Try free for 30 days

1 credit a month to use on any title, yours to keep (you’ll use your first credit on this title).
Stream or download thousands of included titles.
Access to exclusive deals and discounts.
$16.45 a month after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
Against the Loveless World cover art

Against the Loveless World

By: Susan Abulhawa
Narrated by: Susan Abulhawa
Try for $0.00

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $24.31

Buy Now for $24.31

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

Shortlisted for Palestine Book Award.

Bloomsbury presents Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa, read by Susan Abulhawa.  

Nahr has been confined to the Cube: nine square metres of glossy grey cinderblock, devoid of time, its patterns of light and dark nothing to do with day and night. Journalists visit her, but get nowhere; because Nahr is not going to share her story with them.    

The world outside calls Nahr a terrorist and a whore; some might call her a revolutionary, or a hero. But the truth is, Nahr has always been many things and had many names.    

She was a girl who learned, early and painfully, that when you are a second class citizen love is a kind of desperation; she learned, above all else, to survive.    

She was a girl who went to Palestine in the wrong shoes and without looking for it found what she had always lacked in the basement of a battered beauty parlour: purpose, politics, friends. She found a dark-eyed man called Bilal, who taught her to resist; who tried to save her when it was already too late.    

Nahr sits in the Cube and tells her story to Bilal. Bilal, who isn’t there; Bilal, who may not even be alive, but who is her only reason to get out.

©2020 Susan Abulhawa (P)2020 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Critic Reviews

"A thrilling, defiant novel." (Fatima Bhutto)

"A masterpiece." (Marc Lamont Hill)

''Wonderful.... Shines a ray of hope into some very dark places." (Michael Palin)

What listeners say about Against the Loveless World

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    28
  • 4 Stars
    3
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    24
  • 4 Stars
    4
  • 3 Stars
    2
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    29
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Powerfully written, a glimpse in to a world we all need to see.

I absolute loved this book. The authors writing is beautiful. Everyone needs to educate themselves on Palestine and her people. This has awakened me to the suffering and strength of these persecuted people.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Timely and beautifully written and narrated

The story line was haunting. Not one I’ll forget in a hurry whatsoever. It’s beautifully written and narrated. I wanted to make more of an effort to read and listen to Palestinian voices. If you’re considering it, i encourage you to give it a go.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliantly Executed Novel

This one was heavy, especially the first half, but full of life and complex characters and relationships. There are about 3 novel-worthy love stories woven into the background of Nahr's retelling of her life. Neither the author nor protagonist quibbles with both sides debates, it's very unapologetic - which depending on your own politics will read good or bad.

Sometimes the author's reading feels a little flat and dreamy, which softens the harsher voice of the protagonist and makes the sad parts especially sad.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautifully written

Against the Loveless World is a brutal and heart-breaking read. Despite this, Susan Abulhawa creates space for beauty, family and love to shine. Her nature and food writing is exquisite and provided an aching backdrop to the horror and trauma of Nahr's story.

I struggled a little with the narration - mostly the awkwardness and overacted voices of characters other than Nahr. The issues I had, however, were offset by the author reading her own work. Nahr's passion, sadness and spirit were beautifully rendered by the author's reading.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Kez
  • 17-03-2021

Brilliant!

This booked moved me in so many ways opening up my mind eyes to another world to which we are sheltered from. Truly amazing!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

memorable and timely

loved it. a must read to improve visibility of issues that have plagued the world for decades. we must find a solution to break the cycle. beautiful characters and love throughout the book. best read this year.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A beautiful and moving story of Palestinian women, written with such care and finesse.

A beautiful and moving story bringing a greater understanding of the plight of Palestinian woman delivered in a beautiful and meaningful way that made you feel like you were right there living the experiences, every step of the way. A great read for anyone who truly wants to understand in more detail about the plight of woman in the beautiful and yet suffering world of so many women. It was a privilege as a fellow published writer to read Susan’s words.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Palestinian life

An incredibly richly written odyssey of a Palestinian woman, from her childhood to her incarceration in a high-tech Israeli jail. The book is full of memorable people with their distinct culture, responding to and resisting the Israeli presence, while building relationships.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

It was the setting that drew me in, and then I was hooked.

An excellent story, beautifully told. Heartfelt and heartbreaking. I'm looking forward to her next book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.