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February 12, 2026
The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother) by Rabih Alameddine review
Spanning eras of conflict and Covid in Lebanon, this irresistible queer coming-of-age tale explores what it means to be truly free
TL;DR
- The novel's protagonist is Raja, a 63-year-old gay philosophy teacher and drag entertainer living in Beirut.
- The narrative spans various periods in Lebanese history, including the civil war, the Covid pandemic, a banking crisis, and the 2020 Beirut port explosion.
- Despite dealing with heavy themes like trauma and conflict, the book is characterized by its buoyant, camp, and often comedic tone.
- Key relationships include Raja's with his mother, Zalfa, and his past lover, Mansour, as well as his interactions with Madame Taweel.
- A significant part of the story details Raja's traumatic captivity by a militiaman named Boodie during the civil war, exploring complex feelings of shame, joy, powerlessness, and desire.
- The novel concludes with Raja rejecting the label of trauma and the idea of forgiveness, emphasizing the freedom to define the meaning of past events.
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