed with this author who kept me spellbound for 365 pages (was that figure - one full year - by accident?). I didn't want to the book to end and can only hope that this talented young writer will continue to write (this was her first novel). In particular, I would love to read more about Fatima and her wonderful, imperfect group of relatives.
Choose this book for a charming and fantastic journey on a literary magic carpet!
I am so impressed with this author who kept me spellbound for 365 pages (was that figure - one full year - by accident?). I didn't want to the book to end and can only hope that this talented young writer will continue to write (this was her first novel). In particular, I would love to read more about Fatima and her wonderful, imperfect group of relatives.
Choose this book for a charming and fantastic journey on a literary magic carpet!
June 12, 2014
Darf man über andere Kulturen und Religionen lästern? Wenn es die eigene Kultur ist, wie bei Alia Yunis, sicherlich. Auch wenn mir das Lachen einige Male im Hals stecken bleiben wollte, habe ich mich über Fatima, die fast hundertjährige Patriarchin eines ausufernden libanesischen Familien-Clans köstlich amüsiert. Fatima mit ihrem unfreiwilligen Sprachwitz (der auch in der Übersetzung ins Deutsche noch funktioniert), ist einfach komisch – solange man selbst nicht mit ihr in einem Haushalt leben muss.
Die Last, die die zweite Einwanderer-Generation trägt, weil sie es keiner der beteiligten Kulturen rechtmachen kann, trifft Alia Yunis punktgenau. In einer Großfamilie aus fünf Generationen mag mancher Leser zunächst Probleme haben, die Verwandtschaftsverhältnisse zu erfassen, ohne sich einen Stammbaum aufzuzeichnen. Köstlich amüsiert habe ich mich auch über das Thema Verschweigen konfliktreicher Themen, wegen Alter, Krankheit oder Religion einer anderen Person – und deshalb als Gesprächsthema eines Tages nur noch das Wetter bleibt. Wie wenig sich doch die Gewohnheiten in Fatimas Clan von denen in Clans anderer Länder unterscheiden - wäre da nicht die ironische zusätzliche Tonspur, die die auf den 11. September folgende US-amerikanische Xenophobie aufs Korn nimmt.
Die Autorin sieht sich selbst als Amerikanerin, Libanesin und Palästinenserin, wie sie im sehr informativen Nachwort erzählt.
Die Last, die die zweite Einwanderer-Generation trägt, weil sie es keiner der beteiligten Kulturen rechtmachen kann, trifft Alia Yunis punktgenau. In einer Großfamilie aus fünf Generationen mag mancher Leser zunächst Probleme haben, die Verwandtschaftsverhältnisse zu erfassen, ohne sich einen Stammbaum aufzuzeichnen. Köstlich amüsiert habe ich mich auch über das Thema Verschweigen konfliktreicher Themen, wegen Alter, Krankheit oder Religion einer anderen Person – und deshalb als Gesprächsthema eines Tages nur noch das Wetter bleibt. Wie wenig sich doch die Gewohnheiten in Fatimas Clan von denen in Clans anderer Länder unterscheiden - wäre da nicht die ironische zusätzliche Tonspur, die die auf den 11. September folgende US-amerikanische Xenophobie aufs Korn nimmt.
Die Autorin sieht sich selbst als Amerikanerin, Libanesin und Palästinenserin, wie sie im sehr informativen Nachwort erzählt.
March 18, 2021
This book is not the usual book I would choose to read, but it was a random one suggested by the local online library and I'm so glad that it did (and that I took the chance).
The story is ultimately about life and family, their interactions, hopes and regrets. The fantastical conceit, the use of Scheherazade from the 1001 Arabian Nights, while never really explained (which I am grateful for), gives the main character someone to tell her stories to and enables the reader to visit far flung characters, who are all distinct and painted with broad, clear strokes in the story segment each is given. They are so entirely universal that you can imagine family members of pretty much any ethnicity, culture or faith saying/thinking the same things about each other. In many ways, I am certain that's the point.
While I wasn't expecting the level of wry humour, which certainly made me chuckle multiple times, ultimately the story is in equal parts fascinating, touching and funny. To say that I enjoyed it would be an understatement.
The story is ultimately about life and family, their interactions, hopes and regrets. The fantastical conceit, the use of Scheherazade from the 1001 Arabian Nights, while never really explained (which I am grateful for), gives the main character someone to tell her stories to and enables the reader to visit far flung characters, who are all distinct and painted with broad, clear strokes in the story segment each is given. They are so entirely universal that you can imagine family members of pretty much any ethnicity, culture or faith saying/thinking the same things about each other. In many ways, I am certain that's the point.
While I wasn't expecting the level of wry humour, which certainly made me chuckle multiple times, ultimately the story is in equal parts fascinating, touching and funny. To say that I enjoyed it would be an understatement.
April 28, 2012
Not only was I impressed with the warmth and affection packed into this interesting story about how a family with its roots in Lebanon grows and flourishes in the U.S., I was also intrigued by its structure.
The Night Counter is built on the premise that Scheherazade wanders the earth seeking human stories to relieve the boredom of her immortality. The subject of her current focus is one Fatima Abdullah, 85, of Los Angeles, formerly of Detroit and Deir Zeitoon. Fatima is telling Scheherazade her 992nd story when the novel opens, and she is also busy planning her own funeral: sure that her time will be up when she completes Tale 1001.
Fatima, a bright and feisty woman even in her mid-eighties, came to the U.S.A. as a young bride with her first husband Marwan. With him and then her second husband Ibrahim (who married her after Marwan died), she gave birth to ten children. She always believed that Ibrahim married her out of kindness rather than love, so at the age of 82 she left him in Detroit and went to live with Amir, her grandson, in LA. Amir is openly gay but Fatima is determined to find him a wife before she dies. Her other major mission (aside from ordering food for the funeral) is to decide to which of her many children and grandchildren she should leave the key to her beloved home in Lebanon. Scheherazade (who can only be seen by Fatima; everyone else thinks Fatima is talking to herself) is assisting in this enterprise by zipping around the world on her magic carpet between Fatima's stories in an attempt to assess the pros and cons of awarding the cherished key to each of Fatima's descendants.
Through Scheherazade's short trips, we learn the stories of the members of Fatima's family. They are now living all over the USA - one grandchild is in the middle east doing peace-corps work. Some remain loyal to the religion and lifestyles of their childhoods as others move deeper into the melting pot. Their lives are in many ways typical of most second- and third-generation families from other cultures now living in North America, and the novel is a reminder of how much alike we all are, rather than how different. For the most part amusing and light-hearted, The Night Counter does also not hesitate to address some of the darker issues that confront Muslims and all humans in America today. It is an auspicious debut, and I look forward to reading future novels by Ms. Yunis.
The Night Counter is built on the premise that Scheherazade wanders the earth seeking human stories to relieve the boredom of her immortality. The subject of her current focus is one Fatima Abdullah, 85, of Los Angeles, formerly of Detroit and Deir Zeitoon. Fatima is telling Scheherazade her 992nd story when the novel opens, and she is also busy planning her own funeral: sure that her time will be up when she completes Tale 1001.
Fatima, a bright and feisty woman even in her mid-eighties, came to the U.S.A. as a young bride with her first husband Marwan. With him and then her second husband Ibrahim (who married her after Marwan died), she gave birth to ten children. She always believed that Ibrahim married her out of kindness rather than love, so at the age of 82 she left him in Detroit and went to live with Amir, her grandson, in LA. Amir is openly gay but Fatima is determined to find him a wife before she dies. Her other major mission (aside from ordering food for the funeral) is to decide to which of her many children and grandchildren she should leave the key to her beloved home in Lebanon. Scheherazade (who can only be seen by Fatima; everyone else thinks Fatima is talking to herself) is assisting in this enterprise by zipping around the world on her magic carpet between Fatima's stories in an attempt to assess the pros and cons of awarding the cherished key to each of Fatima's descendants.
Through Scheherazade's short trips, we learn the stories of the members of Fatima's family. They are now living all over the USA - one grandchild is in the middle east doing peace-corps work. Some remain loyal to the religion and lifestyles of their childhoods as others move deeper into the melting pot. Their lives are in many ways typical of most second- and third-generation families from other cultures now living in North America, and the novel is a reminder of how much alike we all are, rather than how different. For the most part amusing and light-hearted, The Night Counter does also not hesitate to address some of the darker issues that confront Muslims and all humans in America today. It is an auspicious debut, and I look forward to reading future novels by Ms. Yunis.
June 5, 2009
I was fortunate to read the un-proofed galley of the Night Counter, and am so excited I need to review it.
This book is so much fun to read and entertaining on so many levels, the Night Counter is a wonderful blend of fantasy and family that is worthy of Scheherazade herself. In a twist on the classic story, Scheherazade visits Fatima nightly, to hear her stories. Fatima realizes that her last night of storytelling is quickly on the horizon and she has lots to do and decide before her story comes to an end. As we travel with Fatima (and Scheherazade) through her life past and present in Lebanon and throughout the U.S.A., we find ourselves fascinated observers of lives filled with misery, foolishness, yearning and love. The Night Counter is a delightful journey through the lives of a big family, who are separated by more than distance and will touch that piece in each of us that is forever bound to and by family.
Merged review:
I was fortunate to read the un-proofed galley of the Night Counter and am so excited I need to review it.
This book is so much fun to read and entertaining on so many levels, the Night Counter is a wonderful blend of fantasy and family that is worthy of Scheherazade herself. In a twist on the classic story, Scheherazade visits Fatima nightly, to hear her stories. Fatima realizes that her last night of storytelling is quickly on the horizon and she has lots to do and decide before her story comes to an end. As we travel with Fatima (and Scheherazade) through her life past and present in Lebanon and throughout the U.S.A., we find ourselves fascinated observers of lives filled with misery, foolishness, yearning and love. The Night Counter is a delightful journey through the lives of a big family, who are separated by more than distance and will touch that piece in each of us that is forever bound to and by family.
This book is so much fun to read and entertaining on so many levels, the Night Counter is a wonderful blend of fantasy and family that is worthy of Scheherazade herself. In a twist on the classic story, Scheherazade visits Fatima nightly, to hear her stories. Fatima realizes that her last night of storytelling is quickly on the horizon and she has lots to do and decide before her story comes to an end. As we travel with Fatima (and Scheherazade) through her life past and present in Lebanon and throughout the U.S.A., we find ourselves fascinated observers of lives filled with misery, foolishness, yearning and love. The Night Counter is a delightful journey through the lives of a big family, who are separated by more than distance and will touch that piece in each of us that is forever bound to and by family.
Merged review:
I was fortunate to read the un-proofed galley of the Night Counter and am so excited I need to review it.
This book is so much fun to read and entertaining on so many levels, the Night Counter is a wonderful blend of fantasy and family that is worthy of Scheherazade herself. In a twist on the classic story, Scheherazade visits Fatima nightly, to hear her stories. Fatima realizes that her last night of storytelling is quickly on the horizon and she has lots to do and decide before her story comes to an end. As we travel with Fatima (and Scheherazade) through her life past and present in Lebanon and throughout the U.S.A., we find ourselves fascinated observers of lives filled with misery, foolishness, yearning and love. The Night Counter is a delightful journey through the lives of a big family, who are separated by more than distance and will touch that piece in each of us that is forever bound to and by family.
April 29, 2022
"The Night Counter" is 84 year old Fatimah Abdullah, a Lebanese-American woman who has lived for 70 years in the U.S. When the book opens, she has spent the past 992 nights living in Los Angeles with her young grandson, Amir. Amir is an aspiring actor who happens to be gay. The legendary Scheherazade comes to Fatimah each night and listens to Fatimah's stories about her life. These stories revolve around Fatimah's ancient home in Lebanon and her family here in the U.S. Fatimah has had two husbands and has raised ten children. The beautiful Scheherazade proves to be a wise and patient listener to Fatimah. However, Fatimah is certain that she will die on the 1,oo1st night. She is preparing for this.
Amir (and everyone else) cannot see Scheherazade. He assumes that his elderly grandmother is talking to herself. He loves her and worries about her strange behavior. Amir is also upset that none of Fatimah's many children respond to his weekly emails about her. The emails start out politely and then become SOS's. Fatimah walks with a cane, doesn't see or hear well, and talks about her funeral arrangements. She is also stubbornly preoccupied with finding a wife for Amir.
Scheherazade's curiousity leads her to visit many of Fatimah's children and grandchildren. She flies to each locale on a magic carpet. The children are scattered throughout the states and have very different circumstances. The author's sense of humor shines. Many of the descriptions are gently comical.
The book was published in 2009 and written before that. How life changed for average Arab-American citizens in the U.S. after the events of September 11, 2001 is touched upon. This is a book both comical and poignant, written in a creative way. I enjoyed it.
Amir (and everyone else) cannot see Scheherazade. He assumes that his elderly grandmother is talking to herself. He loves her and worries about her strange behavior. Amir is also upset that none of Fatimah's many children respond to his weekly emails about her. The emails start out politely and then become SOS's. Fatimah walks with a cane, doesn't see or hear well, and talks about her funeral arrangements. She is also stubbornly preoccupied with finding a wife for Amir.
Scheherazade's curiousity leads her to visit many of Fatimah's children and grandchildren. She flies to each locale on a magic carpet. The children are scattered throughout the states and have very different circumstances. The author's sense of humor shines. Many of the descriptions are gently comical.
The book was published in 2009 and written before that. How life changed for average Arab-American citizens in the U.S. after the events of September 11, 2001 is touched upon. This is a book both comical and poignant, written in a creative way. I enjoyed it.
November 26, 2012
File under "fascinating works marred by annoying faults…"
I picked this one up at the library after spending a long time among the new fiction shelves, in one of my moods when nothing really seemed to appeal; had I not been getting tired and ready to just grab something and go home I might not have given this one a chance. The premise, however, just struck me as something which it seemed I almost had to try, for its sheer novelty: an old Arab immigrant in Los Angeles has been telling stories to the immortal shade of Scheherezade for most of 1,001 nights, the completion of which she believes will mark the end of her life, and has mere days to sort out the lives of her large and scattered children and grandchildren.
Much to recommend in this book. In many ways it shares a lot of good qualities with the novels of Salman Rushdie; beyond the similar approach to “magical realism” there is the fascinating window into the variety of experiences which make up modern anglo-asian (in this case, Muslim American) society. Not to mention a dry but daring sense of humor. All very commendable.
And yet, the book made me wince multiple times; some of this can be put down to my being just too squeamish for some of the brutally awkward scenes, but Yunis’ abuses of ridiculous, extended coincidences were a bit less easy to excuse. Particularly when these contortions proved ultimately irrelevant, and much of the book’s drama a mere game, in the end. If it is possible to make serious points or tell stories about deep, realistic characters while treating those characters like cartoons, I don’t think the trick was achieved here.
I picked this one up at the library after spending a long time among the new fiction shelves, in one of my moods when nothing really seemed to appeal; had I not been getting tired and ready to just grab something and go home I might not have given this one a chance. The premise, however, just struck me as something which it seemed I almost had to try, for its sheer novelty: an old Arab immigrant in Los Angeles has been telling stories to the immortal shade of Scheherezade for most of 1,001 nights, the completion of which she believes will mark the end of her life, and has mere days to sort out the lives of her large and scattered children and grandchildren.
Much to recommend in this book. In many ways it shares a lot of good qualities with the novels of Salman Rushdie; beyond the similar approach to “magical realism” there is the fascinating window into the variety of experiences which make up modern anglo-asian (in this case, Muslim American) society. Not to mention a dry but daring sense of humor. All very commendable.
And yet, the book made me wince multiple times; some of this can be put down to my being just too squeamish for some of the brutally awkward scenes, but Yunis’ abuses of ridiculous, extended coincidences were a bit less easy to excuse. Particularly when these contortions proved ultimately irrelevant, and much of the book’s drama a mere game, in the end. If it is possible to make serious points or tell stories about deep, realistic characters while treating those characters like cartoons, I don’t think the trick was achieved here.
May 6, 2010
Disappointing.
I really didn't enjoy this book. It took me over a week to trawl through all the disjointed sagas of each of the characters' disconnected lives and although the end does explain why the family is so disfunctional, it was not enough to reward my perseverance.
The rather tall premise is that the elderly Fatima is visited nightly for 1001 nights by an apparition of Sheherazade that only she can see. Everyone else concludes that she is talking to herself.
Thankfully we do not join her until day 992 when she has just 9 days left to put her life in order and decide what to leave for each of her grown children.
Originally from Lebanon, Fatima came to the US as a young bride and has not returned since. Her 10 offspring are American in varying degrees, some have produced grandchildren and even great grandchildren. All of them have problems but they hide these from their mother and from each other so that each is an island, alone.
It was, overall, a rather sad book; so many lives disrupted by their inability to communicate with each other, to share and help one another.
I did find the assimilation af the American way of life quite interesting. Some embraced their new culture while others dug into their history for their identity. The intervention of 9/11 also had repercussions for this Arab family and they are plagued by some inept, rather annoying FBI agents too.
I had hoped for great things from this book, it is a genre that I generally favour, but this was a disappointment.
I really didn't enjoy this book. It took me over a week to trawl through all the disjointed sagas of each of the characters' disconnected lives and although the end does explain why the family is so disfunctional, it was not enough to reward my perseverance.
The rather tall premise is that the elderly Fatima is visited nightly for 1001 nights by an apparition of Sheherazade that only she can see. Everyone else concludes that she is talking to herself.
Thankfully we do not join her until day 992 when she has just 9 days left to put her life in order and decide what to leave for each of her grown children.
Originally from Lebanon, Fatima came to the US as a young bride and has not returned since. Her 10 offspring are American in varying degrees, some have produced grandchildren and even great grandchildren. All of them have problems but they hide these from their mother and from each other so that each is an island, alone.
It was, overall, a rather sad book; so many lives disrupted by their inability to communicate with each other, to share and help one another.
I did find the assimilation af the American way of life quite interesting. Some embraced their new culture while others dug into their history for their identity. The intervention of 9/11 also had repercussions for this Arab family and they are plagued by some inept, rather annoying FBI agents too.
I had hoped for great things from this book, it is a genre that I generally favour, but this was a disappointment.
January 5, 2011
The best word I can come up with to describe this book is "charming." The premise is really interesting; it's use of fantasy (the matriarch of an Arab-American family is being visited nightly by Scheherazade) demystifies Arab-American identity, oddly enough. The characters are generally accessible, some admirable, some flawed. Indeed, one of my favorite things about this novel is that it doesn't create a heavy-handed account of Arab-Americans that perpetuates the problematic stereotype of the friendly immigrant who is grateful and obsequious -- a stereotype just as damaging as that of the angry, ignorant terrorist. This is a family, flawed and problematic who, though they often don't realize it, are constructing an identity that is uniquely Arab-American -- they no longer belong to their parents' home country (Lebanon, in this case) nor do they know how best to be Americans without erasing their Arab heritage. They weave past and present, East and West, fantasy and reality, creating a hybrid identity that allows their family to thrive. Another thing I really appreciated was the ending; Yunis does not patronize her readers. The conclusion of the novel is both satisfying and challenging. This is one I'll definitely read again.
June 18, 2009
Scheherazade could learn a thing or two about storytelling from Alia Yunis, who uses the 1001 Nights conceit to tell the tale of Fatima Abdullah, an 85-year-old matriarch who trades beauty tips with Scheherazade as she counts down the nights she thinks she has left to live. Both Fatima and Scheherazade display a lot of L.A. lip, which is not surprising given that Yunis is a filmmaker from L.A. Fatima, a purple-haired Detroit Tigers fan, is a character hard to beat, but she gets competition from her highly dysfunctional family. How glad I am that I didn't have to wait 1001 nights to hear all their stories. But The Night Counter is more than a collection of wonderfully zany characters. It's also a cautionary tale about how living in the past can keep you from living in the present and how little family members understand one another.
January 11, 2010
This was an enchanting novel, and I am astounded that it is a debut effort. It presented a kaleidoscope of experiences, each one ringing true and striking a different emotional color. What was real was the frustration you felt at the characters' shortcomings and the relief you felt at their triumphs. Remarkably, Yunis avoided the saccharine sweet and trite confections of happy endings that I was afraid was coming, but instead gave us something that felt both real (well, maybe a bit stretched for entertainment's sake) and wholesome. This novel left laughing at times, and sitting in contemplative quiet of the gentle ache evoked by the scenes of still tragedy. I can't wait for Yunis to write again.
September 29, 2015
I was impressed by the blend of magic in this book.
Scheherazade who wanders the earth seeking for human stories to relieve the boredom of her immortality meets Fatima, the old grandma with a large family of sons and daughters, and she wants each of them to find happiness. And who insists on finding the right one to take care of her house in Lebanon.
And after reading this book i came up with some quotes
"Zaka,giving alms is one of the true pillars of Islam. You don't hear Cnn talks about. "
"A good bargain never goes out of fashion".
This book is absolutely charming.
Scheherazade who wanders the earth seeking for human stories to relieve the boredom of her immortality meets Fatima, the old grandma with a large family of sons and daughters, and she wants each of them to find happiness. And who insists on finding the right one to take care of her house in Lebanon.
And after reading this book i came up with some quotes
"Zaka,giving alms is one of the true pillars of Islam. You don't hear Cnn talks about. "
"A good bargain never goes out of fashion".
This book is absolutely charming.
September 26, 2015
A charming multi-generational tale about a Lebanese-American family. When we join the story 85 year-old Fatima is 6 days away from the 1,001st day living with her gay grandson Amir in Hollywood after divorcing her husband Ibrahim in Detroit. Every night she tells a story to the spirit Scherezade, who visits far-flung members of Fatima's dysfunctional family to better understand them, while Fatima frets over who will inherit her mother's house in Deir Zeitoon, Lebanon. The tale has just enough comic relief and levity to keep the dysfunction from becoming overwhelming and depressing.
December 10, 2023
3.5 stars and rounding up. A really interesting look at slices of Arab-American experiences. Read this for a local book club and we found a lot to talk about. I think most of us liked Decimal the most, and felt like the story started a bit too slow until she came into the picture. The end-reveals packed a great punch, and brought a lot of the story into a new light. The Scheherezade bit though, I feel was the weakest aspect of the story, existing primarily because the author wanted it to, not because it really fit in the narrative.
November 27, 2017
Both charming and frustrating. If you think of this as a series of short stories, it works better than thinking of it as a novel.
October 5, 2020
Mixed feelings. It has this warmth, something intriguing that made me keep going. On the other hand, there are present these... rather jarring passages. Magical realism is not my genre, I know. I also had a problem with Sheherezade's portrayal.
Alia Yunis probably used part of her own experience as a member of the diaspora to paint a colorful picture of her community. By allowing various branches of Fatema's family to lend their voice, she was able to show different approaches to assimilation and one's cultural heritage.
This also leads to a problem typical for multiple points of views and short stories. Not every character has got compelling storyline.
Alia Yunis probably used part of her own experience as a member of the diaspora to paint a colorful picture of her community. By allowing various branches of Fatema's family to lend their voice, she was able to show different approaches to assimilation and one's cultural heritage.
This also leads to a problem typical for multiple points of views and short stories. Not every character has got compelling storyline.
August 18, 2024
"Family lines are not as straight as they could be, but they are countinuous," Scheherazade said. "Eventually enough generations pass through life and death that everyone's story beging kan ma kan, once upon time. When your story starts with that, your life becomes a fable to those with only a trace of your blood."
What a gem has been hiding on my bookshelf for all these years! This is a story about family. A story about how a family loves and protects its members from hurtful things in life. A story about silence and buried emotions. A story about stories.
What a gem has been hiding on my bookshelf for all these years! This is a story about family. A story about how a family loves and protects its members from hurtful things in life. A story about silence and buried emotions. A story about stories.
June 15, 2021
A wonderful tale, featuring Scheherazade from The Arabian Nights. A good book for a book club. What story would you tell if you had limited nights left? This story is full of a variety of characters, all related in some way, to the matriarch of the family, Fatima. At times poignant, and at others, humorous, it is well-told. It was enjoyable, learning about each family member as Scheherazade learns of them from Fatima's stories. Well done.
April 21, 2018
At first, I just enjoyed the creative premise. Then I became entranced by the main character and her version of her life history, as contrasted by the versions of her many relatives. I began to lose track of all the threads and to be a bit annoyed by a silly subplot, but the ending was bittersweetly satisfying.
July 5, 2019
Magical realism; the diasporic story of an illiterate Lebanese woman, of Scheherazade, of Fatimah's children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all struggling with - and unable to escape from - who they are and where they came from.
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May 24, 2020Mostly I enjoyed it, except for the times when I realized we'd left fun and magic behind and were trudging through ordinary people's unhappy lives. I always kind of wonder why those kinds of books get read.
October 31, 2025
کتاب ایده خوبی داشت ولی آنچنان که باید و شاید دلچسب نبود. من علت تعریف و تمجیدهای بیشماررسانهها و نشریات را مخصوصا در مورد طنز جاری آن که در ابتدای کتاب آمده بود متوجه نشدم شاید به خاطر ترجمه ضعیف اثر بود نمیدانم واقعا نمیدانم!!!
March 18, 2017
A great book that uses the construct of Scheherazade with a twist. In this case it is Fatima, an elderly Lebanese immigrant, who is telling her stories to Scheherazade. Fatima, thinking she will die on the 1001st night, prepares for her funeral. She divorces her husband in Detroit so that he will not have to suffer when she dies and is living with her grandson in LA. Through the nights, short stories hold together the theme of family and their love, hurt, weaknesses, oddities, tragedies and happiness. The truth of family life comes together when the family visits Fatima at what they believe is her death bed. She confronts them by asking them to visit while living not on her deathbed. She too learns that family often keeps secrets from each other in a misguided notion of love.
A well told story of life. Would suggest that anyone read this book that enjoys familial stories.
A well told story of life. Would suggest that anyone read this book that enjoys familial stories.
June 7, 2018
Bittersweet ending. There were times that I did wish for a family tree just so I could see how everyone was related and keep everything straight in my head.
August 10, 2018
Might up to 4 stars. Not much good for reviewing literary fiction, but there were a lot of interesting characters and I feel like I've learned a little about Arab-American culture.
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