Road to Chlifa

As Section Two begins, the narrative style changes from first-person to third-person, and introduces the reader to Karim’s life in Lebanon in 1989. We learn that he has no memory of Lebanon before it descended into warfare, having grown up in a city cut in two by the “Green Line,” which, from 1975 to 1990, divided Christians in the east from Muslims in the west.

While Karim’s parents and brothers are visiting his grandmother in Montreal, Karim stays behind to take his baccalaureate exam, not knowing that the school will soon close, as the violence escalates. Karim and Béchir spend their time studying, as well as discussing girls—especially Nada Tabbara, whom Karim has thought about obsessively since the previous summer. After days of staying indoors during bombings, Karim and Béchir venture to Nada’s house on the day of Karim’s 17th birthday. Karim cannot be alone with her because her parents are strict, but he does receive a birthday kiss goodbye.

Their visits to Nada continue until Béchir’s family leaves for Paris. Then, walking to Nada’s on his own, Karim discovers her building blown up, “nothing but a smashed skeleton” (47).