Waiting for Beirut
In 1950s Connecticut, George has high hopes for the future when he leaves his Lebanese immigrant family’s home to study surgery at Georgetown University. However, after two years he is forced to drop out because of his father’s health, leaving his education and Jacob, a journalism student he’d begun to fall in love with, behind. At home, the closeted George is constantly pressured to marry a woman by his religious (specifically, Maronite Christian) family. After his father’s death, he courts Eleanor and continues to manage the family store. They marry, despite his internal conflict. He continues to struggle with his desire for men during his honeymoon to Beirut, Lebanon, where he falls in love with a Greek man, Andros.
The relationship between George and Andros does not feel plausible at all. It is too sudden. The portrayal of George’s sexuality in general feels false and rooted in outdated, arguably offensive clichés. This is jarring because his relationship with his family and community is plausible and well-written. The ending is also unsatisfying and anticlimatic, which disappointed me because it starts out so strong.
One thing I enjoyed was the use of Arabic phrases and words, occasionally translated for the benefit of readers who lack knowledge of the language. References to Lebanese culture—most especially literature and food—help provide a strong sense of the characters’ identity and background. Luscious descriptions of dishes help bring the story to life. While reading, I was instantly transported to the lively world of the book’s neighborhood and its colorful, human characters. These supporting characters seem tangible and real, like the kind of half-remembered people that populated one’s own childhood. I wish the author had handled the love story with the same sensitivity and nuance.
