Title: Lebanese blonde
Description: Lebanese Blonde takes place in 1975–76 at the beginning of Lebanon’s sectarian civil war. Set primarily in Toledo, Ohio’s “Little Syria” community, it is the story of two immigrant cousins: Aboodeh, a self-styled entrepreneur, who is determined to make his fortune no matter the means; and Samir, his young, reluc- tant accomplice. Together the two concoct a scheme to import Lebanese Blonde, a potent strain of hashish, into the U.S.,
using the family’s mortuary business as a cover.
When Teyib, a newly arrived war refugee, stumbles into their plans, his clumsy efforts to gain acceptance raise suspicion. Who is this mysterious “cousin,” and what dangers does his presence pose? The cousins’ problems grow still more serious as a ship- ment goes awry and their links to the war-ravaged homeland are severed. Soon it’s not just Aboodeh and Samir’s futures that are imperiled, but the stability of the entire family.
Subjects: Arab Americans, drugs, smuggling, family ties, Toledo, Ohio, American literature
Places: Beirut, Toledo, Detroit
Time periods: 1975-76