Based on a true story, The Stray Cats of Homs (Doubleday, £12.99; Tablet price £11.69), by journalist Eva Nour (a pseudonym), explores the brutality of the Syrian conflict. Nour was inspired to write the novel after meeting and falling in love with the real “Sami”, the Syrian protagonist who lives through the Homs nightmare. He endures national service, witnesses the death of friends, survives bombing and starvation, before escaping to Lebanon and finding asylum in France. Despite witnessing unspeakable horror, Sami manages to retain his humanity and dignity.
08 October 2020, The Tablet
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