Stray Cats Of Homs, The

Description:

'This is a searing and incredibly important book, storytelling at its best' Donal Ryan

'A cat has seven souls in Arabic. In English cats have nine lives. You probably have both nine lives and seven souls, because otherwise I don't know how you've made it this far.'

Sami's childhood is much like any other - an innocent blend of family and school, of friends and relations and pets (including stray cats and dogs, and the turtle he keeps on the roof).

But growing up in one of the largest cities in Syria, with his country at war with itself, means that nothing is really normal. And Sami's hopes for a better future are ripped away when he is conscripted into the military and forced to train as a map maker.

Sami may be shielded from the worst horrors of the war, but it will still be impossible to avoid his own nightmare...

Inspired by extraordinary true events, The Stray Cats of Homs is the story of a young man who will do anything to keep the dream of home alive, even in the face of unimaginable devastation. Tender, wild and raw, it is a novel which will stay with you for ever.

Review: An absolutely riveting novel . . . a rare and precious humanizing of the terrible conflagration in Syria. Eva is a writer of the first order and this is a searing and incredibly important book, storytelling at its best. * Donal Ryan, author of FROM A LOW AND QUIET SEA (longlisted for the Man Booker Prize and shortlisted for the Costa Book Awards) *
This warm, captivating and inspiring story shows that even the bottomless horrors of war-torn Syria are no match for the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit and the power of love and friendship. * Mike Thomson, author of SYRIA'S SECRET LIBRARY *
The Stray Cats of Homs brings to life the human, inside story of one of the most brutal sieges in recent history, with Syria's Assad trying to break the will of young rebels daring to stand up to the dictator and taking refuge in an ancient city. The novel is as revealing as it is inspiring with its depictions of the lengths heroes will go to in search of personal freedom. * Mark Sullivan, author of BENEATH A SCARLET SKY *
It's been a long time since a book kept me up all night, but Eva Nour's The Stray Cats of Homs did. A tender, yet wild and tangible testimony bearing witness to the tragedy in Syria. * Theodor Kallifatides, Award-winning author and Professor of Literature *
An artistically flawless novel, written as an act of protest, but also as a poetic declaration of love. * Svenska Dagbladet *
The Stray Cats of Homs is a study in survival and a portrayal of the utter hell of the Syrian war. The novel reveals what can never be told by the news reports. * Landskrona Posten *
An extraordinary novel, filled with grief, warmth and love, that I recommend everyone to read. * Selma Stories *

Author Biography:

Eva Nour (Author)
Eva Nour is a journalist writing under a pseudonym. She was inspired to write The Stray Cats of Homs, her debut novel, by meeting and falling in love with the real 'Sami'. Today the couple share a life together in Paris.

Agnes Broome (Translator)
Agnes Broome is a literary translator and Preceptor in Scandinavian at Harvard University, with a PhD in Translation Studies. Her translations include August Prize winners The Expedition by Bea Uusma and The Gospel of the Eels by Patrik Svensson, and international bestseller For the Missing by Lina Bengtsdotter.