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Apeirogon

By: Colum McCann
Narrated by: Colum McCann
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Publisher's Summary

Bloomsbury presents Apeirogon by Colum McCann, read by Colum McCann.

Longlisted for The 2020 Booker Prize

A New York Times best seller

A BBC Book of 2020

Chosen as a Book of The Year by The Sunday Times, Observer, Guardian, I Paper, Financial Times, New Statesman, Scotsman, Irish Times, BBC.com, Waterstones.com

The novel of a lifetime about two men and their daughters: divided by conflict, yet united in grief.

Rami Elhanan and Bassam Aramin live near one another – yet they exist worlds apart. Rami is Israeli. Bassam is Palestinian. Rami’s license plate is yellow. Bassam’s license plate is green. It takes Rami fifteen minutes to drive to the West Bank. The same journey for Bassam takes an hour and a half.

Both men have lost their daughters. Rami’s 13-year-old girl Smadar was killed by a suicide bomber while out shopping with her friends. Bassam’s 10-year-old daughter Abir was shot and killed by a member of the border police outside her school. There was a candy bracelet in her pocket she hadn’t had time to eat yet.

The men become the best of friends.

In this epic novel – named for a shape with a countably infinite number of sides – Colum McCann crosses centuries and continents, stitching time, art, history, nature and politics into a tapestry of friendship, love, loss and belonging. Musical, muscular, delicate and soaring, Apeirogon is the novel for our times.

©2020 Colum McCann (P)2020 Penguin Random House Audio

Critic Reviews

"Nothing like any book you’ve ever read.... Think of discovering an entirely unprecedented, and profoundly true, narrative form. Think about feeling that the very idea of the novel, of what it can be and what it’s capable of containing, has been expanded, forever.... All I can really tell you is, read McCann’s book. It’s an important book." (Michael Cunningham)

"The tale of a friendship between an Israeli and a Palestinian.... Composed of 1,001 chapters, it has won effusive praise from early readers." (New Statesman)

"A quite extraordinary novel. Colum McCann has found the form and voice to tell the most complex of stories, with an unexpected friendship between two men at its powerfully beating heart." (Kamila Shamsie)

What listeners say about Apeirogon

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  • Overall
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Mesmerising

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is complicated and Colum McCann’s story responds with sophistication, sensitivity, nuance and depth. It is a great tribute to those on all sides searching for peace. I enjoyed listening to McCann’s narration - including his rhythm and Irish accent - and will certainly look out for his other novels.

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4 people found this helpful

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Column McCann weaves a golden thread through his novel

I am in awe of this writer.. a truly original storyteller that places vignettes of art history and nature as the story of two bereaved men on either side of the Arab- Israeli conflict come together to try to end the Israeli occupation of Palestine . A story that teaches on so many levels…

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1 person found this helpful

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Conflict and grief on a macro and micro scale

As a reader with general knowledge of the IsraelPalestine conflict but no more, this was thought provoking and compelling listening. The novel format presents challenges as an audio book but the narration (by the author) is wonderful. There are 1001 chapters of fact and fiction, with many chapters just a phrase long - each providing a segue into a new tangent, relevant to the main story. Each chapter is prefaced by the chapter number which can be distracting at times - at other times it makes for a moment to savour. Beautifully written, angry, tender, funny, heartbreaking.... go on the journey.

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Many stories within the story

Made up of 1001 chapters. Many chapters just a few words the longest about a page but each chapter can contain a greater story in itself. The overall story wasn’t what won it for me but the stories within the chapters. It lead me to research more from some chapters just out great interest.

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Breathtaking

Do not expect a linear read as McCann is exploring the complexities of war and the fragile possibility of peace. Hold this. Hold that. Everything is threaded to something else. Loved it. Will come back to it again and again.

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Beautifully balanced storyline

Loved the story and it's historical context. Broke the mould of us versus them so delicately.

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Extraordinary

This book puts you there. With the protagonists, their families and within the Occupation with its petty intrusions on daily life, its significant limitations on daily life and its occasional mortal dangers.

I feel privileged to have read it. That privilege is available to you all.

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  • Overall
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Closest capture of living in Israel and West Bank

Closest ever capture of living in Israel and West Bank outside of actually living there

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3 people found this helpful

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Apeirogon

It was amazing in its breadth and depth. I loved hearing the writer’s voice. Having visited this part of the world and seen glimmers of the conflict I was overwhelmed by the experiences of Rami and Bassam and the transformations of each one’s spirit into a Combatant for Peace. Wonderful, wonderful book.

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Powerful and insightful story

A powerful and insightful story of the Palestine and Israeli struggles. Normally an author narrating their work is a negative. Not on this occasion.

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