Alwan will meet his French readers in the Assises Internationales du Roman, in Lyon, on May 28th, 2015. The meeting will take place at the Institut de Formation aux Soins Infirmiers (IFIS) at the “Centre hospitalier Saint-Joseph Saint Luc”, 18:30-20:30.

An interview conducted by Marie-Christine Blais, for La Presse, published in April 10th.
Your narrator, Ghaleb, draws continually striking parallels between beavers he discovered in Oregon and his family who lives in Riyadh. How did you get this idea?
I grew up in Saudi Arabia, where beavers do not exist. My knowledge on the subject was therefore superficial, and I was not interested in it, anyway! It was when I moved to Portland [Oregon], in 2006, to finish my master that I really got to know this animal.

To listen to the program, click on this link.
 

French Magazine “Lui” offers a brief review of Alwan’s Beavers, February
A rich Saudi man, overwhelmed by his family of morons and disenchanted mistress, leaves for America, the best place to host his melancholy. On a riverbed in Oregon, he meets a beaver, and seeks to find his way between contemplation, alcohol and personal development meetings. A rare and brilliant take on the midlife crisis – Arab style.
French original below
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Un riche Saoudien accablé par sa famille de débiles et sa maîtresse désabusée part pour l’Amérique, pays plus propre à accueillir son …

Mohamad Hasan Alwan’s novel “Beavers” (Al Qondos, Dar al saqi) was recently published in France by le Seuil.

Mohammad Hasan Alwan’s book Beavers is shortlisted for the International Prize of Arabic Fiction, also known as the Arab Booker!