Lebanese Blonde
The story of two Lebanese immigrant cousins who concoct a scheme to import a potent strain of hashish into the United States, using the family's mortuary business as a cover
Description
Lebanese Blonde takes place in 1975-76 at the beginning of Lebanon's sectarian civil war. Set primarily in the Toledo, Ohio, "Little Syria" community, it is the story of two immigrant cousins: Aboodeh, a self-styled entrepreneur; and Samir, his young, reluctant accomplice. Together the two concoct a scheme to import Lebanese Blonde, a potent strain of hashish, into the United States, using the family's mortuary business as a cover. When Teyib, a newly arrived war refugee, stumbles onto their plans, his clumsy efforts to gain acceptance raise suspicion. Who is this mysterious "cousin," and what dangers does his presence pose? Aboodeh and Samir's problems grow still more serious when a shipment goes awry and their links to the war-ravaged homeland are severed. Soon it's not just Aboodeh and Samir's livelihoods and futures that are imperiled, but the stability of the entire family.
Joseph Geha is the author of Through and Through: Toledo Stories (Graywolf 1990), a collection of short stories inspired by his experiences growing up in an émigré Arab American community. He is a Professor Emeritus of the creative writing program at Iowa State University.
Reviews
Winner: Arab American National Museum (AANM) 2013 Arab American Book Award, Fiction section
- AANM Arab American Book Award
"The complexity of character building and plot structure ensures that what could have been an outrageous climax is believable and satisfying....This is a book for all libraries with eager fiction readers."
- Ellen Loughran
—Booklist
News, Reviews, Interviews
Listen: Interview with Joseph Geha | Iowa Public Radio | 2/4/13
Read: Review | Toledo Free Press | 10/26/12
Read: Review | Toledo Blade | 11/4/12
Watch: Q&A with Joseph Geha | 1/21/13