A review by artemisadam
Arabesques by Anton Shammas, Vivian Eden

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

An incredible novel that talks about the trilemma of the Palestinian identity - the Palestinian refugee, the Palestinian in Palestine, and the Palestinian intellectual. The story intertwines a host of identities as the author tries to grapple words to tell his story, and the authority he has to do so. The book is heavily charged with wonderful synaesthesia while the descriptions are so poetic you find yourself immersed into the novel, with all its confusion, complexity, atemporality and dancing. The entire book is an arabesque, while the characters do mental arabesques themselves to come to terms with their story.