Samer Al Najjar
The Weight of Desires · A story of Exile, Love, and Belonging
A New Adult Journey from War to Belonging
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Information
Edition: 1.
Release year: 2026
Number of pages: 180 pages
Images: None
Format: 13.0 x 19.0 cm
Zielgruppe: Junge Erwachsene and Adults
Genre: Psychische Gesundheit, Junger Erwachsener, Beziehungen, and Gesellschaft & Kultur
Sprachversion: ENG – Englisch
ISBN (Softcover): 9783910347953
ISBN (EPUB): 9783910347960
Synopsis
Adam loses his parents long before war tears his country apart. Raised by relatives who deny him affection, he grows up longing for a place where he truly belongs. When the Syrian Revolution erupts in 2011, hope soon gives way to violence, persecution and the devastating chemical attacks on Ghouta. Forced to flee across borders, Adam eventually arrives in Vienna, carrying memories that refuse to fade. Haunted by trauma, grief and survivor's guilt, he struggles to trust others—or himself. Yet an unexpected encounter with a young Syrian woman confronts him with the possibility that love may become the first step toward healing.
Blending coming-of-age, psychological depth and the experience of displacement, The Weight of Desires is a powerful New Adult novel about identity, resilience and the search for an inner home. Originally published in Arabic in 2020, this English edition introduces the internationally acclaimed debut novel by Syrian author Samer Al Najjar, translated by Gordon Couper from the author's own German adaptation of his first Arabic-language novel.
Tags: New Adult, Coming of Age, Diversity, Psychological Novel, Literary Fiction, Trauma, Refugees, Syria, Damascus, Search for Identity, Love, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Exile, Home, Syrian Revolution, Syrian Civil War, Ghouta Chemical Attack, Vienna, Migration.
About the Author
Born in Homs, Syria, in 1994, Samer Al Najjar now lives in Germany and studied German language and literature as well as political science at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf. Samer Al Najjar writes between two languages and cultures, transforming experiences of Syria, exile and belonging into poignant literature. His novels combine psychological intimacy with the great social issues of our time.
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