The Woman I Left Behind tells the story of a love between a Palestinian student and a young American woman. This remarkable debut novel explores the difficulties of an intercultural relationship, and it gives us a rare glimpse into Palestinian history and culture. Set in Southern California during the first Gulf War with flashback scenes in Jerusalem and Beirut, The Woman I Left Behind reveals the cultural dilemmas that inevitably occur when lovers from different worlds come together.
The novel's two engaging main characters live on the artistic and political fringe of society. Irene is a student activist on the brink of maturity and intellectual independence. Khalid is a charismatic, yet contradictory figure, who has been indelibly scarred by his experiences of deportation, war, and exile. The novel chronicles—in powerful, poetic language—each character's struggle to overcome the personal and political barriers that divide them.
With its detailed depictions of modern Palestinian history, as well as its colorful cast of supporting characters—from Palestinian feminists to American cyberpunks—The Woman I Left Behind reiterates the vital connections between politics, the imagination, and the most intimate aspects of our lives.
