The Jasmine Tree: Love in the Time of Revolutions

In Khalid's overly sentimental novel, set in Cairo during the recent Egyptian Revolution, an Arab woman with a tragic past meets an American journalist at a political protest. The two fall in love, but politics, life, and love are never straightforward. From Cairo to Beirut, Khalid's heroine deals with the vicissitudes of Middle Eastern politics and prejudices. Unfortunately, the promising theme of spiritual love quickly fizzles into a repetitive tale of loss. The book features potent images of victimization and interesting philosophical questions about the nature of relationships, but it's hampered by an awkward narrative structure.