I was looking for a book that was written about occupation Iraq and I found this one. It is an amazing gem of stories and I would recommend it to anyone--even if they are not interested in the Middle East. Most of the stories were merely good; yet all of them managed to paint a haunting landscape that lingers even after the book is closed. This ability to paint the absurd and violent was masterful and revealing of the psychology of any peoples who have been through such trauma. Read this book if you get the chance.