It seems Egyptian author and Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz got stabbed in the neck for writing this book.
What was so offensive about "Children of Gebelawi"?
When I picked this book, I was hoping to come across the kind of stuff that riles up the zealots and fanatics. Instead of this, it seemed no more offensive than a stretched out narrative of a family patriarch who has a looming presence (just like the cover!) across five generations. It is about 'chiefs' who lord over their respective quarters, rebellious youngsters and murderous siblings.
It seems many folks in the Middle East were offended by the allegorical portrayal of God.
From what I could make out God and religion are not even marginal to the story-line.
So is it a case like "PK" in India where self-appointed guardians of religion went berserk, and seemed quite delighted to find an opportunity to get offended?
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