KARACHI:
In February, the much-awaited 2025 Worldwide Booker Prize was introduced and to our delight, one of many 13 titles chosen for the listing was The Ebook of Disappearance by Palestinian creator, Ibtisam Azem. At this violent and tumultuous time for the nation’s folks, this choice has shone a needed mild upon the wealthy panorama of Palestinian literature. Listed below are 5 notable works by Palestinian authors that supply profound insights into life within the nation they name dwelling:
‘The Ebook of Disappearance’
To start with the present lighthouse of Palestinian literature, Ibtisam Azem’s The Ebook of Disappearance (2014) teeters between utopia and dystopia. Translated from the unique Arabic by Sinan Antoon final yr, the novel presents a speculative narrative the place, in a single day, all Palestinians in Israel vanish with out a hint. This sudden disappearance plunges Israeli society into chaos, prompting introspection about id, reminiscence, and the intricate ties between the 2 peoples.
The novel, set within the creator’s hometown of Jaffa, alternates between the views of Alaa, a Palestinian man, and his Israeli good friend Ariel, who discovers Alaa’s diary post-disappearance. By means of this imaginative premise married with tight sentences that stream from one to a different with out starting or finish, Azem challenges readers to ponder the visibility and erasure of Palestinian existence. The novel’s progressive strategy and profound themes led to its longlisting for the Worldwide Booker Prize in 2025, with judges lauding it as an “distinctive train in memory-making and psycho-geography.”
Up to now, Azem has revealed two novels in Arabic titled The Sleep Thief (2011) and The Ebook of Disappearance, of which the latter has additionally been translated into German and Italian. And we have now purpose to hope for extra as a result of her first assortment of brief tales, Metropolis of Strangers, is forthcoming in the summertime of this yr.
‘Minor Element’
Adania Shibli’s Minor Element (2017) is a poignant exploration of violence, and the lingering shadows of historical past. The novel is bifurcated into two narratives set a long time aside. The primary, rooted in 1949, particulars a harrowing incident involving Israeli troopers within the Negev Desert, culminating within the assault and homicide of a Bedouin woman. The second narrative, set in present-day Ramallah, follows a younger lady who turns into obsessive about uncovering the reality behind this “minor element” of historical past.
Shibli’s sparse and evocative prose delves into the complexities of private and collective reminiscence, illustrating how previous atrocities proceed to resonate within the current. The novel was longlisted for the Worldwide Booker Prize in 2021, with judges praising its “austerely lovely” narrative that casts mild on ethnic conflicts and cleaning worldwide.
‘Velvet’
Huzama Habayeb’s Velvet (2016) affords an intimate portrayal of life inside the Baqa’a refugee camp in Jordan. The story centres on Hawwa, a talented seamstress who finds solace and id in her craft amidst the camp’s oppressive surroundings. By means of Hawwa’s eyes, readers witness the struggles of Palestinian ladies, their resilience, and the intricate dynamics of affection and custom.
The novel’s title symbolises each the luxurious cloth Hawwa adores and the contrasting harshness of her actuality. Velvet obtained the Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature in 2017, recognised for its cinematic narrative model and deep exploration of the human situation past political narratives.
‘Among the many Almond Bushes’
Among the many Almond Bushes (2004) is a reflective memoir by Hussein Barghouthi, penned in the course of the ultimate levels of his life as he battled terminal sickness. Returning to his native Palestine after years overseas, Barghouthi embarks on a journey by way of the remodeled landscapes of his homeland.
The memoir intertwines private reflections with observations on the socio-political adjustments wrought by occupation, providing a meditative narrative on id, belonging, and the inexorable passage of time. Posthumously revealed in Arabic in 2004 and translated into English in 2022, the work was honoured with the Palestine Ebook Awards in 2023, celebrated for its profound introspection and lyrical prose.
‘Wild Thorns’
Sahar Khalifeh’s Wild Thorns (1976) is a groundbreaking Palestinian novel that gives a uncooked, unflinching have a look at life underneath Israeli occupation. Set within the early Seventies, the novel follows Usama, a younger Palestinian who returns to the West Financial institution after years overseas, anticipating to seek out his folks united in resistance. As an alternative, he discovers a society fractured by survival – some Palestinians are pressured to work in Israeli factories, whereas others have interaction in armed battle.
Considered one of many first feminist Palestinian novels, Wild Thorns additionally foregrounds the roles of girls in resistance, difficult male-dominated narratives of liberation. Khalifeh’s work stays very important as we speak, providing a nuanced, human-centred perspective on occupation and resilience. It has been extensively translated and continues to be a cornerstone of Palestinian literary historical past.