A fantasy novel that imagines what would happen if all Palestinians disappeared is on the longlist for the 2025 International Booker Prize.
Originally written in Arabic, The Book of Disappearance is Palestinian author Ibtisam Azem's second novel and was first published to wide acclaim in 2014. It has been translated into English by Sinan Antoon.
While revealing the longlist of 13 books for this year's International Booker Prize â 11 novels and two collections of short stories â on Tuesday evening, judges called The Book of Disappearance âan unforgettable glimpse into contemporary Palestine as it grapples with both the memory of loss and the loss of memoryâ.
âSpeculative and haunting, this is an exceptional exercise in memory-making and psycho-geography,â they said in a statement.
Speaking to The National in 2019, after the translated version of The Book of Disappearance was first published, Azem, who was born in Jaffa but later moved to Germany to study and then to New York, said the inspiration came out of her own personal experiences.
âFor me, it all became too much â politically and Âsocially. I had to leave. But when I started writing, I took that feeling of being invisible quite literally. I couldnât get this thought â of what would happen if Palestinians in Israel actually did disappear â out of my mind,â she said.
âIf you call it a fantasy, I guess that's a place where I could have a lot of freedom to talk about how things are, as well as how they could be. The opportunities were limitless.â
Azem's novel opens with Alaa, a young Palestinian man who recounts the death of his grandmother. She had survived the Nakba of 1948, but was displaced from her birthplace of Jaffa. Alaa's friend, Ariel, a liberal Zionist, is critical of the military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza yet faithful to the project of Israel. One day, Ariel wakes up to find that all Palestinians have suddenly vanished and begins investigating their collective disappearance.
The International Booker Prize, which recognises works translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland, is a companion award to the flagship Booker Prize, which awards works written in English. A further shortlist of six books will be announced on April 8, with the final winner of the £50,000 prize to be revealed at a ceremony in London on May 20.
This year's judging panel, chaired by English writer Max Porter, includes Nigerian author Caleb Femi; publisher Sana Goyal; South Korean writer Anton Hur and English singer-songwriter Beth Orton.
International Booker Prize 2025 longlist
â The Book of Disappearance by Ibtisam Azem, translated from Arabic by Sinan Antoon
â On the Calculation of Volume I by Solvej Balle, translated from Danish by Barbara J Haveland
â Thereâs a Monster Behind the Door by Gaelle Belem, translated from French by Karen Fleetwood and Laetitia Saint-Loubert
â Solenoid by Mircea Cartarescu, translated from Romanian by Sean Cotter
â Reservoir Bitches by Dahlia de la Cerda, translated from Spanish by Heather Cleary and Julia Sanches
â Small Boat by Vincent Delecroix, translated from French by Helen Stevenson
â Hunchback by Saou Ichikawa, translated from Japanese by Polly Barton
â Under the Eye of the Big Bird by Hiromi Kawakami, translated from Japanese by Asa Yoneda
â Eurotrash by Christian Kracht, translated from German by Daniel Bowles
â Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico, translated from Italian by Sophie Hughes
â Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq, translated from Kannada by Deepa Bhasthi
â On a Womanâs Madness by Astrid Roemer, translated from Dutch by Lucy Scott
â A Leopard-Skin Hat by Anne Serre, translated from French by Mark Hutchinson
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The biog
Profession: Senior sports presenter and producer
Marital status: Single
Favourite book: Al Nabi by Jibran Khalil Jibran
Favourite food: Italian and Lebanese food
Favourite football player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Languages: Arabic, French, English, Portuguese and some Spanish
Website: www.liliane-tannoury.com
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Day 1, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Sadeera Samarawickrama set pulses racing with his strokeplay on his introduction to Test cricket. It reached a feverish peak when he stepped down the wicket and launched Yasir Shah, who many regard as the worldâs leading spinner, back over his head for six. No matter that he was out soon after: it felt as though the future had arrived.
Stat of the day - 5 The last time Sri Lanka played a Test in Dubai â they won here in 2013 â they had four players in their XI who were known as wicketkeepers. This time they have gone one better. Each of Dinesh Chandimal, Kaushal Silva, Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, and Niroshan Dickwella â the nominated gloveman here â can keep wicket.
The verdict Sri Lanka want to make history by becoming the first team to beat Pakistan in a full Test series in the UAE. They could not have made a better start, first by winning the toss, then by scoring freely on an easy-paced pitch. The fact Yasir Shah found some turn on Day 1, too, will have interested their own spin bowlers.
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
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AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Section 375
Cast: Akshaye Khanna, Richa Chadha, Meera Chopra & Rahul Bhat
Director: Ajay Bahl
Producers: Kumar Mangat Pathak, Abhishek Pathak & SCIPL
Rating: 3.5/5
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WTA titles 3
Prize money US$11,128,219 (Dh40,873,133.82)
Wins / losses 293 / 149
UAE%20medallists%20at%20Asian%20Games%202023
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The Limehouse Golem
Director: Juan Carlos Medina
Cast: Olivia Cooke, Bill Nighy, Douglas Booth
Three stars
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
'Nope'
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Arrogate's winning run
1. Maiden Special Weight, Santa Anita Park, June 5, 2016
2. Allowance Optional Claiming, Santa Anita Park, June 24, 2016
3. Allowance Optional Claiming, Del Mar, August 4, 2016
4. Travers Stakes, Saratoga, August 27, 2016
5. Breeders' Cup Classic, Santa Anita Park, November 5, 2016
6. Pegasus World Cup, Gulfstream Park, January 28, 2017
7. Dubai World Cup, Meydan Racecourse, March 25, 2017
UAE v United States, T20 International Series
Both matches at ICC Academy, Dubai. Admission is free.
1st match: Friday, 2pm
2nd match: Saturday, 2pm
UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Rameez Shahzad, Amjad Gul, CP Rizwan, Mohammed Boota, Abdul Shakoor, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Amir Hayat
USA squad: Saurabh Netravalkar (captain), Jaskaran Malhotra, Elmore Hutchinson, Aaron Jones, Nosthush Kenjige, Ali Khan, Jannisar Khan, Xavier Marshall, Monank Patel, Timil Patel, Roy Silva, Jessy Singh, Steven Taylor, Hayden Walsh
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Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
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Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
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MATCH INFO:
Second Test
Pakistan v Australia, Tuesday-Saturday, 10amââ dailyâââââ at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Entrance is free
Eyasses squad
Charlie Preston (captain) â goal shooter/ goalkeeper (Dubai College)
Arushi Holt (vice-captain) â wing defence / centre (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Olivia Petricola (vice-captain) â centre / wing attack (Dubai English Speaking College)
Isabel Affley â goalkeeper / goal defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Jemma Eley â goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Alana Farrell-Morton â centre / wing / defence / wing attack (Nord Anglia International School)
Molly Fuller â goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Caitlin Gowdy â goal defence / wing defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Noorulain Hussain â goal defence / wing defence (Dubai College)
Zahra Hussain-Gillani â goal defence / goalkeeper (British School Al Khubairat)
Claire Janssen â goal shooter / goal attack (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Eliza Petricola â wing attack / centre (Dubai English Speaking College)
