by Rawi Hage
First published 2014
Bassam walks through the rubble-strewn streets of Beirut, where gunfire punctuates daily life and childhood friendships fracture under pressure. He and George grew up together in this war-torn city, but now face an impossible choice. They can remain in Lebanon, where survival often means turning to crime and violence to gain power and resources. Or they can flee into exile, abandoning the only home they have ever known for an uncertain future abroad. Each path demands sacrifice. Staying means embracing the brutality that surrounds them. Leaving means cutting ties with their roots and identity. As the civil war rages on, both young men must decide what kind of future they want to build from the wreckage of their past. Their friendship becomes a casualty of war as they choose different paths forward.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, war, contemporary
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, war
Setting: Beirut, Lebanon
Period: civil-war
ebook · Steerforth Press
Content warnings: violence, war