Where the Wind Calls Home
Where the Wind Calls Home by Samar Yazbek is a poignant exploration of the Syrian civil war, published by World Editions on February 6, 2024. This 184-page novel follows nineteen-year-old soldier Ali, who grapples with the aftermath of a bombing at his patrol station in the Lattakia mountains. As he lies beneath a tree, Ali reflects on his life and the cultural heritage of his traditional Alawite village, revealing both the struggles and the beauty inherent in his experiences.
Readers will find a narrative rich with vignettes that delve into Ali’s memories, illuminating the complexities of his identity and the impact of war on his community. The book intricately weaves themes of cultural heritage and the Alawite faith, exploring their connections to nature and the elements. Through Yazbek’s poetic prose, the story captures the essence of life, hope, and love amidst the backdrop of conflict, inviting readers to engage with the profound realities faced by those affected by war.
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2024 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST
“The potent latest from Yazbek (Planet of Clay) weighs the consequences of the Syrian civil war after a 19-year-old soldier, Ali, survives his patrol station’s 2013 bombing in the Lattakia mountains. This slim novel packs a punch.”–Publishers Weekly
Ali, a nineteen-year-old soldier in the Syrian army, lies on the ground beneath a tree. He sees a body being lowered into a hole–is this his funeral? There was that sudden explosion, wasn’t there … While trying to understand the extend of the damage, Ali works his way closer to the tree. His ultimate desire is to fly up to one of its branches, to safety. Through rich vignettes of Ali’s memories, we uncover the hardships of his traditional Syrian Alawite village, but also the richness and beauty of its cultural and religious heritage. Yazbek here explores the secrets of the Alawite faith and its relationship to nature and the elements in a tight poetic novel dense with life and hope and love.
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