Black Foam, Haji Jabir
Black Foam, Haji Jabir
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Black Foam
A Novel

Author: Haji Jabir, Sawad Hussain, Marcia Lynx Qualey

Narrator: Youssif Kamal

Unabridged: 7 hr 44 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/07/2023

Synopsis

From award-winning Eritrean author Haji Jabir comes a profoundly intimate novel about one man’s tireless attempt to find his place in the world.Dawoud is on the run from his murky past, aiming to discover where he belongs. He tries to assimilate into different groups along his journey through North Africa and Israel, changing his clothes, his religious affiliations, and even his name to fit in, but the safety and peace he seeks remain elusive. It seems prejudice is everywhere, holding him back, when all he really wants is to create a simple life he can call his own. A chameleon, Dawoud—or David, Adal, or Dawit, depending on where and when you meet him—is not lost in this whirl of identities. In fact, he is defined by it.Dawoud’s journey is circuitous and specific, but the desire to belong is universal. Spellbinding to the final page, Black Foam is both intimate and grand in scale, much like the experiences of the millions of people migrating to find peace and safety in the twenty-first century.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Araz on June 05, 2020

" هل تدرك ما معنى أن لا يكون للإنسان مكان يذهب إليه ؟ " ظلت هذه العبارة الدوستويفسكية تئن في عقلي طيلة فترة قراءتي للرواية، من الصعب أن لا يكون لك وطن، لا مأوى ، لا منزل، لا هوية، تطاردك بشرتك السمراء وعرقك ووطنك القديم أينما رحلت، تحاول جاهداً العثور على أي مكان، أي مكان، فقط أن تحظى بأقل ما يمكن من......more

Goodreads review by فايز غازي on May 26, 2023

- رواية الهرب والأمل على الطريقة الميكافيلية. نقطة الوصول غير مهمة طالما تكون بعيدة عن نقطة الإنطلاق.. حتى لو كانت الموت بذاته! البحث عن هوية، هوية حقيقية بعيداً عن الأكاذيب والقصص المخترعة. البحث عن الغوص الى لدن الحياة والإبتعاد عن السطح للتخلص من كونه رغوة سوداء. - ثلاثة اقانيم لشخصية واحدة: داود،......more

Goodreads review by PattyMacDotComma on May 13, 2023

3.5~4★ “He was an outcast here: Most of the people in Beta Israel were Ethiopian Falasha, like this elderly lady, but others were Ethiopians trying to join the camp to find their own form of salvation. They were unwelcome. Then there were Eritreans, like him, who were hated by both the Ethiopian Fala......more

Quotes

Longlisted for the 2019 International Prize for Arabic Fiction“Youssif Kamal lends his flexible baritone to this ambitious novel about the universal feeling of wanting to belong.… Kamal's narration is smooth and well-paced, almost to the point of a silkiness that reflects the more sensual moments of the plot. Listeners will be entranced by this performance. Through Kamal's characterization, we feel empathy for Dawoud as he changes his name, religion, and personality in order to escape a dark secret.… This is a surprising story with unique twists.” —AudioFile Magazine“With a gravelly voice, narrator Youssif Kamal fully inhabits the character of Dawoud, conveying his gnawing worries and stress, and also his satisfaction and relief when his stories are taken at face value. Kamal's unmediated, authentic presentation captures the complexity of a person trapped in terrible circumstances—always waiting to be caught out, yet hopeful that he might find a place to call home. This uncomfortable but illuminating listen should appeal to listeners interested in exploring the intersection of identity, religion, and culture. Share with fans of Omer Friedland's The Man Who Sold Air in the Holy Land or Ru Freeman's Sleeping Alone.” —Library Journal“A captivating tale of one man’s tireless journey to belong.” —Booklist

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