Days of Love (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798316914043)

At its core, Days of Love is an exploration of seven different forms of love. Traditionally, the word 'ishq' in Arabic, or passion is understood as an intense romantic love between a man and a woman. However, I sought to break free from this narrow definition by delving into seven distinct manifestations of Love, each unfolding across seven chapters-seven "days."
The stories are not arranged chronologically according to their dates, but rather than in a sequential timeline by the seven days of the week, emphasizing that the true protagonist is not a person, but rather "love" itself in its many forms. Furthermore, I structured the novel according to the days of the week on which these events took place, reaffirming that love exists in many forms beyond that between a man and a woman.
The novel opens with the story of Nabil on Sunday, January 15, 1950-a young man deeply enamored with himself. In modern psychological terms, he is a narcissist, shaped by a childhood in a large family where parental attention was divided among his many siblings. To stand out, he crafted himself into a charming, exceptional figure, ultimately falling in love with his own reflection. Monday, February 14, 1983 marks the story of his son Nader, 33 years later. Then comes the third, fourth, fifth and sixth days denoting different stories of love interwoven around the characters introduced at different chapters, though not in the expected sequential order.
The novel concludes with the story of Nabil's granddaughter, Hira, on Saturday, March 24, 2019-a young woman who travels from America to Cairo in search of her roots and discovers an overwhelming love for her grandmother.
Across these seven days, the novel unfolds a tapestry of love stories:
A man's love for God. An artist's love for his music. A humble servant girl's love for a famous celebrity. And, of course, romantic love between men and women, which emerges through two or three different stories.
Despite these shifts in time and place, I was careful to ensure that the transitions remain seamless for the reader, maintaining coherence among the novel's characters and events. The narrative gently leads the reader through these relationships, fostering a sense of familiarity with each character.
The novel explores the story of Nabil, who is so preoccupied with his own self-love that he neglects to pursue Bahira, the woman who adores him. He ultimately marries her, but only to please his mother. The narrative then follows his friend, Baligh Hamdi, who will go on to become a renowned musician. Then Nabil's brother Kamal, who falls in love with Rosa but ends up marrying a woman he had never met before-a friend of his sister's. Meanwhile, their eldest brother, Fouad, a doctor devoted to humanity, eventually becomes a priest out of his fervent Love for service.
Through these intertwined lives, the novel traces the myriad expressions of love. Yet, beyond all the characters and their personal journeys, the true protagonist-the silent, ever-present force-is Love itself.

Author: Sherif Meleka
ISBN-13: 9798316914043
Publisher: Independently Published
Language: English
Published: 04/06/2025
Pages: 176
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.54lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.41d