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Damascus Nights
Damascus Nights | Rafik Schami
6 posts | 6 read | 8 to read
In the classical Arab tradition of tale-telling, here is a magical book that celebrates the power of storytelling, delightfully transformed for modern sensibilities by an award-winning author. The time is present-day Damascus, and Salim the coachman, the city's most famous storyteller, is mysteriously struck dumb. To break the spell, seven friends gather for seven nights to present Salim with seven wondrous "gifts"-seven stories of their own design. Upon this enchanting frame of tales told in the fragrant Arabian night, the words of the past grow fainter, as ancient customs are yielding to modern turmoil. While the hairdresser, the teacher, the wife of the locksmith sip their tea and pass the water pipe, they swap stories about the magical and the mundane: about djinnis and princesses, about contemporary politics and the difficulties of bargaining in a New York department store. And as one tale leads to another... and another... all of Damascus appears before your eyes, along with a vision of storytelling-and talk-as the essence of friendship, of community, of life. A sly and graceful work, a delight to readers young and old, Damascus Nights is, according to Publishers Weekly, "a highly atmospheric, pungent narrative."
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Lunakay
Erzhler der Nacht | Rafik Schami
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Mehso-so

Rafik Schami always tells stories about an old Damaskus, that feels magical and painfully real at the same time. They are all somewhat mesmerising, but this one was not my favourite, but still a decent read. Helped pass the time on the train :)

🇸🇾
⭐️⭐️⭐️

@Catsandbooks @Texreader
#foodandlit

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Lunakay
Erzhler der Nacht | Rafik Schami
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My new bookmarks arrived😍

ElizaMarie Ooo, they are so cute! 2y
17 likes1 comment
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Louise
Damascus Nights | Rafik Schami
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Pickpick

What a delightful celebration of storytelling! This book contains stories within stories within stories and is filled with charm and quirky characters. It is told in the tradition of Syrian storytelling and gives a few nods to Scheherazade. Book 3 in my #readoutloud project, in which I read aloud to my mother. We both enjoyed it very much, and the story gained something through being “spoken”. #readaroundtheworld #Syria

56 likes4 stack adds
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OriginalCyn620
Damascus Nights | Rafik Schami
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This sounds good! Pretty cover too! #Syria #letstravelaugust 🇸🇾

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🇸🇾📚🙌🏻 5y
40 likes1 comment
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Glaiza_echo
Damascus Nights | Rafik Schami
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7 likes2 stack adds
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Nafiza
Damascus Nights | Rafik Schami
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Pickpick

One storyteller loses his voice and the only way he will get it back is by hearing the best story there is. His friends take one night each and tell stories of djinnis, evil kings, wise women, thieves, murder, and romance. Schami shows us a Damascus still intact, touched by sorrow but not yet war. The book is a reminder of the beautiful things we are losing as Syria and her people burn.

7 likes1 stack add