Mother of Strangers by Suad Amiry

About Mother of Strangers: A Novel by Suad Amiry

A fable-like historical novel based on true events, Mother of Strangers revisits Jaffa between 1947–1951 through the eyes of Subhi, a 15-year-old mechanic, and Shams, a 13-year-old girl he dreams of marrying. As tensions rise during the Nakba, their youthful hopes collide with the violent upheaval that transforms their city forever.

Full of rich detail and dark humor, Suad Amiry captures uproar and intimacy in equal measure, rendering a painful chapter in Palestinian history with vivid humanity and lyrical precision.

Details

• Author: Suad Amiry
• Format: Trade Paperback
• Publisher: Vintage (Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group)
• Publication Date: August 1, 2023
• Pages: 304
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0593466942
• ISBN-13: 9780593466940

Why Readers Choose This

• Brings Palestine’s Nakba-era history to life through personal lens.
• Balanced with poignant humor and haunting realism.
• Short yet emotionally weighty—perfect for immersive reading.
• Acclaimed in major outlets and named an NPR “Best Book of the Year.”

“A captivating novel about love amid warfare . . . a story as sobering as it is entertaining.” — The Hudson Review (via NPR) :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

If You Like These, Start Here

• Sharon and My Mother-in-Law — Suad Amiry
• The Almond and the Seahorse — Suad Amiry
• All That’s Left to You — Ghassan Zaqtan

ISBN Information

ISBN-10: 0593466942 | ISBN-13: 9780593466940