I was given the opportunity to read an advance copy through Net Galley. Thank you!

This nonfiction book was beautifully written and lyrical in nature. It shared the story of dissidents in Syria and their dedication to the creation and maintenance of a library amidst a multi year siege. It read more like a collection of essays than a book, but had such an earnest and honest quality throughout. I found myself thinking about the people in the story long after I finished reading.

This is a powerful look at the lives of a group of Syrians in the town of Daraya.. The town was consistently veing bomb, suffers napalm and siran attacks and has no access to outside foods. And yet, they find faith and hope through books and each other. I knew little to nothing about this particular town and was moved by the stories as told by the author. Powerful.