Book overview
"A gripping novel that offers a unique window onto life in Gaza." Jan Haaken, director of The Palestine Exception
He escaped his captor. But not what bound them.
Henry is disillusioned with himself. Martha, his wife, feels lonely and unchallenged. When the two educators accept positions at an international school in Gaza, they hope for a change. But it is 2005, and the political situation is rapidly becoming more volatile.
As tensions rise, the strain on their marriage deepens. Then Henry is kidnapped.
His eventual release does not end the ordeal. The man responsible for his abduction, Ayman, unexpectedly reappears in his life-becoming part of a secret Henry feels compelled to keep from Martha.
Ayman's story unfolds alongside those of Henry and Martha. A brilliant loner who has failed in everything he has tried, he decides to take justice for Palestinians into his own hands.
Set against the backdrop of Israel tightening its grip on Gaza, this powerful novel, which is based on a true story, follows three lives caught in forces larger than themselves. As Henry, Martha, and Ayman struggle to find purpose, connection, and justice, they are confronted by an indifferent world that responds to their efforts with a blank stare.
