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Hedy Habra. Flying Carpets: Short Stories. Northampton, Massachusetts. Interlink. 2013. isbn 9781566569576
Hedy Habra's collection of short sto- ries is divided into four sections. The first two consist of nine delicately observed tales set in Egypt-against a lightly sketched background of Farouk, then Nasser-and Lebanon. Perhaps the most accomplished are "Mariam" and "Distances." Although devoid of explicit politicking, "Mar- iam" movingly portrays the life of a domestic drudge in a privileged, west- ernized family. An illiterate orphan, patronized and taken advantage of, she gives her life and strength to devoted service, including caring for the spoiled children. The unifying themes...