sign in| help
Search advanced search
 
Books
Search:
x dismiss this message

Did you know you can edit this page?

De Niro's Game
  • Rated 0 stars
Read De Niro's Game

De Niro's Game (2006) (edit title/settings)

by Rawi Hage (Author) (edit contributors)

Share this book on:
see page history

Description edit see section history

Bassam and George are childhood best friends who have grown to adulthood in war-torn Beirut, Lebanon. Now they must choose their futures: to stay in the city and amass power by joining the corrupt militia: or to become exiles abroad, alienated from the only existance they have even... read more

Summary edit see section history

De Niro's Game is a book about war, love, and friendship. Bassam and George, two long time friends around age seventeen, live in Beirut, a poor war struck town. The two young men have very different ideas for their future. Bassam wants to flee to Roma, Paris, or even New York with his... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

De Niro's Game is a book about war, love, and friendship. Bassam and George, two long time friends around age seventeen, live in Beirut, a poor war struck town. The two young men have very different ideas for their future. Bassam wants to flee to Roma, Paris, or even New York with his secret girlfriend Rana. George wants to join the Militia. Though they both have very different ideas, they both need money. They start to play slots, and use credits to cheat the slots. George, otherwise known as De Niro, came up with this "game". They run into trouble when someone finds out and threatens them. As they strike a deal with the man, Bassam and George keep getting into trouble. They vandalize, steal, and get into fights when blinded by alcohol. There seems to be no end to this, until a bomb struck Bassam's house, killing his mother. Bassam sunk into a depression, letting no one near him. It assured him that he was doing the right thing in running away. Because the slots were no longer an option, George, now in the militia, gives Bassam a job in delivering counterfeit Jack Daniel's bottles to customers. He takes the job and gets caught up in drug dealing. During these weeks, Bassam discovers that George and Rana have been seeing each other. She sees more in George than in Bassam. When he goes to confront George, he is taken away to a prison, accused of murder. He tries to claim that he is innocent, but he is beaten for being a drug dealer. Once Georges aunt comes for him, it is clear that Bassam needs to leave. On his way to the docks, he meets George. George explains what he has seen over the months, and offers Bassam a way to escape. The play a deadly game of Russian Roulette. Bassam covers up Georges body, and heads for Paris. In Paris, he meets Rhea, George's half sister. They talk about George, and she gives Bassam a place to stay. Over the next couple of days, Bassam knows he needs to leave. He was tricked however, and given a fake passport that would get him arrested. Luckily, he found out before. He decided to tell Rhea the truth about what happened to George, and then leaves for Rome.

Characters/People edit see section history

Show all 21 characters
Popular Covers

Loading covers…

Choose your book’s cover

Quotes edit see section history

  • “Ten thousand bombs had landed, and I was waiting for George. Ten thousand bombs had landed on Beirut, that crowded city, and I was lying on a blue sofa covered with white sheets to protect it from dust and dirty feet. It is time to leave, I was thinking to myself.”
    Bassam
  • Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers
  • Death does not come to you when you face it; death is full of treachery, a coward who only notices the feeble and strikes the blind.
    Highlighted by 5 Kindle customers
  • down to that dark place because I have always hated the underground and the little devils who dwell there, who made me lust for her skinny
    Highlighted by 4 Kindle customers
  • The rich were leaving for France and letting their dogs roam loose on the streets: orphan dogs, expensive dogs, potty-trained dogs, dogs with French names and red bowties, fluffy dogs, well-bred dogs, china dogs, genetically modified dogs, and incestuous dogs that clung to one another in packs, covered the streets in tens, and gathered under the command of a charismatic three-legged mutt.
    Highlighted by 3 Kindle customers
  • I walked above humans hidden in shelters like colonies of rats beneath the soil.
    Highlighted by 3 Kindle customers
  • TEN THOUSAND BOMBS HAD FALLEN AND I WAS WAITING for death to come and scoop its daily share from a bowl of limbs and blood.
    Highlighted by 3 Kindle customers
  • TEN THOUSAND BOMBS had dropped like marbles on the kitchen floor and my mother was still cooking. My
    Highlighted by 3 Kindle customers

Setting & Locations edit see section history

This novel took place primarily in Beirut, Lebanon during the Lebanese civil war (which lasted from 1975-1990). The last section of the novel follows the protagonist to Paris.

First Sentence edit see section history

Ten thousand bombs had landed, and I was waiting for George.

Table of Contents edit see section history

Roma
Beirut
Paris

Series & Lists edit see section history

This book is in Guardian 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read. (authoritative list)
This is book 2008 of 15 in International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award winners. (community list)

Preceded by Out Stealing Horses, and followed by Man Gone Down.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Rawi Hage (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Anansi.
Country: Canada
Publication Date: 2006
ISBN: 0887841961
Page Count: 282

Awards edit see section history

We’re hiding the errata, movie connections, books that influenced this book, books influenced by this book, books that cite this book and books cited by this book sections. If you would like to add content to them, you must first make them visible.

© 2006-2012 Shelfari | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy

Close