This collection of interlinked stories is a stunning exploration of identity, heritage, and the complexities of the Arab immigrant experience. The author weaves together the rich tapestry of Azurée’s family history, creating a narrative that spans generations and continents. Each story not only stands on its own but also contributes to a deeper understanding of Azurée's journey.

The characters are vividly drawn, showcasing the bravery and resilience of women throughout turbulent times. From Lebanese freedom fighters to Syrian refugees, their stories illuminate the struggles and triumphs faced by those caught between tradition and modernity. Azurée’s evolution—from a teen navigating her identity to a woman confronting her past—is both relatable and poignant.

The prose is lyrical and engaging, capturing the nuances of love, loss, and the quest for belonging. The author’s ability to tackle heavy themes with grace and insight makes this collection a powerful read. It challenges stereotypes and expands the narrative around Arab women, offering a fresh perspective that is both timely and timeless. A truly exceptional debut that deserves five stars for its depth and artistry!

A multi-generational collection of short stories told by women-- spanning 140 years from Lebanon to Montreal and back again-- chronicling the Arab immigrant experience. The collection was quite fascinating and written with such attention to detail, evoking emotion with each journey/story.

There were some uncomfortable strangeness, particularly in the story A Degree of Suffering is Required/2003, but perhaps the fact that that particular story has stuck out in my mind is a testament to the author's intent to elicit deep emotion and provoke thoughtfulness.

Overall, this was a departure from my usual reads, but I'm glad that I checked it out!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

3.5 stars

This was a fascinating read. I found the earlier vignettes interesting and profound. While I enjoyed the lead-up to the present day, I found it increasingly difficult to follow the story/narrator's relationships.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eArC in exchange for an honest review

A set of linked stories following several generations of a Lebanese Canadian family, from their first landing in Montreal after fleeing the Druze in Lebanon, to contemporary generations returning to Lebanon to figure out why, and other parts of their family (Portuguese, Syrian) and how they relate. The stories are all very different: some spanning years, some an afternoon, some a season. Some characters are given more than one story, others are background figures more than they have their own stage.

One of my favourite stories from the Biblioasis 2023 collection of the Best Canadian Short Stories, “Your Hands are Blessed,” is reprinted here as part of the family saga, and I was delighted to read it again. This is a lovely collection, though some stories were just a little too light to make sense as part of the whole. But I loved the exploration of family and culture here.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. While the book started out well and interesting, after a while, I felt a little lost reading this and wasn't sure what was happening or who was the narrator of each story.