

2 â. Confusing as hell.
#CanadaReads2025 long list.
2 â. Confusing as hell.
#CanadaReads2025 long list.
It‘s National Book Week in the Netherlands, a yearly celebration of books for a whole week, since 1930. There are bookish events all over the country and when you buy a book you receive a free novella that is written for this week by a literary author.
My buys were French author Eric Chacour‘s debut about a gay doctor in Cairo, and the new book by Annet Schaap, a children‘s author who excels in Dutch language and is read by kids and adults alike.
Tarek follows the path laid out for him becoming a doctor, taking over his father‘s practice, and getting married. When Ali asks Tarek to examine his sick mother everything expected of Tarek loses importance. His life shifts as his decisions impact him and his relationships. Second person narration is not my favorite but I couldn‘t help but care about Tarek and those orbiting him.
Beautiful book (with lovely thick pages)! My heart breaks for Tarek, Ali, and Rafik.