A mask the color of the sky
Winner of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction A bold, psychologically rich novel of identity, exile, and resistance from one of Palestine's most vital literary voices--written entirely from behind bars. Nur, a young Palestinian refugee from a camp near Ramallah, is often mistaken for an Ashke...
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| Format: | Books Print Book |
| Language: | English Arabic |
| Published: |
New York :
Europa editions,
2026.
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| Summary: | Winner of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction A bold, psychologically rich novel of identity, exile, and resistance from one of Palestine's most vital literary voices--written entirely from behind bars. Nur, a young Palestinian refugee from a camp near Ramallah, is often mistaken for an Ashkenazi Jew. Fluent in Hebrew and with a degree in archaeology, he dreams of freedom beyond the fences of the camp--and of writing a novel about Mary Magdalene based on the Gnostic Gospels. When he discovers an Israeli ID card in the pocket of a secondhand coat, he assumes a false identity and is hired for an archaeological dig near Megiddo. Passing as an Israeli, he moves through a world previously off-limits, gaining insight into the lives and beliefs of those he's been taught to see as enemies. But as Nur's borrowed identity deepens, so does the rift within: between Nur, the Palestinian, and "Ur," the Israeli. By exploring this internal conflict, unfolding alongside friendships and love affairs, Bassem Khandaqji offers a meditation on the personal toll of occupation and the elusive desire to belong somewhere--fully, honestly, and without fear. |
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| Physical Description: | 186 pages ; 21 cm |
| ISBN: | 9798889661702 |
| Author Notes: | Addie Leak is a literary translator and editor. She translates from French, Arabic, and Spanish. Her work has appeared in publications such as Asymptote , Words Without Borders , and The Common. |
