What would happen if all the Palestinians vanished, all at once, from everywhere? In today’s political context, a lot can be inferred. But in Ibtisam Azem’s ‘The Book of Disappearance,’ this premise becomes a reality.
Right from the start, Azem’s compelling writing and distinctive narrative hook the reader – a liberal Zionist journalist can no longer get in touch with his Palestinian friend, Alaa. At first, he thinks Alaa never made it home the night before. But then the news begins to pour in. There are no Palestinians to be found. Fingers are pointed. Statements are made. And still, no Palestinians are found. Day-to-day life is hindered, as jobs normally occupied by Palestinians are now left undone. Ariel looks for clues in Alaa’s apartment and stumbles upon his journal. Slowly, he not only finds himself immersed in Alaa’s world with his grandmother, but he finds himself occupying Alaa’s apartment.
The plot serves as a powerful allegorical lens through which Azem explores universal themes such as identity, belonging and history while offering subtle political commentary on today’s reality. The act of disappearance itself is a commentary on the weight of Palestinian history and the unresolved questions of their existence. Meanwhile, how the occupiers’ lives frantically and rapidly change over the course of the disappearance brilliantly expresses how fragile their identity with Palestinians is.
Apart from its genius humanization of Palestinian lives, the book is wonderfully written, keeping readers wanting to know more with every turn of the page. Azem’s word choice and way of writing both take the reader into a different world. The book will undoubtedly resonate with readers who appreciate moving and intellectually challenging literary fiction and are looking for their next read about Palestine.
