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  • What Strange Paradise

  • A Novel
  • Written by: Omar El Akkad
  • Narrated by: Dion Graham
  • Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (166 ratings)

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What Strange Paradise

Written by: Omar El Akkad
Narrated by: Dion Graham
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Publisher's Summary

A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEARFrom the widely acclaimed, bestselling author of American War—a beautifully written, unrelentingly dramatic, and profoundly moving novel that looks at the global refugee crisis through the eyes of a child.

"Told from the point of view of two children, on the ground and at sea, the story so astutely unpacks the us-versus-them dynamics of our divided world that it deserves to be an instant classic." —The New York Times Book Review

More bodies have washed up on the shores of a small island. Another overfilled, ill-equipped, dilapidated ship has sunk under the weight of its too many passengers: Syrians, Ethiopians, Egyptians, Lebanese, Palestinians, all of them desperate to escape untenable lives back in their homelands. But miraculously, someone has survived the passage: nine-year-old Amir, a Syrian boy who is soon rescued by Vänna. Vänna is a teenage girl, who, despite being native to the island, experiences her own sense of homelessness in a place and among people she has come to disdain. And though Vänna and Amir are complete strangers, though they don’t speak a common language, Vänna is determined to do whatever it takes to save the boy.

In alternating chapters, we learn about Amir’s life and how he came to be on the boat, and we follow him and the girl as they make their way toward safety. What Strange Paradise is the story of two children finding their way through a hostile world. But it is also a story of empathy and indifference, of hope and despair—and about the way each of those things can blind us to reality.

©2021 Omar El Akkad (P)2021 Random House Audio

What the critics say

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE WASHINGTON POST, NPR, BuzzFeed • Winner of the 2021 Scotiabank Giller Prize • Finalist for the 2022 Aspen Words Literary Prize • Finalist for the 2022 Oregon Book Award

“Extraordinary . . . Told from the point of view of two children, on the ground and at sea, the story so astutely unpacks the us-versus-them dynamics of our divided world that it deserves to be an instant classic. I haven’t loved a book this much in a long time.” —Wendell Steavenson, The New York Times Book Review

“Riveting . . . Nothing I’ve read before has given me such a visceral sense of the grisly predicament confronted by millions of people expelled from their homes by conflict and climate change. Though What Strange Paradise celebrates a few radical acts of compassion, it does so only by placing those moments of moral courage against a vast ocean of cruelty.” —Ron Charles, The Washington Post

“Hope and kindness light the story in unexpected ways . . . El Akkad's precise prose allows him to inject heartfelt observations throughout the novel . . . Perhaps El Akkad's biggest accomplishment with What Strange Paradise is that it manages to push past political talking points and shocking statistics to rehumanize the discussion about migration on a global scale, and it does so with enough heart to be memorable.” —Gabino Iglesias, NPR

Giller 2021 Shortlist Author Spotlight: Omar El Akkad

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What listeners say about What Strange Paradise

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Perspectives on modern tragedies

I chose this book as it is part of Canada Reads 2022. I am glad it was selected as I’m not sure I would have found it otherwise. Very well written. Took me beyond the headlines of migrants arriving in terrible condition on the shores of the Mediterranean, simply headlines, or news headlines of islanders overwhelmed by the seemingly endless arrivals. The story of one boy migrant and one girl islander. Innocence and desperation in a touching tale. I am no closer in my thinking on solutions or responses, but I have a greater understanding of, and compassion for, the thousands impacted.

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So moving

A beautifully narrated book for our times describing the horrific trials encountered by desperate people seeking a better life. Moving, sad, hopeful, encouraging, disgusting - all met in this one story.

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Story of refugees

a beautifully written and descriptive story of a family in flight from their own homeland, how they arecdeslt with and where they land after an awful sea voyage and how then they are accepted..or not. hardship is norm

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Catharsis

This is a stunning, breathtaking experience. A memorial book. One I recommend highly. You will weep.

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Boring and Slightly Confusing

I like the story idea overall but it was very confusing to keep track of the before and after parts because it skipped between the two every chapter. Also I would have never finished the book if it was for personal enjoyment rather than a school required read because he over explains and describes things to a point where you just want to skip half the book because its boring.

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fabulous

beautifully written. a very sweet story. great characters. i did not want it to end.

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Excellent

Great read from a different perspective. Seeing this side of the story is an important one!!

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  • Catherine Kennedy
  • 2021-08-14

Absolutely terrific.

I bought this on a whim. Seems like a topical story. A boatload of desperate refugees shipwrecks off a Greek Island and only one 9 year old boy survives. It is really a story about the connection we all have, even with those who come from a different land and don't speak our language. It was inspiring. You will feel better for listening to this story.

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  • Digit Head
  • 2023-06-11

Beautiful

From the written word to the wonderful narration this is an important and beautiful story. The only time I wished I had the book was at the ending. Sometimes I need to read the endings again.

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  • Bobby Hollywood
  • 2023-05-12

Excellent!

Couldn’t stop listening! Gripping story! Been a long time since I listened to such a good story!

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  • Frederic
  • 2023-03-16

Essential reading

El Akkad is proving to be one of the most interesting writers of his generation.

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  • storymum
  • 2023-01-08

Some of the most beautiful writing I’ve ever encountered

Enlightening, thought provoking, finely drawn characters, and a few symphonies of words that will absolutely take your breath away.

The narrator does a great job with dialogue and accents, but goes way over the top with simple narratives. You have to work hard to ignore his melodramatics. Such a shame. If he would have knocked that off, it would be a near perfect piece of work.

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  • Anke
  • 2022-12-01

Coldness in the undertone

The author seems a bit detached from the feeling of these children. Didn’t finish because it was missing a sense of warmness for me. The very neutral observation without deeper feelings and a just average performance are not enough. I was hoping for more.

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  • Annie
  • 2022-07-07

Just couldn't get into the story.

This was a book club selection and I was late getting started with it so decided to listen rather than read since I it was a very busy month for me. Listening is allowed by the book club but not encouraged since we are a book club, after all. Like I said, I found I had to make myself listen to the book. I don't know if the reason was the book was just so depressing or
or at least for me it just seemed to drag on and on. All in all it was just not my kind if book.

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 2022-04-25

Horrible Narrator

The narrator had…a strange way of…pausing during his sentences. If you came…looking for a story like…American War…you will be…disappointed. If you found yourself…annoyed while reading my review…then you probably won’t…enjoy the narration of this…half baked story.

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  • Claudia Balderston
  • 2021-12-23

excellent read

A commentary on the modern immigrant experience revealed in a plot driven clever way. not a polemic.

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  • Martha Ressler
  • 2021-10-15

Upside down fairy tale

El Akkad wanted to make an impact on his readers minds and hearts beyond what the daily headlines could accomplish, so easily read and then forgotten.
His story mesmerizes us fills us with hope about the fate of this one young immigrant boy.
In his quiet Way El Akkad screams the truth and tragedy of immigrants.
You won't forget Amir.

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