From the Bookshelf of Atlas reads…

The Map of Salt and Stars

Zeyn Joukhadar

Start date: March 15, 2019

Finish date: April 15, 2019

Why we're reading this: As this month' topic is Syria,The Map of Salt and Stars falls under the fiction section. Going in blind a…more
[close] As this month' topic is Syria,The Map of Salt and Stars falls under the fiction section. Going in blind as we have not read it ourselves.

As for why we are reading this: Protagonist is female, the story takes place in Syria and it is a contemporary novel set during the beginning of the Syrian war.

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May 27, 2019 Rasmiya rated it it was amazing

This is one of the examples when a novel appeals both to the brain and the heart.

First of all, i found the choice of a plot to be smart: being a historical fiction per se, it consists of two stories, one of which is presented as a 'real' story of Nour, happening in present time Syria, and the other - a 'fictitious' story of Rawiya, which takes place hundreds of years ago. On closer inspection, however, both the 'real' and 'fictitious' story are based on a mix of real facts and imagination. What This is one of the examples when a novel appeals both to the brain and the heart.

First of all, i found the choice of a plot to be smart: being a historical fiction per se, it consists of two stories, one of which is presented as a 'real' story of Nour, happening in present time Syria, and the other - a 'fictitious' story of Rawiya, which takes place hundreds of years ago. On closer inspection, however, both the 'real' and 'fictitious' story are based on a mix of real facts and imagination. What ties the two stories together (besides the story of Rawiya's being told to Nour by her father) is the author's symbolism around maps, stars and salt. Again, this symbolism not only helps to connect the two stories together, but it is only through the knot of the two stories, the author manages to make certain points about the power of stories, one's search for himself/herself, human treasures and losses, changing borders, or impact of wars.

Child narrators in adult fiction is always a gamble. On the one hand, giving a key role to a youngster requires an adult author to think like a child and pass the reflections as genuine. On the other hand, if done effectively, child narrators, as the ones not restricted by confines of imposed knowledge, bring an interesting and fresh perspective. I think the author managed to pull this off: Zeyn Joukhadar's Nour is a very reflective and curious child, yet mature enough to hold the attention of an adult reader.

When I read the first novel of a new author, I tend to pay attention to the kind of literary devices they use to appeal to the senses of the reader, when describing objects or ideals. What attracted me in this work is the author's choice of imagery and similes. It shows the author perceiving things differently from any other author I've read so far, this being cased by synaesthesia. As I also tend to perceive letters or numbers in colours or attribute taste and smell to objects, I could easily connect with her descriptions.

Though the novel makes use of real stories of struggles of Syrian refugees, those are mostly generalised rather than based on personal experience or attributed to any individual. That said, this does not take away from the power of the novel to stir empathy. And finally, elements drawn from the Arabian Nights as well as those of magical realism add another interesting twist. ...more

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Jun 08, 2019 Dania F rated it really liked it

Shelves: atlas-reads

This one is a difficult book to review and score. The synapsis sounded intriguing. And them I was just really disappointed by the first 30 to 40% of the book. It was certainly beautifully written and magically crafted. It gave a beautiful window into both civil war syria and the refugees plight as well as historical Middle Eastern lore. It draws on mahical realism, Arabian mythology and Rafik Schamiesque storytelling. But I had to force myself to continue and just wasn't gripped by the book as I ...more

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