“Here the world comes to you in a way it’s never come to you before.” Die Welt (Berlin)
Description
A poignant story of three young adults trying to make a future for themselves in war-torn Damascus
When Hammoudi, a young surgeon based in Paris, returns to Syria to renew his passport, he only expects to stay there a few days. But the authorities refuse to let him leave, and Hammoudi finds himself caught up in the fight against the regime. Meanwhile, budding actress Amal has also joined the protests against the government and her own father, by whom she feels betrayed. Realizing that they will never again be safe in their homeland, Amal and her boyfriend Youssef decide to flee to Europe in a desperate bid to survive.
But the path to safety brings its own risks, and Amal and Youssef once again narrowly escape death when their overcrowded ship sinks. Eventually they reach Germany, but soon discover that in this new life—where they are perceived as nothing but refugees—their struggle is far from over.
City of Jasmine is an intimate and striking novel that offers real insight into the horrors and inhumanity of war, whilst also focusing on the humanity of the protagonists, marking Olga Grjasnowa as one of the most talented and admired young authors working in Germany today.
Praise
“Here the world comes to you in a way it’s never come to you before.” Die Welt (Berlin)
“Grjasnowa provides a close-as-skin understanding of what it’s like to suffer bombardment, torture, and dislocation while remaining human and hopeful.” Library Journal (starred review)
“Assaf Cohen is a flexible narrator whose dexterity is shown as a cast of characters grapples with growing conflict in Syria. Cohen switches from Hammoudi, the doctor, to Amal, the actress, as government surveillance and citizen unrest grow. Fans of world literature will find much to enjoy in this exploration of current events. As listeners are taken into a world of ambition, yearning, and danger, Cohen is steady and measured throughout. Listeners may find themselves racing through this surprisingly quick volume as they root for the characters to survive. Cohen is a capable narrator whose delivery stays true to the Arab roots of the story.” AudioFile
Details
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Release Day | Apr 8, 2019 |
| Release Date | April 9, 2019 |
| Release Date Machine | 1554768000 |
| Imprint | Blackstone Publishing |
| Provider | Blackstone Publishing |
| Categories | Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction, Literary Fiction, Fiction - All, Fiction - Adult |
Author Bio
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. She lives with her family in Berlin.
Narrator Bio
Assaf Cohen is an AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator. He has appeared in various plays, short films, and television shows. He grew up in Palo Alto and attended UC Berkeley where he earned a bachelor’s degree in integrative biology. He continued his classical training by earning a master of fine arts in acting from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University under the instruction of legendary acting instructor William Esper.
Overview
A poignant story of three young adults trying to make a future for themselves in war-torn Damascus
When Hammoudi, a young surgeon based in Paris, returns to Syria to renew his passport, he only expects to stay there a few days. But the authorities refuse to let him leave, and Hammoudi finds himself caught up in the fight against the regime. Meanwhile, budding actress Amal has also joined the protests against the government and her own father, by whom she feels betrayed. Realizing that they will never again be safe in their homeland, Amal and her boyfriend Youssef decide to flee to Europe in a desperate bid to survive.
But the path to safety brings its own risks, and Amal and Youssef once again narrowly escape death when their overcrowded ship sinks. Eventually they reach Germany, but soon discover that in this new life—where they are perceived as nothing but refugees—their struggle is far from over.
City of Jasmine is an intimate and striking novel that offers real insight into the horrors and inhumanity of war, whilst also focusing on the humanity of the protagonists, marking Olga Grjasnowa as one of the most talented and admired young authors working in Germany today.
Reviews
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