The Crocodiles: A Novel

The Crocodiles was a secret poetry group founded by three friends: Nayf, Paulo, and our narrator, nicknamed Gear Head. Set in Cairo, during the years of 1997-2001, the novel gives us an in-depth look at the friendship between these three poetry enthusiasts, and how it intertwines with their romantic relationships.

It took me some time to become engaged by this novel and at times I felt that while the language was pretty, it was also difficult to read and comprehend; for that reason, The Crocodiles will probably require a couple of re-reads from me before really scratching the surface of its meaning. It’s not in traditional narrative format, and readers who appreciate something different with an emphasis on stylistic writing will enjoy this. Ultimately, The Crocodiles won me over with its focus on individual characters, the way it ties in fiction to important events in history, and the references to Allen Ginsberg; the overarching theme of the lion from Ginsberg’s poem and how it related to the three poets is well done.