Laila Lalami ‘second novel, “Secret Son“, is finally coming out on April 21. I found Lalami’s debut novel, “Hope And Other Dangerous Pursuits“, published in 2005, a gripping tale of desperation and hope steeped in sheer realism. Her eloquent and graceful style cuts through the page with confidence as she depicts the successes and failures of four Moroccans undertaking a journey to a better life. Being a Moroccan, I was familiar with the subject, but her syle so enthralled me, I read the book three times.
“Secret Son” promises the same intensity. Advance reviews of the book have given it high marks.
Set in modern Morocco against a background of corrupt liberalism and Islamic fundamentalism, the novel explores the struggle for identity and the myriad ways in which the political, the personal, and the religious bind us together. Here’s a little bit about it: For years, Youssef, a young man from a Casablanca slum, has heard his mother’s stories about his dead and respectably poor father, stories he used as inspiration for his own life. But when a religious group, known simply as The Party, moves into town, he discovers the truth-his father is a wealthy businessman and very much alive. Youssef sets out to find his real father and enters his Westernized world, setting off a chain of events with disastrous consequences.
In the coming weeks, Lalami will be reading from and discussing “Secret Son” in different cities and venues throughout the U.S. You can find more details about the events here.
Buy the book and read it. If you have a chance to attend Lalami’s readings and congratulate her on her new book, please do so.
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