This book is a powerful appeal against prejudices, stereotypes and war. I don't know how much of this narration is autobiographic but I'm sure personal experience, pain and grief found their way into this novel.
Adam's sophisticated philosophical view on politics, religion, psychology and society is far from all clichés. I don't agree with all his views but they become comprehensible.
He gives us insight into what it might mean for an individual to live in exile while their homeland is falling apart.
The Middle Eastern conflict isn't easy to comprehend and with this book I noticed how much more complex it is than I thought. We got used to the images of bombed cities and refugees in small boats trying to find somewhere to live in peace. But while all this arouses compassion and the cry to end the cruelty, the masses seem faceless and islamophobia is thriving. Adam's story is able to remind you that "the Syrians" or "the Arabs" don't exist. Everybody is an individual with his own history and struggles and in case of the Syrians often traumatizing experiences.
The novel is told in small episodes, disussions and memories that mirror Adam's fractured state of mind.

I want to thank Netgalley and Asaad Almohammad for a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

I am somewhat confused by this book - unsure as to whether this is a novel or more of a history or biography. The language and concepts are sophisticated, political and Adam's voice is strongly portrayed but left me feeling inadequate and ignorant. I was intrigued and indeed horrified by the information Adam revealed and certainly did not want to abandon the book but ultimately I am left feeling 'what?'

A personal story told in the voice of Adam. A Syrian, living in Malaysia. Unable to live in his own country due to civil war and upheaval.. The story goes back and forth from the present to the memories of childhood .All of the different parts and pieces that make us who we are and shape our ideas of who we are and where we belong are brought into question. I felt as if I was reading someone's journal. The feelings of not belonging to any place and unable to go back home.were so heartbreaking. Trying to assimilate into a new country is not easy when you look like Adam and the intolerant and racist people he comes into contact with on a daily basis made me embarrassed as a human being.
As he says in the book "...to their ears, being a Syrian sounds like you’re unclean, shameful, indecent; it’s like you owe the world an apology for your very existence."

I learned more about the Middle East and Syria in this one book than I have in all of the news shows and history lessons I've taken. I can't imagine being judged solely on my skin color or ethnicity. That the author has tackled this in such straightforward and easy to read book is a gift to us all.

This is not a book that will leave you a heartwarming feeling, you will not turn the last page thinking "what an enjoyable read that was!" But nevertheless it will make you think. It will remind you of all the injustice, racism, bigotry, misogyny and homophobia of this world. And next time you hear the news about the war in Syria and the migrants crisis, this book will remind you that there are real, suffering persons behind the statistics. A true eye opener on the horrors of war.

This isn't the kind of book I usually read, so I wasn't sure how I would like it; however, I was pleasantly surprised to become so engrossed in Adam's story! Exiled from his native Syria, the young intellectual resides in Malaysia and attempts to become a global citizen while remembering his childhood and his family's current hardships. While very theoretical, the book explores Adam grappling with misogyny, racism, and bigotry as he navigates new relationships and must examine his own beliefs about religion and intolerance. His integrity is called into question more than once, and we feel his heartbreak as he seeks solace and questions concepts that perhaps seem to have no rhyme or reason. This is an important book for those of us who also seek answers to the problems created by the crisis in the Middle East as we see cultures, politics, and philosophies clash.

An Ishmael of Syria by Asaad Almohammad is the story of Adam, an exiled Syrian living in Malaysia as his family still lives in his war-torn homeland. A self-proclaimed global citizen and philosopher of world events, Adam tries to make the most of his situation. However, he is met with intolerance and racism. He is a man without a country, without a home, without shelter from the cruelty of this cold world. Despite this, he does what he can for his family back home. As the news out of Syria becomes more and more distressing, Adam begins to question everything he believes about himself, God and the world around him. Will Adam ever be able to get back home? Will his family survive this terrible war?
An Ishmael of Syria is a moving and eloquent story as it unveils the events his present as well as the events of his past that brought him so far from home. The story brings to the forefront of the complexities that is the conflicts in the Middle East. Each side has what they believe is right and just and fighting against those who threatened or has taken away their homes. I suggest reading this book slowly, absorbing every description, every sight and try to imagine life as an Ishmael, an outcast. I highly recommend An Ishmael of Syria.

An Ishmael of Syria
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Shocking. Anguished. Insightful. Don’t expect this to be a comfortable read.

However, I’d rank this as a must-read, particularly for anyone interested in understanding the experiences and emotions of a man in exile.

I should tell you too, that the style of writing may change forever your view of what a novel is or should be.

I admit that being inside the head of the main character required all my concentration. We witness Adam’s fragmented encounters in Malaysia with strangers, fellow students, colleagues and other Syrians unable to return to their home country.

With each conversation we come to better understand Adam’s state of mind and terrible helplessness, despite, or perhaps because of the fact, that he is the financial lifeline his family at home depend upon. We see that it isn’t only the Syrians in Syria who struggle, Adam struggles daily to survive too, just in different ways to his family.

The writing is interspersed with passages from Adam’s life as a young boy and the friends and family he grew up with.

I think this book is so powerful because it’s so raw, so don’t look for literary perfection.

Reading of Adam’s experience has forged a link between me and the Syrian people – just from the reading of one book – I call that remarkable.

"For some reason, notwithstanding the alienation and utter rejection, I consider myself a global citizen. They say misery calls for company and I’ve always been a man of funerals. The companion of the misfortunate, until they are not! As a citizen of the world, it’s my instinct to keep the fallen and the suffering in my thoughts. The human brain fascinates me; its limitless bounds of empathy. You see, in my mind there is logic to it: do no harm, prevent harm, help, support, care for the harmed, face the harmer. My stupid idealist conscience considers sympathy, not pity, at its worst, the most basic and the least negotiable civil duty. Of course as a citizen of the world, I should strive to do more. That said , I am only a man and so I often do the least"


Ishmael of syria follows Adam, a syrian refuge displaced in Malaysia, his hardships and the people he meets along the way. He challenges the predjudices, stereotypes, and unfairness of the culture and his desire to change the mindset of those blindly following.
He refuses to be a victim, even after experiencing more than his fair share of tragedy. His encounters shed light on the society he grew up in, that is relatively unknown to Americans.His patriarchal society lacks all empathy, rationality, reasoning, and emotion. I learned a lot through him and gained a new level of respect for refugees in his situation.

Negatives about the book- for me, it can be hard to follow, the amount of characters and how the timeline is put together. I found myself having to reread a lot. The book also went overboard at times with Adams overly dramatic tangents. I love how they brought out his character, but at times it seemed drawn out and distracting from the storyline.

One of the most stark and revealing books about Syria I have ever read. Written in the voice of Adam a Syrian Refugee in Malaysia. There is a acidity to the viewpoint here that indicates a true experience behind this narrative.

It is upsetting and a mirror to the West as many of the basic arguments bandied about in regards to the Middle East are represented, but it is refreshing to hear a Syrian Voice that is not so muddied by the immediate rigours of hunger and abuse but close enough to those ravages to be able to be a believable witness and a commentator of some considerable deftness of political and social intelligence.

Deeply affecting and a extremely promising first novel from a writer whom I am quite sure is bound for huge things.

An Ishmael of Syria

An eerily topical book about a young Syrian refugee, struggling to make a home for himself in Malaysia, whilst never being far from what is happening in his war torn country.

I think that everyone should read this book. It gives such insight into the issues that are affecting so many innocent people. Some we are aware of, some we wouldn't even think of. It crushes stereotypes that people may have of refugees and will break your heart.

I don't want to say much more about the content of the book as I really would implore people to read the book. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher. 5*

An Ishmael of Syria is both a wonderful character portrait, and gruelling, haunting, powerful account of the tragedies in Syria. Adam’s father taught him that to think that life is or should be ‘fair’ is a childish notion. Adam is staunchly against the mindset of victimhood, which is, understandably, a recurring theme throughout the book. He is continually confronted with racism – towards others by his peers as well as towards himself by other groups – and he opposes this at every opportunity. He also opposes the stupidity and hypocrisy that is spouted by his Syrian friends in their support of the president. Despite his own strident voice against racism, Adam feels unsupported by Malay society; that being Syrian marks him as someone distasteful, and as someone who can be treated badly as his choices are very limited. As he agrees to the worst job offer he has ever heard, Adam is aware that he is breaching his own code of ethics and worries that he has entered a state of learned victimhood. But he knows he will do anything to help his family.

While this is written as a novel, Adam’s voice feels incredibly personal and authentic. It feels more like a personal recount than a novel. The despair, anger and heartbreak is utterly raw.

Read this book immediately.

No more important book to read in today's age of tragedies. Great writing, haunting scenes.