Max rewinds and replays the life dozens of times, forward then backward. The flower wakes with a jerk of animation. The stem unrolls, thickening with fluid, hardening, digging roots back down into the soil and raising its heavy head. The flower fills with color, the neck arching back, its nose in the air. It rounds its posture into a crescent and thrusts out its jaw. Crouching and blanching into a pale green, it closes into pre-nascent sleep. Playing it over and over, he watches it open and die, close and live, bowing up and down like a gracious opera singer. He can’t help but marvel at the love and time and admiration that went into one short life. He feels it. He feels it skipping across his skin. It chills, pierces, aches, lifts—and then begins to let him go.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I have looked forward to writing this part well before finalizing the novel. I’m grateful to have so many people to thank. Firstly, I am indebted to the time and support of the Michener Center for Writers. Without which this book wouldn’t have been remotely possible, and without which I wouldn’t have had generosity and encouragement—lifelines to this young writer––redefined for me by treasured mentors, particularly Elizabeth McCracken, Jim Magnuson, Michael Adams, visiting writer Naomi Shihab Nye and alumnus Philipp Meyer, who never once spoke of if this book would be published but always when.
I’m obliged to both my agent, the faithful Ryan D. Harbage, and to my scrupulous and kind editor, Lea Beresford, for heroically standing by my work. There’s nothing quite like strangers who fight for one of your inventions.
The following people actually volunteered (!) to read sections––if not all––of early, and very shaky, drafts and returned to me with invaluable feedback and wisdom: Abe Koogler, Karan Mahajan, Corey Miller, Taylor Huchison, Eamon Aloyo, Greg Koehler, Thomas Kim, and my inspiriting sister, Kenza.
I’m also deeply beholden to the following for their insightful conversations that directly informed the world of this novel (most of whom couldn’t have known it at the time): Catherine Geyre Dimechkie, Mrs. Nada Maaluf of al-Nada building, Hussein Balshi, Nadya Kaddoura, Talal Dimechkie, Riad Dimechkie, Rana Jabbour, Anthony Browne, Cory Gustason, Tiffani Allen, and Sahand Arshadmansab.
Most of all, I thank the woman and brilliance who lets me keep my orbit around her every day, Nana Afua Mensah.
A NOTE ON THE AUTHOR
Karim Dimechkie was a Michener fellow. Before that, he taught English in Paris. This is his first novel. He lives in New York City.
Bloomsbury USA
An imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
1385 Broadway 50 Bedford Square
New York London
NY 10018 WC1B 3DP
USA UK
www.bloomsbury.com
BLOOMSBURY and the Diana logo are trademarks of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
First published 2015
This electronic edition published in May 2015
© Karim Dimechkie, 2015
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publishers.
No responsibility for loss caused to any individual or organization acting on or refraining from action as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by Bloomsbury or the author.
ISBN: HB: 978-1-63286-058-3
PB: 978-1-63286-060-6
ePub: 978-1-63286-059-0
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
Lifted by the great nothing / Karim Dimechkie.
pages cm
ISBN 978-1-63286-058-3 (hardcover) – ISBN 978-1-63286-060-6 (paperback) – ISBN 9978-1-63286-059-0 (ebook)
1. Lebanese Americans—Fiction. 2. Fathers and sons—Fiction. 3. Family secrets—Fiction. 4. Lebanon—History—Civil War, 1975–1990—Fiction. I. Title. PS3604.I4647L64 2015
813′.6—dc23
2014033821
To find out more about our authors and books visit www.bloomsbury.com. Here you will find extracts, author interviews, details of forthcoming events and the option to sign up for our newsletters.
Lifted by the Great Nothing: A Novel Page 26