The Map of Salt and Stars
by Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
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Pub Date 1 May 2018 | Archive Date 17 May 2018
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Description
'Full of tension and love and danger. This is a beautifully told, magical novel about journeys and finding your way home.' STYLIST
Nour has lost her father. She has also lost the place she was born in and now lives in the Syrian town of Homs, along with her sisters and mother. And so, by the fig tree in the garden, Nour whispers the stories her Baba once told her, so that the roots of the tree will carry those stories back to where her father is buried and he won't feel so alone. Her favourite is the story of Rawiya, a young girl from the twelfth century who left her home in search of adventure, dressed as a boy.
But Syria is changing and it isn't long before protests and shelling destroy the peace of the quiet city. As Nour begins her own journey as a refugee, she draws strength and inspiration from the voyage of Rawiya, who became apprenticed to the famous mapmaker, Al Idrisi, and who battled mythical creatures and endured epic battles in the attempt to compile the most accurate map of the world ever made.
THE MAP OF SALT AND STARS is a breathtakingly beautiful novel that illuminates the story of a country in turmoil, a tale of human resilience and the power of stories to transform.
JUST some of the praise from readers of THE MAP OF SALT AND STARS:
'You know that wonderful feeling when you read the last page of a truly great story and then you clutch the book to your chest as if to hug the world within those pages? That's how I'm feeling right now.' Goodreads 4 star review
'A complex and multi-layered novel told in a rich atmospheric voice destined to be one of the most important works of 2018.' Goodreads 5 star review
'This stunningly written, heartbreakingly beautiful (but ultimately, hopeful) story is a rich, multilayered + sweeping saga... A beautiful melding of myth, grief, hope and persistence- I just loved this one.' Goodreads 4 star review
'A beautifully written debut novel about stories and storytelling that you won't soon forget. "Stories map the soul, in the guise of words." Goodreads 4 star review
'I seriously cannot recommend this book enough. I see fireworks: red, blue, purple, green, with a shower of golden stars. The Map of Salt and Stars is amazing. Please read this book.' Goodreads 5 star review
'The Map Of Salt And Stars is really such a fantastic read and once you have started it is impossible to stop.' Goodreads 4 star review
'There are parts that will make your heart stop and parts that will make it beat again.' Goodreads 5 star review
'I believe this book is to Syrian heritage what the Kite Runner is to Afghanistan. All in all, a great read.' Goodreads 5 star review
'Beautifully written with lush detail....stories will give you have a deeper understanding and appreciation that we are all maps and stories. It will also show you what home is and what home means.' Goodreads 5 star review
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781474606752 |
| PRICE | £14.99 (GBP) |
| PAGES | 400 |
Featured Reviews
Julie H, Reviewer
Two stories from two different times that are interwoven. Fascinating and sad. Worth reading.
Elaine D, Reviewer
This is a brilliantly written novel concerning the very current issue of the ongoing unrest in Syria and resulting migration of families as they flee homes which are destroyed. In fact there are two stories woven together in a current timeline alongside a centuries old timeline.
In the current timeline, we hear from Nour, a 12 year old girl, as she leaves Syria with her family and heads towards Ceuta, the Spanish town on the north African coast. The fascinating story of the family is told as they risk their lives to make the journey. They are separated and Nour and her sister Zahara follow the map painted by their mother.
At the same time, the centuries old timeline is recounted as though it is a traditionally told Syrian legend. This is a story Nour knows well, told to her by her late father. Rawiya leaves Ceuta and becomes a map makers apprentice, disguised as a young man. She travels extensively, researching geography, becoming an accomplished warrior and returning to the king of Sicily to complete the maps.
There are very clear parallels between the two stories and the novel switches between the two throughout. It is brilliantly written highlighting a current difficult issue in a unique way and should become a highly successful novel in 2018.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Sadie S, Educator
I am absolutely astounded by the beauty of this book - especially given the horror, pain and heartache of the plight of Syrian refugees which it depicts.
The author writes with such poetic lyricism that my eyes were filling and throat constricting from the very first paragraph of the novel - and the two strands of the tale, telling of two girls Nour and Rawiya, separated by some eight hundred years, while interesting and engaging in themselves, are woven together skilfully into an incredible piece of work which brings the reader to a closer understanding of the Syrian people....their lives, history and culture, their current terrible situation. If the writing and story here in 'The Map of Salt and Stars' does not pull at your heart, I'm not entirely sure that you have one!
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