The Last Night of a Damned Soul

by Slimane Benaïssa

Chapter 1 (noon prayer)
The story opens with the main character, Raouf, on his way to celebrate the Muslim feast of the Sacrifice Eid-al Adha with a fellow computer designer named Athmane. An only child, Raouf was raised by immigrant parents (Egyptian father and Lebanese mother) well-educated scientists, to become an American. Stunned by the recent and sudden death of his father, Raouf experiences a deep void in his existence. Living with his Protestant...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802117805
• ISBN13: 9780802117809
• Release Date: August 2004
• Publisher: Grove Press
• Length: 258 Pages
• Weight: 0.94 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Twisting Religous Convictions to Glorify Death/Martyrdom

This book is frightening in its ability to present how a rather normal individual of a Muslim background, born and educated in the USA, could become susceptible and vulnerable to the "culture of death" as taught by Islamic extremists. The book was originaly written in French and is a translation into English. It is a deep and complex book fraught with personal anguish and emotional tension ... Raouf is the only son of an Egyptian father and Lebanese mother, both highy educated and successful American immigrants of Muslim background. He examines the purpose of his life related to his religious awakening within the framework of the most painful experience of his life, the death of his father. The emotional turmoil of this young computer engineer is the prelude to his gradual transformation into an Islamic extremist. He does at times have reservations, questions, and conflicts which are examined and analyzed through the dark cloud of his personal tragedy ... when life experiences, that is reality contradicts the teachings... his source of inspiration is a Muslim friend whose answer to most problems is to quote the Koran, a Hadith, or some portion of a sermon by a Mullah which consistently ties any conflict into a "submisson to G-d" response, most of which is associated with tolerating pain and realizing the Here and Now is unimportant and the Hereafter is what matters the most, when one attains the rewards of suffering in this life as promised for those who follow the teachings of Islam. The manipulation of this vulnerable man ... to accept a role to which he succombed is worth reading. It is a true education to see how religion is used for political ends by an extremist group. The most important literary device or feature of this book is the use of quotations from the Koran and Hadiths which can make it a difficult reading experience . However, the reader will more fully appreciate the complex nature of the subject matter and *how* this literary device is effective when finished reading the book. In the end, most readers will view the recitation of different verses and suras as a device to create a hypnotic effect on the vulnerable Raouf, it can be viewed as the call to awakening of the young man. In this case, it has the same effect as the call to prayer five times a day when facing Mecca. This book would definitely have a stronger appeal if it were made into a film. Most readers will need to be patient ... to understand the beauty of the writing which reveals the genuine talents of this author. This book is a monumental literary achievement toward understanding the complex and difficult world in which we live. Erika Borsos (erikab93)