The Angel of History

Remembering. It was a pleasure for me to begin the year with a very unusual novel by Rabih Alameddine titled, The Angel of History. Protagonist Jacob has arrived at a mental health clinic and is awaiting admission. His mind is flooded by memories of his life, from his childhood growing up in a whorehouse in which his teenage mother was a prostitute, to life with a wealthy father, to memories of life with his deceased lover. He remembers his poetry which he can no longer write, and Alameddine presents two characters active in Jacob’s mind: Satan and Death, and their narratives are often hilarious. Jacob also recalls the fourteen saints who have protected him throughout his life. All this remembering takes place on a single night, and thanks to Alameddine’s fine writing, the night reveals great insight into human nature and the ways in which the past is always present. Readers who enjoy literary fiction are those most likely to enjoy reading this novel. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The Angel of History from amazon.com.