Land of no rain by Amjad Nasser

"Land of no rain" by Amjad Nasser. The book is published by Bloomsbury in Apr 2014 and has 264 pages. Amjad Nasser is a Jordanian poet journalist and is managing editor of Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper published from London.

Hamiya is a fictional country somewhere in middle East. It's ruled by a dynasty of military rulers. It was a typical iron feasted country. Younis al-Khattat, a revolutionary and a poet, had to leave country after the failed attempt to assassinate the ruler, leaving behind his friends, family and love. He is sentenced to life imprisonment in absentia. This is when the person is split in two. One remains in Hamiya and another leaves and becomes Adham. He makes a living in exile as a writer rather than a poet in another country and marries a foreigner.

Hamiya has a new ruler now and a general amnesty is declared. Younis al-Khattat returns to his country 'Hamiya' & his city 'City of siege and war' after 20 years. The city has changed so much that he finds no reference to his memory. He is filled with aesthetic numbness. He meets his friends, aquaitances, family and his love. Everything has changed but is the same.

The name of cities and countries are suggestive rather than proper nouns like City of red and grey, City of siege and war, Island of the sun, City overlooking the sea, Land of palm trees and oil, City of Sindbad, Star shaped stone building etc.

Unique feature of this book is that the book is written mostly in second person narrative. This was first time I read such a narrative. The story is told by Younis (who lived in Hamiya) to Younis (who left Hamiya). It's a dialogue of the protagonist with his alter ego.

Younis tries to rediscover his identity through his roots, through the places he visits and through calligraphy, which is his family's profession. Author has spent some page space to introduce the readers to Arabic calligraphy and it's history.

It seems that author had based the character of Younis on himself. The similarities between the two are compelling. The longing one feels while staying in a foreign country and the curious feeling upon returning to his country are captured beautifully. The end of book, though, appeared abrupt.

Only serious readers will like it. Give it a miss if you are a casual reader.