Circles of the Blind by Ashraf El-Khamaisy is a profound collection of short stories that plunges into the realms of the absurd and surreal. The book masterfully explores themes of alienation, existential dread, and the metaphorical blindness of individuals trapped in inescapable, repetitive cycles. Each story presents characters caught in grotesque and bizarre situations, unable to perceive the reality of their condition. El-Khamaisy uses a powerful, often unsettling narrative style, blending magical realism with sharp social critique to expose the dark underbelly of modern life and the human psyche, forcing readers to question their own perceptions.