Danza orientale
Three Egyptian young men (Husein, Yasir and Ibrahim, the narrator) move to London looking for a brighter future. They all come from the same village and are mostly strangers to each other, but in London their lives cross. Other than wanting the same woman, they also sided with the radical Islamists and so, when terrorists set off bombs in the underground, they become suspects and everything goes south.
This literary thriller is set in a period between the '90s and 2005. The areas of London are described well and relate to the emotional and mental state of the characters. It's a very interesting novel because it also explains the differences between the Muslim and Christian culture, and Ibrahim shares his experience in dealing with relationships and work in a place that's completely different from his country of origin, so we realise all haracters feel lonely in London, despite they try to makje the best of it. The book also shows the contrast between the jihadist and the MI5 point of view.
Through their adventures, loves and human tragedies, Al-Berry gives us a page-turning spy story, where the MI5 and the Islamic terrorist groups face each other. The style is quite original, enthralling, moving and at times funny. Al Berry is a great literary writer with a simple and sophisticated touch at the same time.
