Asad's secret: a novel of Gaza.
Written by Najlaa Attaallah.
Translated by Sawad Hussain.
Translated from Arabic.
Levine Querido, 2026.
Asad lives in Gaza, in a tiny house, on a narrow street
pocked by half-destroyed buildings, in a camp that looks shabby to him and
feels claustrophobic. He walks virtually the same route every day to his summer
job at a printing press, passing the prison that holds his father, for reasons
that have not been fully explained to him. As the oldest son, he feels the
weight of responsibility for his seven brothers, his sisters, and his Ummi, who
wants him to study hard and excel in school, as all mothers do. Moody and
reserved Asad has few friends, and fewer distractions. Thank goodness for Um
Fawzi, a feisty, cigarette-smoking old woman, who's the only one who seems
willing to tell it like it is, sharply enough, and with a biting sense of humor
that snaps him out of his fog sometimes. There's also Houriya, a lovely and
smart girl, who brings him books to read and sometimes prompts him to think
about a future that he can't truly imagine. There seems to be no escaping. But
Asad has a secret, too, a mysterious black bag that holds something important
that he keeps hidden from everyone.
A tiny but powerful book. The book is so far in Asad’s head
that it feels all-consuming. He’s not the easiest character to like.
No comments:
Post a Comment