Dreams of Water

Dreams of Water

by NadaAwarJarrar (Author)

Synopsis

Set during the 1980s civil war in Lebanon, 'Dreams of Water' is complusively readable, deceptively simple and overwhelmingly moving. 'If you could tell me just one thing about yourself, what would it be?' She begins, 'I would say that I once lost a brother.' As a young man disappears, his family is left wondering, hoping, fearing for what may have become of him. It is only through his loss that they begin to truly understand the deep bond of love that ties their family together. Aneesa, his sister, feels the loss of her brother intensely and, unable to live in the vacuum left by his disappearance, she leaves her home and all she holds dear. She moves to London seeking a new life, new friends, and a release from her sorrow. There she meets an older man, another exile who reminds her of home. Brought together by their shared feeling for their homeland, they form an unlikely friendship. Yet, aneesa finds she cannot mourn without knowing the truth about her brother's death, she cannot get on with her life without some certainty. Meanwhile, back home, Aneesa's mother is grieving for her son. Unable to cope with his loss, she resorts to her community's traditional beliefs and imagines he has been reincarnated. Aneesa reluctantly returns home, determined to uncover the truth behind her brother's disappearance, and rekindle the sense of belonging that she left behind. Dreams of Water is a moving story of love, loss and family. Set against a backdrop of upheaval and violence, it reminds us of the importance of hope, of love, and of the strength of family.

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More Information

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 240
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 02 Jan 2007

ISBN 10: 0007221959
ISBN 13: 9780007221950

Media Reviews
Praise for 'Somewhere, Home': 'A picture of simplicity. Her style is subtle and not overbearing, which leaves the reader with an urge to find out more about the places and people she has created' Observer 'There is a gentle humour to be found in its characterisation; you will feel that Jarrar knows these people well' Daily Telegraph 'A moving novel written with great elegance and much compassion.' Publishing News, Special selection 'This is a beautiful book. Jarrar's prose is like a veil of poetry, threaded with the scents, sights and colours of the old house!The result is a seductive and hypnotic haven, and a powerful rebuke to the persistent brutality of war.' Sunday Herald Glasgow 'A stunning novel, beautifully written and almost poetic in style, it stayed with me long after I finished reading.' York Evening News
Author Bio
Nada Awar Jarrar was born in Lebanon to an Australian mother and a Lebanese father. She has lived in London, Paris, Sydney and Washington DC and is currently based in Beirut where she lives with her husband Bassem and their daughter Zeina. Her first novel, 'Somewhere, Home' won the Commonwealth Best First Book award for Southeast Asia and the South Pacific in 2004.