The Hakawati

The Hakawati ("storyteller" in Arabic) is a novel written by Rabih Alameddine and published by Alfred A. Knopf in 2008. The novel explores Lebanese families and cultures, and was well received by critics.

Plot summary
Set in 2003, a young man travels from Los Angeles, California to his father's death-bed in Beirut, Lebanon. He and relatives share contemporary stories and parables during the vigil.

Characters

 * Afreet Jehanam
 * Baybars
 * Elie
 * Farid al-Kharrat
 * Fatima
 * Ismail
 * Lina
 * Mariella
 * Osama al-Kharrat
 * Othman
 * Uncle Jihad