Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read and review this ARC. Full review to be found on Goodreads and on my website.

I was a big fan of Hage's DeNiro's Game and had high hopes for his new release. While conceptually it was super intriguing, Hage doesn't execute it as well as I had hoped.

Following Pavlov, a son of a dead undertaker who serviced the marginalized (homosexuals, atheists, sexual deviants) who were unable to receive proper burials in the midst of civil war Lebanon, we are introduced to various characters whose lifestyles preclude them from acceptance among more conservative forces in society. Their stories are compelling and tragic but quickly become repetitive and it is confusing as to what purpose each new character has to Pavlov's plot. The story bogs down and meanders in the middle parts as Hage tries to figure out how Pavlov's story will find conclusion and although it eventually finds its paths, by the time it does we have lost some interest, far from the intrigue we first had.

Hage's writing is nonetheless beautiful and captures the mood and atmosphere of a war torn Lebanon at the end of the 1970s. However, at times he appears to try too hard, forcing ornate devices that do not work as well for the reader as I am sure Hage hopes (Pavlov's obsession with Greek mythology feels unnecessary and too forced for example). So while this novel is worth picking up, the lack of cohesion lets the book down at the end and made me feel that this was more of a draft than a finished work.

Alas

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is set in Beirut in the 1970’s, a time when war was raging and people were being killed on a regular basis. The main character, Pavlov, is the son and nephew of undertakers whose father was a member of the title society. From his father, Pavlov learned about the society as well as a secret place his father had for cremations and radical burial rites.
When his father is killed, Pavlov’s encounters with his family grow. His sister arrives to claim most of what can be moved in the house. His uncle undertakers attempt to get possession of his father’s hearse, but Pavlov has other plans for that. And finally, Pavlov is also recruited by the society to carry on the tradition. Although his favourite activity appears to be standing by his window and watching burial processions go by from the church to the cemetery, Pavlov does as he has been asked and encounters some very interesting characters and plot twists along the way.
This novel is unusual and dark but I found myself drawn into the story so I continued to read. Some of the scenarios seemed highly unlikely but the story flowed around corners and bends to its conclusion. Even there the finality is brought forward with an epilogue that keeps the story going. Overall, I enjoyed the journey!

This is a strange and dark book. First book I have read from Rawi.
The book follows Pavlov who is the son of an undertaker. When his father dies he is approached by members of a secret society who need his services to arrange secret burials for those who have been denied it for religious or family reasons. Pavlov agrees to take on the work his father once did. This book takes place in Beirut in the 1970's during the Civil War so death is a predominate subject throughout the book.
I enjoyed the strange cast of characters who come in and out of the book as Pavlov meets different members from the society. Even though I like my books dark this one took some strange twists that I just couldn't fully get behind. At times I wasn't fully sure what I was reading but I just wanted to keep reading! I will be interested to look into this authors other work.

The description of this book seemed so promising – it’s a story about the son of an undertaker, who after his father’s death, is approached by the mysterious Hellfire Society, an anti-religious sect that arranges burials for those who have been denied them. I was immediately intrigued and the first few chapters drew me in, but then the book lost me completely. I have no idea what I just finished reading...

Several years ago, I read Hage’s novel, Cockroach, for an English assignment. I spent days working to understand it, and I ended up quite enjoying it. But I just don’t have the time or energy to do that with this book. It’s a bit too bizarre and abstract for me to understand on the surface level, and it’s obvious to me that the underlying messages in this book went over my head.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf (Penguin Random House Canada) for providing me with an ARC of Beirut Hellfire Society, in exchange for an honest review.

I did not read this book as the file did not work correctly either on my e-reader or my laptop computer. Maybe the file is too large.