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02 May 2007
Extraordinary Book
1 of 1 found this helpful This book demonstrates the author's incredible ability to tell a great story. The story is arguably an allegory for the history of humanity and religions. It explores the lives of God, Adam, Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed. In a modern-day setting in Egypt, it retells the stories that made them great. For example, Gabal (in arabic meaning "mountain") is the character of Moses, who manages to free his alley of snakes demanding in return rights to the alley's estate, reminiscent of the plagues on Egypt.
But more than a simple portrayal of the events that occurred, the book shines light on the differences in philosophy of the different characters. It examines the presence and absence of Gabalawi, God. It examines the pacifism of Jesus.
It is a great book, although I do not have the time to write all about my love for it. This book is why the author won a Nobel for literature. This book is why he was almost assassinated as he left his house in the morning in 1988. This book is a must-read.