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In Rabih Alameddine’s new novel, a mother and son share a tiny Beirut apartment

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September 9, 2025

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Raja teaches philosophy to high schoolers and shares an apartment with his 82-year-old mother, Zalfa. Rabih Alameddine explores their relationship – and other forms of intimacy – in his new novel The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother). In today’s episode, the author joins NPR’s Scott Simon for a conversation about Raja’s self-deprecation, Zalfa’s relationship with another older woman, and Alameddine’s mother’s memory loss.

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Zalfa Rabih AlameddineThe True True StoryHis Mother InNPRs Scott SimonNPR Privacy Policy

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In Rabih Alameddine’s new novel, a mother and son share a tiny Beirut apartment · NPR Podcasts · Sentinel