At its core, the narrative delves into the complexities of friendship, exile, and the emotional landscape that relationships can create. Through political turmoil, it examines how friendships formed in times of oppression become symbolic of struggles for identity and resistance. The narrative shifts between personal memories and historical events, particularly centered on the Arab Spring. Through Khaled's recollections, Matar examines the fragility of human connections, the impact of exile on the psyche, and the evolution of deep-rooted friendships over time.
The novel begins with Khaled recounting his long-standing friendship with Hosam Zowa. It is set against the backdrop of exile in London where Khaled tries to navigate life far from home. He grapples with memories of the past and the realities of their present circumstances. Much of the novel revolves around Khaled’s internal dialogue and reflections on his friendship with Hosam, Mustafa, and other exiled Libyans. The turning point comes when Khaled watches an old broadcast from Libya featuring Hosam’s father, Sidi Rajab Zowa, who was once a high-ranking figure in the old regime. This clip brings Khaled to a crisis of identity as it forces him to reckon with his role in the political struggle. The Arab Spring becomes a focal event, especially for Mustafa who is deeply involved in the revolution. Khaled, on the other hand, remains hesitant to return to Libya despite the fervor of his friends. His friendship with Hosam also suffers as their paths diverge—one consumed by literary ambitions and the other by the fight for political freedom.
In the end, Hosam, once heavily involved in the post-revolutionary government of Libya, retreats from political life as the country descends into chaos with coups and countercoups. His involvement as Minister of Culture signals his brief hope for a stable future, but it is short-lived. Meanwhile, Mustafa remains deeply committed to the fight, leading a militia in Benghazi until he disappears from Hosam’s and the Khaled’s lives. A rumor circulates that Mustafa has married but news of him is scarce as the revolution consumes more lives and destroys more homes. In a poignant scene, Khaled attends the launch of a translation of Hosam’s book of short stories, which marks a reconnection to the art that first bonded them. Over dinner, they reminisce about how far they have come with Hosam sharing his estrangement from Mustafa.
The central theme is the emotional toll of exile as it strains friendships and creates an internal conflict between loyalty to one’s homeland and the desire for self-preservation. Khaled’s reluctance to return to Libya, even as his friends become more deeply involved in the revolution, reflects this tension. His inner turmoil represents the struggle of the exiled who are caught between nostalgia for a country they can no longer recognize and the need to forge a life in a foreign land.
