The sheer length was daunting, but this has rave reviews from people who want just that - to soak themselves in a really long read. A mosaic of many different voices and stories - the most enjoyable part for me was Farid's growing up in Damascus: the street scenes, family life, clubs and cafes. The dark side? Ancient feuds that become ever more poisonous when repression exploits them and informers who threaten prison and torture on a whim.
