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No Land to Light On
Exit West
meets An American Marriage in this breathtaking and evocative novel about a young Syrian couple in the throes of new love, on the cusp of their bright future…when a travel ban rips them apart on the eve of their son’s birth—from the author of The Girls at 17 Swann Street.
Hadi and Sama are a young Syrian couple flying high on a whirlwind love, dreaming up a life in the country that brought them together. She had come to Boston years before chasing dreams of a bigger life; he’d landed there as a sponsored refugee from a bloody civil war. Now, they are giddily awaiting the birth of their son, a boy whose native language would be freedom and belonging.
When Sama is five months pregnant, Hadi’s father dies suddenly in Jordan, the night before his visa appointment at the embassy. Hadi flies back for the funeral, promising his wife that he’ll only be gone for a few days. On the day his flight is due to arrive in Boston, Sama is waiting for him at the airport, eager to bring him back home. But as the minutes and then hours pass, she continues to wait, unaware that Hadi has been stopped at the border and detained for questioning, trapped in a timeless, nightmarish limbo.
Worlds apart, suspended between hope and disillusion as hours become days become weeks, Sama and Hadi yearn for a way back to each other, and to the life they’d dreamed up together. But does that life exist anymore, or was it only an illusion?
Achingly intimate yet poignantly universal, No Land to Light On is the story of a family caught up in forces beyond their control, fighting for the freedom and home they found in one another.
Hadi and Sama are a young Syrian couple flying high on a whirlwind love, dreaming up a life in the country that brought them together. She had come to Boston years before chasing dreams of a bigger life; he’d landed there as a sponsored refugee from a bloody civil war. Now, they are giddily awaiting the birth of their son, a boy whose native language would be freedom and belonging.
When Sama is five months pregnant, Hadi’s father dies suddenly in Jordan, the night before his visa appointment at the embassy. Hadi flies back for the funeral, promising his wife that he’ll only be gone for a few days. On the day his flight is due to arrive in Boston, Sama is waiting for him at the airport, eager to bring him back home. But as the minutes and then hours pass, she continues to wait, unaware that Hadi has been stopped at the border and detained for questioning, trapped in a timeless, nightmarish limbo.
Worlds apart, suspended between hope and disillusion as hours become days become weeks, Sama and Hadi yearn for a way back to each other, and to the life they’d dreamed up together. But does that life exist anymore, or was it only an illusion?
Achingly intimate yet poignantly universal, No Land to Light On is the story of a family caught up in forces beyond their control, fighting for the freedom and home they found in one another.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 4, 2022
137 people are currently reading
14127 people want to read
About the author
Yara Zgheib
4 books383 followersYara Zgheib is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters degree in Security Studies from Georgetown University and a PhD in International Affairs in Diplomacy from Centre D'études Diplomatiques et Stratégiques in Paris. She is fluent in English, Arabic, French, and Spanish. Yara is a writer for several US and European magazines, including The Huffington Post, The Four Seasons Magazine, A Woman’s Paris, The Idea List, and Holiday Magazine. She writes on culture, art, travel, and philosophy on her blog, "Aristotle at Afternoon Tea"
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 847 reviews
January 4, 2022
No Land to Light On by Yara Zgheib
Hadi is in the United States as a sponsored refugee from Syria's bloody civil war. He's already spent two years in a Syrian prison before he escaped but when his father dies, rather than going to his extremely important Visa hearing appointment, he hops on a plane to the Middle East to handle his father's funeral arrangements. When he comes back he no longer has valid paperwork to enter the US. As Hadi's once safe life in the US crumbles, Hadi's anger and rash decisions make his situation even worse.
Seven years ago Sama came to the US on a Harvard scholarship. She's worked hard and knows people who care about what happens to her. She is also five months pregnant and she plans to surprise Hadi at the gate when he returns from his trip. As Hadi is going through the chaos of being kicked out of the country, Sama is going through her own turmoil that I don't understand. Something about people bumping into her, almost like she's at some wild concert. In the ruckus labor starts and she's rushed to the hospital.
We then experience the POVs of both Hadi and Sama, in the present and at various time in past. Before now, Sama never considered bringing up her baby, a US citizen, outside of the US. Now Hadi wants Sama and the baby to leave the US, leave what safety Sama and the baby have to meet Hadi somewhere else. It's as if the rashness of Hadi is contagious and now Sama, who's done so well in her life, is ready to throw herself and their fragile baby into a life of chaos and turmoil. This is all seen in the light of bird migratory patterns, which makes no sense to me.
Publication: January 4th 2022
Thank you to Atria Books/Simon & Schuster for this ARC.
Hadi is in the United States as a sponsored refugee from Syria's bloody civil war. He's already spent two years in a Syrian prison before he escaped but when his father dies, rather than going to his extremely important Visa hearing appointment, he hops on a plane to the Middle East to handle his father's funeral arrangements. When he comes back he no longer has valid paperwork to enter the US. As Hadi's once safe life in the US crumbles, Hadi's anger and rash decisions make his situation even worse.
Seven years ago Sama came to the US on a Harvard scholarship. She's worked hard and knows people who care about what happens to her. She is also five months pregnant and she plans to surprise Hadi at the gate when he returns from his trip. As Hadi is going through the chaos of being kicked out of the country, Sama is going through her own turmoil that I don't understand. Something about people bumping into her, almost like she's at some wild concert. In the ruckus labor starts and she's rushed to the hospital.
We then experience the POVs of both Hadi and Sama, in the present and at various time in past. Before now, Sama never considered bringing up her baby, a US citizen, outside of the US. Now Hadi wants Sama and the baby to leave the US, leave what safety Sama and the baby have to meet Hadi somewhere else. It's as if the rashness of Hadi is contagious and now Sama, who's done so well in her life, is ready to throw herself and their fragile baby into a life of chaos and turmoil. This is all seen in the light of bird migratory patterns, which makes no sense to me.
Publication: January 4th 2022
Thank you to Atria Books/Simon & Schuster for this ARC.
August 24, 2022
the plight of refugees and immigrants will always move me.
and hadi and samas story is particularly heartbreaking.
this is a story that will have you hating humanity - for its evil and unkind treatment of others.
but it will also have you loving humanity - for its inspiring resilience and hope in the face of tragedy.
such a touching book.
↠ 4 stars
and hadi and samas story is particularly heartbreaking.
this is a story that will have you hating humanity - for its evil and unkind treatment of others.
but it will also have you loving humanity - for its inspiring resilience and hope in the face of tragedy.
such a touching book.
↠ 4 stars
June 4, 2022
**Many thanks to Edelweiss, Maudee Genao at Atria, and Yara Zgheib for a DRC in exchange for an honest review! Now available as of 1.4!**
"It has been observed that birds feel a sort of pain before taking off, almost like fear . . . and that nothing alleviates that feeling except the rapid beating of wings."
Hadi and Sama: two Syrians who have left their homeland in search of better in America...and along the way have found one another. A whirlwind romance and pure kismet drew these two together, and the couple are now expecting a child. Mere months before the baby is due, Hadi urgently needs to return to Syria upon his father's death to attend his funeral, promising to return to life in Boston in a matter of days. Sama thinks nothing of the brief trip...until he doesn't return. She waits at the airport, begging the universe for answers and fearing the worst...and in a way, the worst has come to pass. Hadi is trapped, unable to return to the United States due to his nearly expired visa...and a newly imposed travel ban. As hours, days, and weeks tick by, will Hadi find his way back to the epicenter of his universe? Or is the cost of freedom a price too high for him to be able to pay?
First of all, Zgheib's writing is nothing short of magical. Her prose reads like poetry, often fragmented, but ALWAYS luscious, thorough, descriptive, and achingly beautiful. I had such a sense of Syria and the past and present that both of these characters lived that I could hear the sounds and smell the array of spices used in traditional dishes, even though none were familiar to me. THAT is writing destined to take you out of this world and thrust you headlong into another. This choppier writing style does take a while to get used to, with fragments of news articles to update you on the travel ban, as well as a bouncing timeline to give you the backstory of this romance, but trust me, ALL of that is worth the effort. This is a tale that moves at a clip, with no filler.
Compulsively readable. The last bit of literary fiction that held my attention and had me enraptured to this level was Emily Itami's Fault Lines, a dramatically different story, but all too reminiscent of the pangs of longing found in that book. None of the events that take place in this book feel cliche, and there are a couple of plot points Zgheib tosses in to fake you out that ABSOLUTELY got me holding my breath in almost tearful anticipation. This is a tale that can be read in a day, and you will be so frantic to find out the fate of these two characters that you might do just that!
Thematic and thought-provoking. As hinted by the cover, birds play a huge role in this story and perhaps are the most apt metaphor for the trajectory of these two wanderers. Zgheib explores the concept of home, what it means, how we find it, and how migration doesn't always follow the beaten path. While this symbol may not seem like the most original choice, Zgheib makes it FEEL like one through her storytelling, and I for one will probably stop to reflect the next time a V of geese sails overhead.
After two brief days entrenched in this heartbreaking, fast-paced, and lyrical prose, so much about this book sticks with me, and even haunts me. I'm thrilled to say this is my first WOW read of 2022! If you've ever wondered what life would be like if you couldn't come back to the one person who made home FEEL like home to you...take a day or two, and pick up this book. Hadi and Sama took a very small piece of my heart with them on their journey...and I may never get it back completely.
With no light to land on, they look back without nostalgia, and look forward with a frayed hope."-Michael Ondaatje
4.5 stars, rounded up
"It has been observed that birds feel a sort of pain before taking off, almost like fear . . . and that nothing alleviates that feeling except the rapid beating of wings."
Hadi and Sama: two Syrians who have left their homeland in search of better in America...and along the way have found one another. A whirlwind romance and pure kismet drew these two together, and the couple are now expecting a child. Mere months before the baby is due, Hadi urgently needs to return to Syria upon his father's death to attend his funeral, promising to return to life in Boston in a matter of days. Sama thinks nothing of the brief trip...until he doesn't return. She waits at the airport, begging the universe for answers and fearing the worst...and in a way, the worst has come to pass. Hadi is trapped, unable to return to the United States due to his nearly expired visa...and a newly imposed travel ban. As hours, days, and weeks tick by, will Hadi find his way back to the epicenter of his universe? Or is the cost of freedom a price too high for him to be able to pay?
First of all, Zgheib's writing is nothing short of magical. Her prose reads like poetry, often fragmented, but ALWAYS luscious, thorough, descriptive, and achingly beautiful. I had such a sense of Syria and the past and present that both of these characters lived that I could hear the sounds and smell the array of spices used in traditional dishes, even though none were familiar to me. THAT is writing destined to take you out of this world and thrust you headlong into another. This choppier writing style does take a while to get used to, with fragments of news articles to update you on the travel ban, as well as a bouncing timeline to give you the backstory of this romance, but trust me, ALL of that is worth the effort. This is a tale that moves at a clip, with no filler.
Compulsively readable. The last bit of literary fiction that held my attention and had me enraptured to this level was Emily Itami's Fault Lines, a dramatically different story, but all too reminiscent of the pangs of longing found in that book. None of the events that take place in this book feel cliche, and there are a couple of plot points Zgheib tosses in to fake you out that ABSOLUTELY got me holding my breath in almost tearful anticipation. This is a tale that can be read in a day, and you will be so frantic to find out the fate of these two characters that you might do just that!
Thematic and thought-provoking. As hinted by the cover, birds play a huge role in this story and perhaps are the most apt metaphor for the trajectory of these two wanderers. Zgheib explores the concept of home, what it means, how we find it, and how migration doesn't always follow the beaten path. While this symbol may not seem like the most original choice, Zgheib makes it FEEL like one through her storytelling, and I for one will probably stop to reflect the next time a V of geese sails overhead.
After two brief days entrenched in this heartbreaking, fast-paced, and lyrical prose, so much about this book sticks with me, and even haunts me. I'm thrilled to say this is my first WOW read of 2022! If you've ever wondered what life would be like if you couldn't come back to the one person who made home FEEL like home to you...take a day or two, and pick up this book. Hadi and Sama took a very small piece of my heart with them on their journey...and I may never get it back completely.
With no light to land on, they look back without nostalgia, and look forward with a frayed hope."-Michael Ondaatje
4.5 stars, rounded up
September 22, 2021
There are some stories make your heart bleed and make you cry till you have no tears left to shed! The words inside of them like tiny glass particles deeply stab you and leave invisible scars in your soul.
Sama and Hadi’s heartbreaking, tear jerking, sad story is one of them. Two beautiful souls immigrated to the states to start over, building a new life, declaring their own freedom, piling up new memories by discovering different places of Boston or rediscovering the city by looking from their special perspective. They tried to bottle up good feelings by experiencing different taste, different routines to write their special love story. They get married and Sama ( her name means the sky in Arabic) gets pregnant, expecting their son.
Hadi’s father sudden death before his visa appointment at Jordan embassy changes everything traumatically: Hadi flies to Amman to attend the funeral and Sama wants to surprise him by welcoming her husband at the airport: but he never comes out. He calls her and tells her he’s been stopped at the customs department for detention alongside nearly 40 people, stuck in the place, barely breathing properly, trapped in a timeless, nightmarish limbo.
In the meantime, Sama finds herself in the middle of airport protest, getting hurt, holding her abdomen to protect her baby which results with her collapse.
She’s only five months long pregnant and now they take her to the operation room urgently. There’s a chance she can loose her baby.
Poor Hadi is worried sick about his wife and their future, interrogated by mean officers who imply he might be one of the terrorists trained in ISIS camps close to Jordan. He pleads them he has papers, he’s Syrian refugee, he’s legal but harsh facts they throw at him startle Hadi like a sucker punch against his face: Pursuant of Executive Order 13769 his entry to the states is denied: he has two options; he can either leave the US voluntarily or he will be forcibly deported. If he goes voluntarily, the deportation officer will make the arrangements for his departure on the next scheduled flight: just liked that he’s forced to leave the country, finding himself at the plane directly flies to Amman.
Two things Sama and Hadi are truly afraid of: Sama didn’t want to raise a child alone and Hadi never wanted his child would be ashamed of him because of his refugee- foreigner status. But now what they are afraid of most eventually occurred.
Their son is in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) they transfer him to an incubator. He’s premature, fighting for his life as his father is deported from the states leaving his helpless, devastated mother alone.
How their story will conclude? Will they find a way to each other? Are their love strong enough to endure against borders, governments, regulations, countries? Is there a chance for them unite their family for a fresh start!
The girls at 17 Swann Street was heart wrenching , intense novel ! Sama and Hadi’s story was definitely different kind of ultra sensation , effective story which broke my heart. Yara Zgheib knows so well how to play with the strings of your emotional cords !
I think I will need at least one week to get rid of ultra emotional impact of the book.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
Sama and Hadi’s heartbreaking, tear jerking, sad story is one of them. Two beautiful souls immigrated to the states to start over, building a new life, declaring their own freedom, piling up new memories by discovering different places of Boston or rediscovering the city by looking from their special perspective. They tried to bottle up good feelings by experiencing different taste, different routines to write their special love story. They get married and Sama ( her name means the sky in Arabic) gets pregnant, expecting their son.
Hadi’s father sudden death before his visa appointment at Jordan embassy changes everything traumatically: Hadi flies to Amman to attend the funeral and Sama wants to surprise him by welcoming her husband at the airport: but he never comes out. He calls her and tells her he’s been stopped at the customs department for detention alongside nearly 40 people, stuck in the place, barely breathing properly, trapped in a timeless, nightmarish limbo.
In the meantime, Sama finds herself in the middle of airport protest, getting hurt, holding her abdomen to protect her baby which results with her collapse.
She’s only five months long pregnant and now they take her to the operation room urgently. There’s a chance she can loose her baby.
Poor Hadi is worried sick about his wife and their future, interrogated by mean officers who imply he might be one of the terrorists trained in ISIS camps close to Jordan. He pleads them he has papers, he’s Syrian refugee, he’s legal but harsh facts they throw at him startle Hadi like a sucker punch against his face: Pursuant of Executive Order 13769 his entry to the states is denied: he has two options; he can either leave the US voluntarily or he will be forcibly deported. If he goes voluntarily, the deportation officer will make the arrangements for his departure on the next scheduled flight: just liked that he’s forced to leave the country, finding himself at the plane directly flies to Amman.
Two things Sama and Hadi are truly afraid of: Sama didn’t want to raise a child alone and Hadi never wanted his child would be ashamed of him because of his refugee- foreigner status. But now what they are afraid of most eventually occurred.
Their son is in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) they transfer him to an incubator. He’s premature, fighting for his life as his father is deported from the states leaving his helpless, devastated mother alone.
How their story will conclude? Will they find a way to each other? Are their love strong enough to endure against borders, governments, regulations, countries? Is there a chance for them unite their family for a fresh start!
The girls at 17 Swann Street was heart wrenching , intense novel ! Sama and Hadi’s story was definitely different kind of ultra sensation , effective story which broke my heart. Yara Zgheib knows so well how to play with the strings of your emotional cords !
I think I will need at least one week to get rid of ultra emotional impact of the book.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
March 28, 2022
No land to light on follows the lives of married couple Sama and Hadi, refugees from Syria. A travel ban means Hadi gets stuck outside of the USA. Sama goes into early labour, can she be reunited with her husband?
I read this book so quickly I actually really surprised myself. The chapters are incredibly short which helped to keep the pace up! The book swaps between Hadi and Sama’s points of view and different points in time. Once I got used to this, I really enjoyed it. It added so much depth to the story. There was the odd time when I struggled to relate to some of their behaviours/thoughts and was left feeling slightly confused. But overall, I saw the tales of real people within these characters and found it so moving.
This book really made me think and made me feel so emotional at times. It’s so important to bring awareness to these types of issues and how they affect people. My biggest issue with the book was the writing style. The sentences were so long and fluffy I found myself forgetting the whole point of the sentence to begin with. In the end I’d skip over the point, figuring it wouldn’t be necessary to follow the plot- I was right. I loved the story that this told and I think it is incredibly important. I’m just not completely sold on the way it was executed. The writing style just didn’t suit me as a reader. That being said, I think I could end up rereading this one day. It feels particularly pertinent and emotional right now!
I would recommend this to anyone who likes an emotional read that focuses on important topics! I want to thank Readers First, Allen & Unwin Publishers and Yara Zgheib for allowing me to read this book and give my personal thoughts.
I read this book so quickly I actually really surprised myself. The chapters are incredibly short which helped to keep the pace up! The book swaps between Hadi and Sama’s points of view and different points in time. Once I got used to this, I really enjoyed it. It added so much depth to the story. There was the odd time when I struggled to relate to some of their behaviours/thoughts and was left feeling slightly confused. But overall, I saw the tales of real people within these characters and found it so moving.
This book really made me think and made me feel so emotional at times. It’s so important to bring awareness to these types of issues and how they affect people. My biggest issue with the book was the writing style. The sentences were so long and fluffy I found myself forgetting the whole point of the sentence to begin with. In the end I’d skip over the point, figuring it wouldn’t be necessary to follow the plot- I was right. I loved the story that this told and I think it is incredibly important. I’m just not completely sold on the way it was executed. The writing style just didn’t suit me as a reader. That being said, I think I could end up rereading this one day. It feels particularly pertinent and emotional right now!
I would recommend this to anyone who likes an emotional read that focuses on important topics! I want to thank Readers First, Allen & Unwin Publishers and Yara Zgheib for allowing me to read this book and give my personal thoughts.
December 2, 2021
Hadi and Sama are a young Syrian couple expecting their first child. Sama has been in the U.S. for seven years, while Hadi is a refugee escaping war-torn Syria. Hadi’s father dies, and he travels home for the funeral, despite the fact that it is the night before his visa appointment hearing. He knows the risks of the political climate, and decides to go anyway. Inevitably, when he tries to return to the U.S., he is prevented from entering due to the travel ban.
It’s impossible to not feel sympathy for their plight. Lovers separated by circumstances beyond their control is an age-old tragedy. Should Sama relinquish her son’s U.S. citizenship to join Hadi in Syria so they can all be together? Or should Sama and Hadi give up their relationship in order to provide their son with a better hope for the future?
Despite such a compelling premise, I failed to engage with this story for several reasons. The angst and insta-love felt very YA to me. Then there’s the writing. The sentence fragments and flowery language, with an abundance of nonsensical metaphors, made my eyes roll. There were many plot holes and the open-ended conclusion was a disappointment. A world without borders is certainly a utopian ideal, but the practicalities are troublesome. I prefer a more nuanced story that leaves me thoughtfully considering the possibilities.
The anger and political undertones did nothing to endear this book to me. The insertion of bird migratory patterns, as an analogy to the immigrant experience, was a stretch. Behaviors were assigned to birds that left me skeptical.
Ultimately, this was a huge fail for me and I was grateful to have my reading buddies, Marialyce and Dorie, to discuss our frustrations.
We are all different readers, and our preferences are valid. I understand that some readers love flowery prose so I’m including a few quotes. Remember, this is an uncorrected proof, but you will get the gist. If it speaks to your heart, this is the book for you.
My heart swells, soaked in warm honey. It expands, overflows. Something pure, like an essence, flows out, through my pores, infusing the room with light. Transcendent and gold
The syllables flow off my tongue, limpid, rustling through trees, rippling over seas and fields and sand dunes.
The words glow, fine and numinous as fireflies in my lungs
…slept curled in a ball, breathing softly into him, smelled of lemon and red apples and vanilla, lived on a cloud and, when he wasn’t there, on crackers with salt
This wasn't the book for me, but do check out other reviews before you decide if it’s for you.
• I received a digital copy of the book from Edelweiss. All opinions are my own.
It’s impossible to not feel sympathy for their plight. Lovers separated by circumstances beyond their control is an age-old tragedy. Should Sama relinquish her son’s U.S. citizenship to join Hadi in Syria so they can all be together? Or should Sama and Hadi give up their relationship in order to provide their son with a better hope for the future?
Despite such a compelling premise, I failed to engage with this story for several reasons. The angst and insta-love felt very YA to me. Then there’s the writing. The sentence fragments and flowery language, with an abundance of nonsensical metaphors, made my eyes roll. There were many plot holes and the open-ended conclusion was a disappointment. A world without borders is certainly a utopian ideal, but the practicalities are troublesome. I prefer a more nuanced story that leaves me thoughtfully considering the possibilities.
The anger and political undertones did nothing to endear this book to me. The insertion of bird migratory patterns, as an analogy to the immigrant experience, was a stretch. Behaviors were assigned to birds that left me skeptical.
Ultimately, this was a huge fail for me and I was grateful to have my reading buddies, Marialyce and Dorie, to discuss our frustrations.
We are all different readers, and our preferences are valid. I understand that some readers love flowery prose so I’m including a few quotes. Remember, this is an uncorrected proof, but you will get the gist. If it speaks to your heart, this is the book for you.
My heart swells, soaked in warm honey. It expands, overflows. Something pure, like an essence, flows out, through my pores, infusing the room with light. Transcendent and gold
The syllables flow off my tongue, limpid, rustling through trees, rippling over seas and fields and sand dunes.
The words glow, fine and numinous as fireflies in my lungs
…slept curled in a ball, breathing softly into him, smelled of lemon and red apples and vanilla, lived on a cloud and, when he wasn’t there, on crackers with salt
This wasn't the book for me, but do check out other reviews before you decide if it’s for you.
• I received a digital copy of the book from Edelweiss. All opinions are my own.
December 2, 2021
Sama and Hadi have both come to this country for different reasons. Sama has been here for 7 years. She came to get an education and a brighter future than what she knew awaited her in Syria. Hadi has been here only a short while. He is fleeing a bloody civil war in Syria and had a Visa as a sponsored refugee.
These two meet and seem to fall instantly in love. Before long they are married and expecting their first child.
When Hadi finds out that his father has died he doesn’t take much time to think about what may happen, he gets on a plane home to Syria. It is the night before his Visa appointment at the embassy!
When Hadi is trying to return, he is stopped at the border. The President has stopped all immigrants from Syria and other middle eastern countries from entering the United States. Hadi tries to explain that he is a sponsored refugee, but his Visa is revoked, permanently.
Without going into any more of the plot, this is all the background you will know about this couple.
Here are some of the problems that I had with the book.
First off I found the couple to be very unfocused as to their future. We don’t know their backstories very well, only their feelings. Where has the money come from for them to be able to fly here and then Hadi back to Syria and then here??
Once the baby is born, prematurely, and is in a hospital NICU, Sama seems to realize that for her son to have a bright future, they must stay in the US. He is an American citizen.
The book is told from both Hadi and Sama’s perspectives. There are also sections between chapters that discuss migratory birds and their flights. I didn’t really see the comparison. The birds are flying these patterns because they are instinctual, while the author seems to be saying that they are flying towards freedom??
I wasn’t prepared for the amount of prose in this book since this is my first by this author. By the second half I was growing tired of trying to unscramble the prose and what it was trying to say and just wanted the story to continue.
As written I felt that the book had a disjointed feel to it. The story didn’t flow well and I found myself skimming parts of it.
I know that I’m the outlier on this one. I did like the idea of putting faces on those that are suffering. It may be that I just have a problem with this author’s writing style.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley.
This was a buddy read with Jan and Marialyce, be sure to check out their reviews!
These two meet and seem to fall instantly in love. Before long they are married and expecting their first child.
When Hadi finds out that his father has died he doesn’t take much time to think about what may happen, he gets on a plane home to Syria. It is the night before his Visa appointment at the embassy!
When Hadi is trying to return, he is stopped at the border. The President has stopped all immigrants from Syria and other middle eastern countries from entering the United States. Hadi tries to explain that he is a sponsored refugee, but his Visa is revoked, permanently.
Without going into any more of the plot, this is all the background you will know about this couple.
Here are some of the problems that I had with the book.
First off I found the couple to be very unfocused as to their future. We don’t know their backstories very well, only their feelings. Where has the money come from for them to be able to fly here and then Hadi back to Syria and then here??
Once the baby is born, prematurely, and is in a hospital NICU, Sama seems to realize that for her son to have a bright future, they must stay in the US. He is an American citizen.
The book is told from both Hadi and Sama’s perspectives. There are also sections between chapters that discuss migratory birds and their flights. I didn’t really see the comparison. The birds are flying these patterns because they are instinctual, while the author seems to be saying that they are flying towards freedom??
I wasn’t prepared for the amount of prose in this book since this is my first by this author. By the second half I was growing tired of trying to unscramble the prose and what it was trying to say and just wanted the story to continue.
As written I felt that the book had a disjointed feel to it. The story didn’t flow well and I found myself skimming parts of it.
I know that I’m the outlier on this one. I did like the idea of putting faces on those that are suffering. It may be that I just have a problem with this author’s writing style.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley.
This was a buddy read with Jan and Marialyce, be sure to check out their reviews!
January 7, 2022
I was a huge fan of author Yara Zgheib’s The Girls at 17 Swann Street. Zgheib is a poet, and it shines through in her descriptive, lyrical writing in both books.
I received a letter from the author in my copy noting that No Land to Light On is a deeply personal story. Having just given birth to premature twins, her husband was not able to return back to the US. She doesn’t go into detail, but it sounds like it was an ordeal that took time to resolve. She wrote this book to help process through that traumatic experience.
No Land to Light On is the story of Hadi and Sama, both originally from Syria and living in the US, and expecting their first child together. When Hadi’s father passes away, he returns for the funeral, and when he attempts to come home to the US, he is barred by Customs due to the Muslim Travel Ban that was put in place overnight.
Sama goes into labor early and has little help with her newborn son who has a long stay in the hospital NICU. At the same time, she is worrying if she will ever be reunited with her beloved husband. The family can’t return to Syria because of the war and instability there. The US won’t allow Hadi to return, and many of the other countries they consider moving to won’t take Syrian refugees. There is literally No Land to Light On for this couple and their newborn child.
No Land to Light On is a heartrending story of love and family and finding true “home.”
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
I received a letter from the author in my copy noting that No Land to Light On is a deeply personal story. Having just given birth to premature twins, her husband was not able to return back to the US. She doesn’t go into detail, but it sounds like it was an ordeal that took time to resolve. She wrote this book to help process through that traumatic experience.
No Land to Light On is the story of Hadi and Sama, both originally from Syria and living in the US, and expecting their first child together. When Hadi’s father passes away, he returns for the funeral, and when he attempts to come home to the US, he is barred by Customs due to the Muslim Travel Ban that was put in place overnight.
Sama goes into labor early and has little help with her newborn son who has a long stay in the hospital NICU. At the same time, she is worrying if she will ever be reunited with her beloved husband. The family can’t return to Syria because of the war and instability there. The US won’t allow Hadi to return, and many of the other countries they consider moving to won’t take Syrian refugees. There is literally No Land to Light On for this couple and their newborn child.
No Land to Light On is a heartrending story of love and family and finding true “home.”
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
March 27, 2024
https://www.instagram.com/p/C48SAKqrm...
A breathtaking novel of separation, love, and borders. Bursting with emotion and longing, No Land to Light On is a gorgeously rendered look at destruction and creation, of love being pushed to to limits, of people adapting and clinging to the ability to live life on their own terms. With every page, this novel affirms that home is the place we make for ourselves, and it need not be a physical place; it is the heartbeat of a child, the arms of a lover, the songs of times past, the spices of streets remembered. Home is the union of history and future, of courage and freedom; it is the warmth of hands joined and tears wiped away. An incredibly relevant read.
A breathtaking novel of separation, love, and borders. Bursting with emotion and longing, No Land to Light On is a gorgeously rendered look at destruction and creation, of love being pushed to to limits, of people adapting and clinging to the ability to live life on their own terms. With every page, this novel affirms that home is the place we make for ourselves, and it need not be a physical place; it is the heartbeat of a child, the arms of a lover, the songs of times past, the spices of streets remembered. Home is the union of history and future, of courage and freedom; it is the warmth of hands joined and tears wiped away. An incredibly relevant read.
December 14, 2021
Hadi is a Syrian refugee that comes to America and here he meets the love of his life, Sama, a fellow Syrian who came on scholarship to Harvard a few years prior. They are overjoyed when Sama finds out that she is pregnant. They are dreaming of everything their baby will have, mostly their freedom.
When Hadi's father passes away he goes home for his funeral but upon returning to Boston he runs into a serious issue. The President of the United States has signed an executive order banning anyone from Arab countries from entering. He rescinds his Visa and returns to Jordan heartbroken, confused, and angry.
From here we follow Hadi and Sama's journey. Will they be reunited?
This is a heartbreaking story. However, the purple, flowery prose did not work in its favor and I normally lap that kind of writing up. It made this book seem more like a chore to read which makes me so sad to say. I loved the authors last book The Girls at 17 Swann St and I was hoping to love this too but I just had such a hard time getting into it and would often find my thoughts drifting throughout. 2.5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my complimentary copy.
When Hadi's father passes away he goes home for his funeral but upon returning to Boston he runs into a serious issue. The President of the United States has signed an executive order banning anyone from Arab countries from entering. He rescinds his Visa and returns to Jordan heartbroken, confused, and angry.
From here we follow Hadi and Sama's journey. Will they be reunited?
This is a heartbreaking story. However, the purple, flowery prose did not work in its favor and I normally lap that kind of writing up. It made this book seem more like a chore to read which makes me so sad to say. I loved the authors last book The Girls at 17 Swann St and I was hoping to love this too but I just had such a hard time getting into it and would often find my thoughts drifting throughout. 2.5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my complimentary copy.
March 3, 2022
3.5 stars rounded down for a book of fiction set in 2017 when then President Trump signed an executive order prohibited visitors and immigrants from several Muslim countries entry into the US. This is a very sad story. Hadi Deeb flies home to help his mother with funeral arrangements for his father. Hadi is Syrian, but the funeral is in Jordan. Hadi has legal refugee status in the US, and completed the necessary paperwork to allow him to leave the US and return. However, when he lands in Boston, he is deemed inadmissible to the US and sent back to Jordan. He had recently married and his wife was pregnant, about to give birth in 3 months.
Although this book is fiction, many such persons were affected by this ill conceived executive order. The book has 2 narrators, Hadi, and his wife Sama, also a Syrian expatriate. It is a depressing story.
One quote: Hadi, describing home: "He loved the peppery, chocolaty smell of soil, damp with the previous night. He loved working with his hands. In anither life, he would have spent his on his father's land, pruning the trees, eating plums, and drinking lemonade in the shade. He loved Syria but had left Syria because in Syria there was a war."
Thanks to Maudee Genao from Simon & Schuster for sending me this eARC through Edelweiss.
Although this book is fiction, many such persons were affected by this ill conceived executive order. The book has 2 narrators, Hadi, and his wife Sama, also a Syrian expatriate. It is a depressing story.
One quote: Hadi, describing home: "He loved the peppery, chocolaty smell of soil, damp with the previous night. He loved working with his hands. In anither life, he would have spent his on his father's land, pruning the trees, eating plums, and drinking lemonade in the shade. He loved Syria but had left Syria because in Syria there was a war."
Thanks to Maudee Genao from Simon & Schuster for sending me this eARC through Edelweiss.
December 2, 2021
1.5 stars
To preface, I liked this author's former book, The Girls At 17 Swan Street. It was well written, had a definite theme, and provided a view into the world of eating disorders. However, her new book was not only disappointing, but made me wish I had never picked it up and wasted precious reading time.
Initially, I thought it showed promise, the story of two young Middle Eastern people, finding one another (love at first sight of course) marrying and having a child. The girl Sama was in the US for the past seven years studying and earning degrees, while Hami was a refugee from the civil war in Syria. Then, Hami returns home for the death of his father, leaving his pregnant wife to return to a country where he knew the situation was dire. He is caught in the middle of a travel ban and is not permitted to return to the US.
So, why didn't this story gel with me? I was truly put off by the writing, staccato in its tone, with constant phrases, and overdone language that made me think the author had a copy of a thesaurus at her side while writing this. There was the overuse of the f-bomb which diminished the story as well. The author definitely had an agenda with this story. Her anger came through the character of Hami, in particular, and while I understand the distress of many over the idea of immigration, there are rules which while we may not like them must be followed.
There were plot holes in the telling as well as an ending that had really no conclusion. War is hell. The people caught up in war go through hell. That concept hasn't changed over millennia.
So, sad to say I do not in the least recommend this book. Thanks to Jan, and Dorie, who suffered through this one with me. Honestly, if these ladies were not with me, I would have tossed this book into the DNF pile.
To preface, I liked this author's former book, The Girls At 17 Swan Street. It was well written, had a definite theme, and provided a view into the world of eating disorders. However, her new book was not only disappointing, but made me wish I had never picked it up and wasted precious reading time.
Initially, I thought it showed promise, the story of two young Middle Eastern people, finding one another (love at first sight of course) marrying and having a child. The girl Sama was in the US for the past seven years studying and earning degrees, while Hami was a refugee from the civil war in Syria. Then, Hami returns home for the death of his father, leaving his pregnant wife to return to a country where he knew the situation was dire. He is caught in the middle of a travel ban and is not permitted to return to the US.
So, why didn't this story gel with me? I was truly put off by the writing, staccato in its tone, with constant phrases, and overdone language that made me think the author had a copy of a thesaurus at her side while writing this. There was the overuse of the f-bomb which diminished the story as well. The author definitely had an agenda with this story. Her anger came through the character of Hami, in particular, and while I understand the distress of many over the idea of immigration, there are rules which while we may not like them must be followed.
There were plot holes in the telling as well as an ending that had really no conclusion. War is hell. The people caught up in war go through hell. That concept hasn't changed over millennia.
So, sad to say I do not in the least recommend this book. Thanks to Jan, and Dorie, who suffered through this one with me. Honestly, if these ladies were not with me, I would have tossed this book into the DNF pile.
January 26, 2024
This was such a moving book. I loved the characters, Sama Zayat and Hadi Deeb. Both are immigrants that left from Syria with the abundant hope for a free and unlimited life in America. That is the promise America offers, and it seems to all be coming into place. Sami and Hadi fall in love and marry. She is pregnant and both are excited at all the possibilities life offers.
Then cruelty takes over. It is so crushing and unbelievable. I could feel the characters hurt and confusion. Hadi has a Visa and goes back to Syria because his father dies. Sama is waiting to pick him up at the airport. He is off the plane, but suddenly is not allowed to enter the US. The travel ban 13769 has been put through and Syrian Refugees are stopped from entering the US indefinitely. This was supposedly to protect the US from Foreign Terrorists. I do remember when this occurred and was very disturbed. Still, reading how it personally effected a family really brought the message of how destructive this was.
Sami goes into premature labor alone. I could not even imagine such a thing. Hadi is put on a plane and is temporarily in Jordan without much recourse. It is terrifying for both. Their beautiful son, Naseem is born, but he is premature and is in the NICU. So, both Sami and Hadi are facing something neither can imagine and trying to figure out a solution alone. This made me cry for them, it was so unfair. They were just a young couple in love and starting a family. It was hard enough to leave their families behind to start this life.
I liked the use of birds about flying to freedom and information about their migratory patterns. It was well used throughout the book. Why do they migrate and decide to fly and then why do they decide to come home? There is not a concrete answer to this.
So, I loved the author’s lyrical writing style and understanding of the immigrants she writes about. In the end it still is a beautiful love story. Excellent Book.
Then cruelty takes over. It is so crushing and unbelievable. I could feel the characters hurt and confusion. Hadi has a Visa and goes back to Syria because his father dies. Sama is waiting to pick him up at the airport. He is off the plane, but suddenly is not allowed to enter the US. The travel ban 13769 has been put through and Syrian Refugees are stopped from entering the US indefinitely. This was supposedly to protect the US from Foreign Terrorists. I do remember when this occurred and was very disturbed. Still, reading how it personally effected a family really brought the message of how destructive this was.
Sami goes into premature labor alone. I could not even imagine such a thing. Hadi is put on a plane and is temporarily in Jordan without much recourse. It is terrifying for both. Their beautiful son, Naseem is born, but he is premature and is in the NICU. So, both Sami and Hadi are facing something neither can imagine and trying to figure out a solution alone. This made me cry for them, it was so unfair. They were just a young couple in love and starting a family. It was hard enough to leave their families behind to start this life.
I liked the use of birds about flying to freedom and information about their migratory patterns. It was well used throughout the book. Why do they migrate and decide to fly and then why do they decide to come home? There is not a concrete answer to this.
So, I loved the author’s lyrical writing style and understanding of the immigrants she writes about. In the end it still is a beautiful love story. Excellent Book.
January 5, 2022
3.5 Syrian Stars
This unique story features two young Syrians who find each other and fall in love in Cambridge, Massachusetts. They’ve both left Syria and are working to make a new life for themselves in the U.S.
Filled with lyrical writing, a timeline that hops around, and passages on the migratory patterns of birds, this one took an adjustment on my part to enjoy.
Hadi has to make a return trip to the Middle East for a family matter right when anti-immigrant sentiment is at a crisis pitch in the US. A travel ban is put into place the day he is returning to Boston to rejoin his new life with Sama.
For me, this book made the travel ban more personal as I thought about the thousands of lives that were interrupted and changed, many with stories like Hadi and Sama. Faced with uncertainty, should one person stay in the US and hope the other one can someday rejoin them or would it be better to go to another country that might be more accepting of immigrants?
This one gave me things to ponder about the state of our world.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the copy of this one to read and review.
This unique story features two young Syrians who find each other and fall in love in Cambridge, Massachusetts. They’ve both left Syria and are working to make a new life for themselves in the U.S.
Filled with lyrical writing, a timeline that hops around, and passages on the migratory patterns of birds, this one took an adjustment on my part to enjoy.
Hadi has to make a return trip to the Middle East for a family matter right when anti-immigrant sentiment is at a crisis pitch in the US. A travel ban is put into place the day he is returning to Boston to rejoin his new life with Sama.
For me, this book made the travel ban more personal as I thought about the thousands of lives that were interrupted and changed, many with stories like Hadi and Sama. Faced with uncertainty, should one person stay in the US and hope the other one can someday rejoin them or would it be better to go to another country that might be more accepting of immigrants?
This one gave me things to ponder about the state of our world.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the copy of this one to read and review.
January 4, 2022
4.5 Stars
’With no land to light on, they look back without nostalgia, and look forward with a frayed hope.’ – Michael Ondaatje
This story revolves around the lives of two people - Sama, who comes to the U.S. to attend Harvard and study anthropology in 2010, and Hadi, who arrives in Boston five years later, fleeing the war in Syria at the urging of his parents, and with a sponsorship by a Boston attorney, and legal refugee status. They meet early on in this story, and a bond grows over time into love, and a marriage follows, and eventually a child is on the way.
When news of Hadi’s father’s death reaches him, he flies to Jordan for a brief visit to be there for his father’s funeral. He returns to Boston on a flight, eager to see Sama, who is now five months along, knowing she is waiting for him at the airport on the day after Trump issued the order banning immigration from seven Muslim countries. Upon arrival, he is denied re-entry to the U.S., despite his legal status, and deported.
There is more to this story, the stress that this separation creates, the protests that follow Trump’s order, the heartbreak of this couple, but beyond that the theme of home - the ones we are born into and the ones we create - and family. The feelings that follow leaving the home and family we are born into, finding our own way in the world, and the home and family we create, whether through marriage or friendship. How losing that home and those family members, leaves us feeling rootless.
Shared through some lovely prose, there are tense and heartbreaking moments in this story. Despite the tragic moments, this is a beautifully shared story that offers a glimpse of the aftermath of unjustified hatred, and the saving grace of compassion, absolution, love and hope.
Published: 04 Jan 2022
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Atria Books
March 2, 2022
Married and expecting their first child, Syrian immigrants Hadi Deeb and Sama Zayat are forging a new life for themselves in Boston, Massachusetts. While Sama left Syria 7 years ago on scholarship to Harvard, Hadi , a political refugee, had fled from war torn Syria under threat to his life in the midst of great political upheaval which had already led to his imprisonment once . Hadi’s father’s sudden demise has him travel back home for the funeral but unfortunately on return he is denied re-entry and turned back from his port of entry by Homeland Security who are acting in accordance with orders pertaining to the Presidential Executive Order 13769 (commonly referred to as the Muslim Travel Ban) dated January 27, 2017 which suspended the entry of travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. The order explicitly banned Syrian refugees indefinitely from entering the United States until further notice. His is made to sign papers revoking his valid visa /refugee status and is deported to Amman.
Sama, while waiting for her husband at the airport falls ill and is rushed to hospital where she delivers their son Naseem prematurely. With their newborn baby fighting for its life in the NICU and her husband’s whereabouts unknown Sama tries to hold it together while Hadi struggles to find a way to lawfully re-enter the United States and be reunited with his family.
The narrative is shared between Sama and Hadi with snippets of what we assume is Sama’s research on the migratory pattern of birds. Though we are introduced to Hadi and Sama as a couple we get to know them as individuals. We get to know both these characters intimately- where they came from, how they met, their dreams and aspirations, their inner struggles and their hopes for a future in a new land. The author’s sensitive portrayal of how the circumstances of migration deeply influence the immigrant experience – how individuals perceive, assimilate, engage and adapt to their new country is exquisitely penned.
The setting, the characters and their plight are so realistic that at times it is hard to distinguish between fact and fiction. Poignant and heartbreaking, beautiful and sensitive, honest and brutal - No Land To Light On by Yara Zgheib will stay with me for a long time. This is a book that I will be recommending to anyone and everyone within reach.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sama, while waiting for her husband at the airport falls ill and is rushed to hospital where she delivers their son Naseem prematurely. With their newborn baby fighting for its life in the NICU and her husband’s whereabouts unknown Sama tries to hold it together while Hadi struggles to find a way to lawfully re-enter the United States and be reunited with his family.
The narrative is shared between Sama and Hadi with snippets of what we assume is Sama’s research on the migratory pattern of birds. Though we are introduced to Hadi and Sama as a couple we get to know them as individuals. We get to know both these characters intimately- where they came from, how they met, their dreams and aspirations, their inner struggles and their hopes for a future in a new land. The author’s sensitive portrayal of how the circumstances of migration deeply influence the immigrant experience – how individuals perceive, assimilate, engage and adapt to their new country is exquisitely penned.
The setting, the characters and their plight are so realistic that at times it is hard to distinguish between fact and fiction. Poignant and heartbreaking, beautiful and sensitive, honest and brutal - No Land To Light On by Yara Zgheib will stay with me for a long time. This is a book that I will be recommending to anyone and everyone within reach.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 29, 2021
I'm a little torn on this one. The story, which revolved around a Syrian couple caught up in the travel ban against Muslim countries back in 2017, definitely had a lot of potential. In fact, the story actually started off strong -- I was immediately sympathetic to Sama and Hadi's situation and was absorbed in how things would play out for them. However, a few chapters in, the story seemed to unravel a bit in terms of plot and some things started to not make much sense. Even so, I continued to stick with it, as I felt the characters were well-drawn and their story was an important one to tell. Indeed, what happened to both of the characters was heartbreaking and in detailing their plight, especially the various injustices that they had to endure, I felt that the author, Yara Zgheib, did a good job making the story emotionally resonant, to the point that I couldn't help but root for the characters, even if there were times when I didn't agree with their actions.
With all that said though, I did have some issues with this one that made the reading experience a little bit of a struggle for me. The issues were mostly with the structure and the writing, which made parts of the story confusing and hard to follow. Structure-wise, the story was mostly told through Sama's and Hadi's alternating perspectives, which wasn't unusual, but the mode kept switching too, between first person, second person, and third person points-of-view, sometimes all in the same chapter, which to me, was a bit too much. In terms of the dialogue, that too was done in a way that was different -- some of the dialogue was in quotes while some of it wasn't and it seemed to be randomly done throughout the story (at least I wasn't able to figure out any particular rhyme or reason to it). I had actually read Zgheib's debut novel The Girls at 17 Swann Street back in 2019 and while I liked that book quite a bit, I remember mentioning in my review at the time that the structure was odd because some scenes were written in ways that were intertwined to the point that it was hard to tell where one moment ended and the next one began. Interestingly enough, I saw nearly the exact same structure issue with this book as well, which leads me to think that perhaps this is just the way this author writes?
As if that weren't enough though, the prose throughout the story was what I would describe as overly "flowery" and metaphorical -- normally I wouldn't have a problem with this, but in this case, it was way overdone and had the effect of making the story too abstract -- to the point that, with some sections, I would finish reading several pages and have no idea what just happened. I have nothing against flowery language and actually feel that it works well in certain situations, but it can't be at the expense of the story and the plot, which was what happened here, as I felt like I kept having to unravel the metaphorical language and interpret what the author was trying to say -- this distracted from the story and also made the overall reading experience too exhausting for me.
One more thing about the structure that confused me was how there were excerpts from what looked to be a paper about bird migratory patterns (which I'm going to assume was Sama's dissertation, since the backstory scenes indicated that she studied anthropology and wrote a paper on birds) scattered throughout the story. While I get that the author likely included those snippets as an analogy for the immigrant experience (since the entire premise of the story was about the immigration system in the U.S. after all), I honestly didn't see the relevance from the technical details provided in those sections. After a few times, I ended up skipping those sections and not even reading them, since they were unnecessary to the understanding of the rest of the story.
Overall, I think this one had the potential to be a powerful story, but the not-so-good execution (with its odd structure and overuse of metaphorical language) made the narrative come across as too fragmented and disjointed. As I mentioned earlier, there were some parts of the story that I felt were done well and this was definitely a story worth telling in my opinion (which is why I didn't rate this one lower than I probably would have in other circumstances). I feel like this was one of those instances where an inexperienced author tried to do way too much -- i.e. play with structure and language, employ as many literary devices as possible, etc., while trying to write about a heavy, controversial topic that naturally required incorporating social and political commentary as well. Instead of having the intended effect, it ended up feeling like the story was all over the place.
It looks like this one has been a mixed bag so far in terms of reviews, so I would suggest checking out some of the other reviews to get a better feel for whether this is one you would want to pick up, since some of the things that bothered me about the structure might not be an issue for others.
Received ARC from Atria Books via Edelweiss.
With all that said though, I did have some issues with this one that made the reading experience a little bit of a struggle for me. The issues were mostly with the structure and the writing, which made parts of the story confusing and hard to follow. Structure-wise, the story was mostly told through Sama's and Hadi's alternating perspectives, which wasn't unusual, but the mode kept switching too, between first person, second person, and third person points-of-view, sometimes all in the same chapter, which to me, was a bit too much. In terms of the dialogue, that too was done in a way that was different -- some of the dialogue was in quotes while some of it wasn't and it seemed to be randomly done throughout the story (at least I wasn't able to figure out any particular rhyme or reason to it). I had actually read Zgheib's debut novel The Girls at 17 Swann Street back in 2019 and while I liked that book quite a bit, I remember mentioning in my review at the time that the structure was odd because some scenes were written in ways that were intertwined to the point that it was hard to tell where one moment ended and the next one began. Interestingly enough, I saw nearly the exact same structure issue with this book as well, which leads me to think that perhaps this is just the way this author writes?
As if that weren't enough though, the prose throughout the story was what I would describe as overly "flowery" and metaphorical -- normally I wouldn't have a problem with this, but in this case, it was way overdone and had the effect of making the story too abstract -- to the point that, with some sections, I would finish reading several pages and have no idea what just happened. I have nothing against flowery language and actually feel that it works well in certain situations, but it can't be at the expense of the story and the plot, which was what happened here, as I felt like I kept having to unravel the metaphorical language and interpret what the author was trying to say -- this distracted from the story and also made the overall reading experience too exhausting for me.
One more thing about the structure that confused me was how there were excerpts from what looked to be a paper about bird migratory patterns (which I'm going to assume was Sama's dissertation, since the backstory scenes indicated that she studied anthropology and wrote a paper on birds) scattered throughout the story. While I get that the author likely included those snippets as an analogy for the immigrant experience (since the entire premise of the story was about the immigration system in the U.S. after all), I honestly didn't see the relevance from the technical details provided in those sections. After a few times, I ended up skipping those sections and not even reading them, since they were unnecessary to the understanding of the rest of the story.
Overall, I think this one had the potential to be a powerful story, but the not-so-good execution (with its odd structure and overuse of metaphorical language) made the narrative come across as too fragmented and disjointed. As I mentioned earlier, there were some parts of the story that I felt were done well and this was definitely a story worth telling in my opinion (which is why I didn't rate this one lower than I probably would have in other circumstances). I feel like this was one of those instances where an inexperienced author tried to do way too much -- i.e. play with structure and language, employ as many literary devices as possible, etc., while trying to write about a heavy, controversial topic that naturally required incorporating social and political commentary as well. Instead of having the intended effect, it ended up feeling like the story was all over the place.
It looks like this one has been a mixed bag so far in terms of reviews, so I would suggest checking out some of the other reviews to get a better feel for whether this is one you would want to pick up, since some of the things that bothered me about the structure might not be an issue for others.
Received ARC from Atria Books via Edelweiss.
December 18, 2021
Broken. That's my warning. This will break you. It will hurt deep in your gut, and you will ugly cry, and your partner will have to ask you if you are okay in the middle of the night.
May 15, 2023
Digital audiobook performed by Fayir Al-Kaisi, Ali Andre Ali, and Suehyla El-Attar.
From the book jacket: Sama and Hadi are a young Syrian couple in love, dreaming of their future in the country that brought them together. Sama came to Boston years before on a scholarship to Harvard; Hadi landed there as a sponsored refugee from a civil war. Now they are giddily awaiting the birth of their son, whose native language will be freedom and belonging. When Sama is five months pregnant, Hadi’s father dies suddenly, and Hadi decides to fly back for the funeral, promising his wife he will be gone only a few days. On the date of his return Sama waits for him at the arrivals gate, but he doesn’t appear. She is unaware that Hadi has been stopped by US Customs and Border Protection, detained for questioning, and deported.
My reactions:
Oh, I am so sorry I had to miss my F2F book club discussion on this book! One president’s decision to ban immigrants from certain countries results in a devastating separation. These are educated people. Upright citizens-in-waiting with responsible jobs and many American friends in this, their adopted country. The way they are treated is shameful! How easily we have forgotten our own roots, our own ancestors’ struggles to come here for a chance at a peaceful existence, to raise families, and find success through hard work.
I know a woman whose husband was similarly detained, deported and barred from returning to her. She lives alone, with occasional phone contact with the man she loves and who loves her. In limbo. I could not help but think of them when reading this work of fiction.
I admit that when listening I completely misinterpreted the final chapter. In my initial reaction I was stunned at how the characters reacted. And then I went back and read the last three chapters in text and came to a completely different understanding. This is a book that made me think … and I’ll be pondering it for some time.
The audiobook is narrated by three talented voice artists. This was very effective to highlight the changing points of view.
From the book jacket: Sama and Hadi are a young Syrian couple in love, dreaming of their future in the country that brought them together. Sama came to Boston years before on a scholarship to Harvard; Hadi landed there as a sponsored refugee from a civil war. Now they are giddily awaiting the birth of their son, whose native language will be freedom and belonging. When Sama is five months pregnant, Hadi’s father dies suddenly, and Hadi decides to fly back for the funeral, promising his wife he will be gone only a few days. On the date of his return Sama waits for him at the arrivals gate, but he doesn’t appear. She is unaware that Hadi has been stopped by US Customs and Border Protection, detained for questioning, and deported.
My reactions:
Oh, I am so sorry I had to miss my F2F book club discussion on this book! One president’s decision to ban immigrants from certain countries results in a devastating separation. These are educated people. Upright citizens-in-waiting with responsible jobs and many American friends in this, their adopted country. The way they are treated is shameful! How easily we have forgotten our own roots, our own ancestors’ struggles to come here for a chance at a peaceful existence, to raise families, and find success through hard work.
I know a woman whose husband was similarly detained, deported and barred from returning to her. She lives alone, with occasional phone contact with the man she loves and who loves her. In limbo. I could not help but think of them when reading this work of fiction.
I admit that when listening I completely misinterpreted the final chapter. In my initial reaction I was stunned at how the characters reacted. And then I went back and read the last three chapters in text and came to a completely different understanding. This is a book that made me think … and I’ll be pondering it for some time.
The audiobook is narrated by three talented voice artists. This was very effective to highlight the changing points of view.
November 10, 2021
Get ready to have your heart shatter… wow!
In No Light To Land On we meet Sama a young, married, pregnant Syrian woman heading to the airport to meet her husband Hadi, a Syrian who was granted refugee status in the US. Hadi went back home for a short trip and when he landed, he was told about the Muslim Travel Ban. He no longer had refugee status, he must go back “home” but where is home? Sama goes into labour not hearing from her husband or knowing what is happening.
Told from the perspective of Hadi and Sama we get their back story, how they both ended up in the US and how they fell in love. The narration goes between present and past so as a reader you are full immersed into how both characters are dealing with the current situation.
The author pulled on your heart strings the entire time. You will finish this book with tears running down your face! An impactful and important read!
In No Light To Land On we meet Sama a young, married, pregnant Syrian woman heading to the airport to meet her husband Hadi, a Syrian who was granted refugee status in the US. Hadi went back home for a short trip and when he landed, he was told about the Muslim Travel Ban. He no longer had refugee status, he must go back “home” but where is home? Sama goes into labour not hearing from her husband or knowing what is happening.
Told from the perspective of Hadi and Sama we get their back story, how they both ended up in the US and how they fell in love. The narration goes between present and past so as a reader you are full immersed into how both characters are dealing with the current situation.
The author pulled on your heart strings the entire time. You will finish this book with tears running down your face! An impactful and important read!
December 18, 2022
This is a lyrical, beautiful book that shines a light on how people were treated during the travel ban. It is a tender love story. It is the plight of a mother. It is a meditation on migratory birds. It is an exploration of how we define home. I love this novel so much. Hadi and Sama will stay with me.
December 19, 2021
Break my heart why don’t you. With beautiful prose we can feel the heartbreak of many immigrants with no land to light on.
Two for two for this author. Consider me a fan.
Two for two for this author. Consider me a fan.
February 6, 2022
Wow, what a beautifully heartbreaking story about two Syrian immigrants living in America and the way their lives get upended in the face of changing immigration laws. Told in alternating timelines and from both Hadi and Sama's perspectives, this story is so timely and superbly well-written. I can't say enough good things about this book. Definitely a must-read, especially for fans of The beekeeper of Aleppo or Infinite country. Great on audio too.
January 21, 2022
"It has been observed that birds feel a sort of pain before taking off, almost like fear.. and that nothing alleviates that feeling except the rapid beating of wings."
I loved Yara's debut The Girls on 17 Swann Street. Zgheib's writing is magical, beautiful, and takes your breathe away.
A Syrian refugee Hadi and his pregnant wife Sama are trying to travel home to one another but are separated in America by a travel ban on immigrants and refugees. Oh my gosh so heartbreaking. This story ripped my heart out.
This story represents the aftermath of unjustified hatred and the power of love, compassion, and hope that brings this masterpiece alive.
I loved it and can't wait to read another novel by Zgheib.
4 stars
Thank you so much to Atria for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
I loved Yara's debut The Girls on 17 Swann Street. Zgheib's writing is magical, beautiful, and takes your breathe away.
A Syrian refugee Hadi and his pregnant wife Sama are trying to travel home to one another but are separated in America by a travel ban on immigrants and refugees. Oh my gosh so heartbreaking. This story ripped my heart out.
This story represents the aftermath of unjustified hatred and the power of love, compassion, and hope that brings this masterpiece alive.
I loved it and can't wait to read another novel by Zgheib.
4 stars
Thank you so much to Atria for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 29, 2021
*4-4.5 stars
A beautifully-written love story which examines the difficulties of immigration and being a stranger in a strange land, even in a country largely comprised of immigrants--difficulties that are worsened when the powers that be suddenly decide to change the rules. This story puts a human face on those struggles many of us only read about in the headlines. The tie-ins to bird migrations are very lyrically written.
I received an arc of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.
A beautifully-written love story which examines the difficulties of immigration and being a stranger in a strange land, even in a country largely comprised of immigrants--difficulties that are worsened when the powers that be suddenly decide to change the rules. This story puts a human face on those struggles many of us only read about in the headlines. The tie-ins to bird migrations are very lyrically written.
I received an arc of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.
January 2, 2022
No Land To Light On is so beautifully written. This story evoked so much emotion. It's raw and eye opening.
A heartbreaking and unique love story about a young Syrian couple who are torn apart by the 2017 travel ban.
This would be an excellent book club pick as there's a lot to unpack and discuss.
Many thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada as well as Atria Books for my gifted copy!
A heartbreaking and unique love story about a young Syrian couple who are torn apart by the 2017 travel ban.
This would be an excellent book club pick as there's a lot to unpack and discuss.
Many thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada as well as Atria Books for my gifted copy!
June 4, 2022
I did not want this book to end! Hadi and Sama’s situations were both so heartbreaking, but I loved Sama’s hope. I liked the alternating POVs and chapters about their pasts that were woven in. I’m not a fan of open endings, so I just wish we could actually see them reunited. The narrators all did an amazing job.
December 28, 2021
Edited to add:
I am actually going to change my review to a 4⭐️. I still loved this book, but after some reflection I decided that I didn’t love the inclusion of bird metaphors, the characters deserved more development to make their actions/decisions make more sense, and the author made it seem like America was great until Trump showed up, which clearly isn’t the case. Still obsessed with the writing and my review below still stands, but with time came a wider perspective which I think is important to note!
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No Land to Light on is achingly beautiful, and easily one of the best books i’ve read in a while.
The story follows Hadi and Sama, a Syrian couple who met in Boston and currently reside there. Sama is pregnant with their first child when Hadi has to fly to Jordan to attend his fathers funeral. Upon his return, he is unable to enter the country due to Trumps Muslim Ban. Although the characters were fictional, their story seemed real. The plot was heart wrenching, and it made me shocked all over again that this ban is something that actually happened in real life.
The descriptions of Syria were luscious and vibrant and at the same time utterly melancholy. A major portion of this book is focused on the immigrant experience, and it was so heartbreaking to hear about the grief that comes with being forced to leave home and never again feeling like you’re in the right place.
The highlight of this book for me was the writing. Zgheib’s prose was lyrical without being distracting. Every sentence was impactful. This is a short book (I think I read it in 2ish hours), and I found it impressive that the story was both so beautiful and so poignant in such few words. The short chapters and fragmented style also made the book compulsively readable and I couldn’t put it down.
The use of perspective was also very creative — and this is coming from someone who pretty much never notices this sort of thing. Some of the chapters are almost like letters written back and forth from Sama and Hadi, which are in second person. Then we have their love story/how they met/their own immigration stories, which are in third person. The present day storyline is in first person. It sounds like it would be confusing, but it wasn’t at all and actually weaved all the different timelines together so seamlessly.
My only complaint is that the ending seemed rushed and didn’t allow for much exploration of the characters motivations/decisions. I love short books, but I do think this story could’ve benefited from maybe 50-100 more pages.
I didn’t cry as much as I thought I would, but I definitely shed a few small tears towards the end. I cannot recommend this book enough and can’t wait to get a final copy once it is published in January.
*Many thanks to Netgalley and Atria books for providing an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review*
I am actually going to change my review to a 4⭐️. I still loved this book, but after some reflection I decided that I didn’t love the inclusion of bird metaphors, the characters deserved more development to make their actions/decisions make more sense, and the author made it seem like America was great until Trump showed up, which clearly isn’t the case. Still obsessed with the writing and my review below still stands, but with time came a wider perspective which I think is important to note!
————————-
No Land to Light on is achingly beautiful, and easily one of the best books i’ve read in a while.
The story follows Hadi and Sama, a Syrian couple who met in Boston and currently reside there. Sama is pregnant with their first child when Hadi has to fly to Jordan to attend his fathers funeral. Upon his return, he is unable to enter the country due to Trumps Muslim Ban. Although the characters were fictional, their story seemed real. The plot was heart wrenching, and it made me shocked all over again that this ban is something that actually happened in real life.
The descriptions of Syria were luscious and vibrant and at the same time utterly melancholy. A major portion of this book is focused on the immigrant experience, and it was so heartbreaking to hear about the grief that comes with being forced to leave home and never again feeling like you’re in the right place.
The highlight of this book for me was the writing. Zgheib’s prose was lyrical without being distracting. Every sentence was impactful. This is a short book (I think I read it in 2ish hours), and I found it impressive that the story was both so beautiful and so poignant in such few words. The short chapters and fragmented style also made the book compulsively readable and I couldn’t put it down.
The use of perspective was also very creative — and this is coming from someone who pretty much never notices this sort of thing. Some of the chapters are almost like letters written back and forth from Sama and Hadi, which are in second person. Then we have their love story/how they met/their own immigration stories, which are in third person. The present day storyline is in first person. It sounds like it would be confusing, but it wasn’t at all and actually weaved all the different timelines together so seamlessly.
My only complaint is that the ending seemed rushed and didn’t allow for much exploration of the characters motivations/decisions. I love short books, but I do think this story could’ve benefited from maybe 50-100 more pages.
I didn’t cry as much as I thought I would, but I definitely shed a few small tears towards the end. I cannot recommend this book enough and can’t wait to get a final copy once it is published in January.
*Many thanks to Netgalley and Atria books for providing an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review*
August 19, 2022
This is so beautifully written, the writing is just so engaging, and keeps you reading. It’s sad and heartbreaking and hopeful. It’s written from the perspective of Sama, a Syrian woman who has now made America home, who can’t imagine returning back to Syria. And Hadi, a Syrian man who is seeking refuge in America. Their romance soon develops and before long they are married and now expecting a child. Before the imminent arrival of their child, Hadi has to return to Syria, due to his father’s death and the funeral he needs to attend. He promises to return in a few days. While in the air, America enacts the Muslim Ban that sees many Muslim people unable to enter America. Hadi is one of them. He is made to sign papers that sees his refuge status revoked and his visa cancelled. It’s a fight against a system that is designed to keep on in their place. Sama has a decision to make. Highly recommend this book.
"He loved the peppery, chocolaty smell of soil, damp with the previous night. He loved working with his hands. In another life, he would have spent his on his father's land, pruning the trees, eating plums, and drinking lemonade in the shade. He loved Syria but had left Syria because in Syria there was a war."
"He loved the peppery, chocolaty smell of soil, damp with the previous night. He loved working with his hands. In another life, he would have spent his on his father's land, pruning the trees, eating plums, and drinking lemonade in the shade. He loved Syria but had left Syria because in Syria there was a war."
January 20, 2022
Ik heb eindelijk het gevoel dat ik weer kan ademen nu ik dit boek uit heb. Hadi en Sama zijn een jong Syrisch stel dat een thuis probeert te maken in Boston, Verenigde Staten. Zij volgde haar droom om aan Harvard te studeren, en hij is een vluchteling uit een bloedige burgeroorlog. Allebei hebben ze een andere betekenis van vrijheid, veiligheid en thuis. Wanneer Hadi naar Jordanië vliegt voor de begrafenis van zijn vader, blijft de zwangere Sama thuis. Bij terugkomst wordt Hadi aangehouden en teruggestuurd naar Jordanië waar hij gevangen zit in een tijdloze, nachtmerrieachtige limbo die je als lezer naar de keel vliegt. Het ideale beeld dat het stel had is in duigen gevallen. Je volgt hoe ze proberen een eenheid te blijven, vechtend tegen het gevoel van machteloosheid en Hadi terug te laten keren naar hun oude leven. Maar de vraag is of dat niet altijd een illusie is geweest. Betekenis 'Amerika' automatisch 'vrijheid'?
Een hartverscheurend verhaal met prachtige proza dat mij een persoonlijke kijk gaf op de reddende genade van mededogen, liefde en hoop. En de pijn die zoveel immigranten voelen omdat ze 'No land to light on' hebben.
Favoriete zin die nog lang door mijn hoofd zal spoken:
"It has been observed that birds feel a sort of pain before taking off, almost like fear . . . and that nothing alleviates that feeling except the rapid beating of wings."
Een hartverscheurend verhaal met prachtige proza dat mij een persoonlijke kijk gaf op de reddende genade van mededogen, liefde en hoop. En de pijn die zoveel immigranten voelen omdat ze 'No land to light on' hebben.
Favoriete zin die nog lang door mijn hoofd zal spoken:
"It has been observed that birds feel a sort of pain before taking off, almost like fear . . . and that nothing alleviates that feeling except the rapid beating of wings."
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