‘Grjasnowa’s measured undemonstrative writing style (the book is beautifully translated from German by Katy Derbyshire) is central to the novel’s success... A significant literary and moral success.’
Description
A poignant story of three young adults trying to make a future for themselves in war-torn Damascus
Syria - a country at war. Amal, Hammoudi and Youssef are young and ambitious, the face of modern Syria. But when civil war tears through their homeland, they are left with a horrifying choice: risk death by staying in the country they love, or flee in search of a new life elsewhere?
From one of Germany's most talented literary voices comes this intricately woven story of brutality, loss, and how hope can shine through when darkness feels overwhelming.
Genres
Pages256
Released2019
LanguageEnglish
PublisherOneworld Publications
ISBN9781786074881
SellerSimon & Schuster
About the author(s)
Olga Grjasnowa was born in Baku, Azerbaijan. Her debut novel Der Russe ist einer, der Birken liebt (All Russians Love Birch Trees) was awarded the Klaus-Michael Kühne Prize and the Anna Seghers Prize. City of Jasmine is her third novel. Olga Grjasnowa lives with her family in Berlin.
Reviews
‘There are few authors writing in German as sensuously and vividly as Grjasnowa.’
‘Grjasnowa provides a close-as-skin understanding of what it's like to suffer bombardment, torture, and dislocation while remaining human and hopeful... Highly recommended.’
‘An important and painful book.’
‘Olga Grjasnowa's sentences crack like a whip.’
‘It is wonderful that there are writers like Grjasnowa who can write brilliantly and decisively about the real world.’
‘A dark, tragic story with the resilient light of humanity shining through it... It truly spoke to my soul.’
‘Olga Grjasnowa writes from the nerve center of her generation.’
‘Grajsnowa’s extraordinary novel offers an opportunity to reacquaint ourselves with one of the great tragedies of our time - to remember what that nation once was, why and how the conflict began and what it has led to…Grajsnowa’s measured undemonstrative writing style (the book is beautifully translated from German by Katy Derbyshire) is central to the novel’s success…The reader isn’t patronised or manipulated, and the emotional impact is all the greater. Characters come and go and live and die as the novel heads for its masterly, shattering denouement. A significant literary and moral success.’
‘A truly gifted writer...[who] has a very bright future ahead of her.’
