A Pure Heart

August 19, 2019
Hassib’s impressive second novel (after In the Language of Miracles) is a fascinating depiction of sisters Rose and Gameela, their shared heritage, and the country that ultimately divides them. Six years after Rose relocates from her native Egypt to New York, she receives news that 28-year-old Gameela has been killed. Though her parents think Gameela’s death is accidental, Rose believes there must be a connection between it and Saaber, the young suicide bomber Rose’s husband Mark had written about in an article for the New York Times. Back in New York after the funeral, Rose tries to focus on her postdoctoral fellowship at the Met, yet she is immersed in Egypt’s art and culture as she works on an exhibit featuring ancient Egyptian relics. Rose investigates Gameela’s life, trying to piece together the chain of events leading up to her death. In grief, she reflects on how the sisters felt a chasm develop between them, starting with Gameela’s desire to wear a headscarf, which surprised her liberal family. Also, Gameela initially doesn’t approve of Mark, though he converts to Islam to marry Rose. Gameela becomes involved in politics after the beginning of the Arab Spring, while all Rose can do is watch from afar. Finally, Rose discovers secrets her sister kept until her death. Hassib seamlessly transports the reader from one culture to another, eloquently showcasing the triumphs, heartaches, and beliefs shared by the protagonists. Agent: Lynn Nesbit, Janklow & Nesbit Associates.

You can hear the compassion in narrator Ariana Delawari's voice as she tells the story of Rose and Gameela--Egyptian sisters who choose different paths that determine one's life and the other's death. When Gameela is killed by a suicide bomber in Cairo not long after Egypt's revolution, Rose is left reeling with guilt and unanswered questions about Gameela's life after Rose left for New York City to pursue her doctorate in Egyptology. Delawari seamlessly provides the many character voices, all distinct without being exaggerated, immersing the listener in conversations in a way that sounds authentic and natural.. She also deftly handles the many Egyptian names. A beautiful, emotional listen. R.K.H. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine