The End Of Sleep by Rowan Somerville
In this hypnotic and deeply funny tale of modern-day Cairo, Fin, an Irish journalist with little more than a rumpled linen suit to his name, wakes at dawn with a fierce hangover and an excruciating bruise on his thigh. As the first prayer call of the day sounds over the ancient city, Fin stumbles into an exotic adventure that will take him to the very edge of his courage, his endurance and his sense of self. He seeks a story - a story about treasure - and to find it, he must first find his friend Farouk,the mercurial teller of tales, who alone knows what Fin needs to hear. Fuelled by whisky and a thousand glasses of tea Fin pursues his quest under the shadow of the Great Pyramid, through crowded kebab shops and into the great emptiness of the desert itself. Set against the background of a magnificently crumbling city, The End of Sleep is an incantatory tale about a man desperately seeking meaning. It is also a riotous love letter to Arab culture, its rich history, humour, food and friendship and above all to the transformative power of storytelling.
"Somerville's novel is a raucous, brilliantly funny ride through Arab culture and the colourful streets of Cairo"SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY "Brimming with a love of Arab culture, this madcap tale follows Cairo-based Fin as he searches for his friend, Farouk, a quest that takes him through gallons of whisky, tea and Nile water!" SAINSBURY'S MAGAZINE "A heady adventure tale" The Shortlist "this freewheeling novel is a love letter from one happily shambolic country to another" -- Max Davidson Mail on Sunday "there are some glorious passages of description" -- Kamila Shamsie Daily Telegraph Everything about Somerville's debut made me hungry: hungry to visit Cairo, but above all hungry for whatever this author chooses to serve up next" -- Beth Jones Sunday Telegraph A comic mystery, The End of Sleep is a brisk page-turner from Rowan Somerville. GQ
Rowan Somerville was born in the West End of London in 1966. He was educated by Jesuits and took an honours degree in Literature from the University of Edinburgh. He has worked in film, televison and radio and he now lives in Donegal, Ireland. The End of Sleep is his first novel.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780297853688 |
| ISBN 10 | 0297853686 |
| Title | The End Of Sleep |
| Author | Rowan Somerville |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Orion Publishing Co |
| Year published | 2008-03-27 |
| Number of pages | 256 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |