The Parisian

By: Isabella Hammad

Narrated by: Fiona Button

Length: 20 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

A masterful debut novel by Plimpton Prize winner Isabella Hammad, The Parisian illuminates a pivotal period of Palestinian history through the journey and romances of one young man, from his studies in France during World War I to his return to Palestine at the dawn of its battle for independence.

Midhat Kamal is the son of a wealthy textile merchant from Nablus, a town in Ottoman Palestine. A dreamer, a romantic, an aesthete, in 1914 he leaves to study medicine in France, and falls in love. When Midhat returns to Nablus to find it under British rule, and the entire region erupting with nationalist fervor, he must find a way to cope with his conflicting loyalties and the expectations of his community.

The story of Midhat's life develops alongside the idea of a nation, as he and those close to him confront what it means to strive for independence in a world that seems on the verge of falling apart. Against a landscape of political change that continues to define the Middle East, The Parisian explores questions of power and identity, enduring love, and the uncanny ability of the past to disrupt the present.

Lush and immersive, and devastating in its power, The Parisian is an elegant, richly imagined debut from a dazzling new voice in fiction.

©2019 Isabella Hammad (P)2019 Recorded Books

Compelling – highly recommend

Great story interwoven with historical events told in a compelling way, The narrator’s voice draws you in immediately. Highly recommend.

great story

wonderful wandering tale, great characters and storytelling. I loved it and look forward to reading more from Isabella Hammad.

Phenomenal story!

Absolutely loved the writing style of this young author. Highlights the need for all of us to see the gray areas of personal and political conflicts (things are very nuanced.) I appreciated how the character is perceived as "other"not just in Europe but in his homeland upon his return and how the author strikes just the right balance so that his situation doesn't become a strident caricature. Can't wait to see what this author will write next. (**Too bad the publisher misspelled her last name on the audiobook artwork!!! HAMMAD, not Hammand)

A Literary Jewel

What a story, woven into the historical background of Palestine. A man’s life examined from within. Loved reading this escape into another land and time. I’ll remember these characters.

Gorgeous prose and a mesmerizing story

I know just a little about the history of this part of the world from someone who grew up there and holds it dear to her heart. Perhaps that influences my review. The author surrounds the reader with imagery and language that recreates that time and place. Amidst the history is a story of relationships and the unexpected that occurs in one’s life. The narrator was of a piece with the prose.

Overly ambitious

Historical fiction based on the author’s great grandfather. I was especially interested in the historical background, but it was force fed, and was not an organic part of the story. In addition, the audiobook narrator would have benefited from listening to some Arabic natives before attempting the basic words.

The historical time frame chosen

It is beautifully written. I appreciated the historical time frame for the story. I related to how individuals make decisions for themselves in the midst of huge altering world events happening without completely being aware of it, keeping hope alive for better times .

I wish The narrator could pronounce the Arabic verses better, it was simply not even adequate, it took
Away from the beauty of the writing .
Overall I am glad I listened to this story.

Arabic pronunciation

Hammad's novel is captivating and the narration is done very well EXCEPT for the Arabic pronunciation. Part of the art of this novel is its interweaving of Arabic throughout the text. It is really a shame to hear the importance of the language in this work disregarded so blatantly. Imagine if the narrator had read this novel, in which French is also abundant, with absolutely no knowledge of proper French pronunciation. Care for the proper pronunciation of French but not Arabic is clearly taken for granted by the producers of this audio book, unacceptable for a novel predominantly set in the Arab world.

Excellent historical novel

This is a view of the Middle East I was only vaguely aware of. I had read the history, but sometimes it takes a work of fiction to flesh out the facts, to give one a sense of what it just might have been like to be alive at that time. Beautifully written and read.

Beautifully Woven Tapestry

I can't figure out what review persuaded me to purchase this book. The era - France, end of the Ottoman Empire, WWI, the Middle East, Palestine and Israel - but it was likely the story of young Midhat Kamal transported in 1914 from his home to study medicine in France that grabbed me. And I was initially disappointed when the story moved from Montpelier and Paris to the less familiar city of Nablus (an ancient city now part of the West Bank occupied by Israel).
Then richness of the characters, the settings, and the political turmoil that impact us even now, and how the events are seen in the everyday life of Midhat all invite you further into the saga. He is rather disoriented by his time in France and his return to his family. Political events are disrupting Nablus and the region, but life goes on for the rather privileged son of a upper middle class family. The author gives us rich and beautifully detailed moments and you end up with an amazing picture not only of the Midhat Kamal's romantic and dreamy quest for identity, but his family and friends in their struggle for independence under British occupation.
My overall score of three stars is due to the lack of the list of characters that is provided in the printed edition. There are so many characters, and their names matter as they are woven through this wonderful story.