The Book of Disappearance

[SarahKat, Buddy Reads]

This thread is to discuss The Book of Disappearance by Ibtisam Azem.

Pages: 256 pages

Length: 1 month (July)

Participants: Lorraine, Valerie

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

Here are some questions to help get the conversation started! Feel free to look up discussion questions specific to this book or come up with your own. Just make sure any questions that contain spoilers are under spoiler tags.
Discussion questions are not required but may be a fun way to talk about the book and get to know each other!

Prior to starting:
What prompted you to join this buddy read?
Have you read this author before? What do you think of their other books?

Mid-read:
What character or ideas do you relate to the most and why?
Do you have any favorite quotes or scenes?

After reading:
What was enjoyable or not-so-enjoyable about this book?
Did this book change your perception about anything, either within the book (character development) or in real life?

[Lorraine]

Hello Valerie. Ready when you are.

[Valerie]

Ok probably start this at the weekend. Looks interesting.

[Lorraine]

Perfect. Yes it does look interesting. I wonder what the author think of what is happening 10 years later in Palestine ( book was written in 2014).

[Lorraine]

I've read up to Chapter 10. We've now met Ariel and Alaa, our two protagonists, and the story is moving into the heart of the action—(view spoiler)[the disappearance of all the Palestinians. It's striking that the first reaction from many people is anger or frustration over the lack of services they’ve grown used to, rather than concern for what might have happened to the people who provided them. On top of that, there's a growing fear of a potential Palestinian attack—even though no one knows where they are. Given how large the Palestinian population is, it seems almost impossible that they could all simply vanish without a trace, doesn't it? (hide spoiler)]

[Lorraine]

I'm at Chapter 20 now. (view spoiler)[ Alaa’s character is deeply moving — we really feel his inner struggle through the journal entries he writes to his grandmother. We still don’t know what happened to all the Palestinians or why it occurred, but once again, the reactions from the Israeli side are puzzling. I’m starting to wonder if Ariel will be the one to provide us with the answers we’re looking for.

Reading this has also made me want to watch No Other Land, the 2025 Oscar-winning film. Have you seen it? (hide spoiler)]

[Beth]

Oooh, I missed this when it was posted as a suggested in the main thread. I just took this from the library, and I'll be joining you soon. I have a few other books due back at the library in the next few days, so I likely won't start reading until this weekend at the earliest.

[Valerie]

Welcome Beth!

[Valerie]

Lorraine wrote: "I've read up to Chapter 10. We've now met Ariel and Alaa, our two protagonists, and the story is moving into the heart of the action—[spoilers removed]"

Also at chapter 10. It’s very well written and flows along really well so far. (view spoiler)[ yes the disappearance part remains to be explained but I do think that initially the irritation of missing workers and services would be the reaction. I think there is an element of disbelief amongst the local population and a sense that the Arab population are hiding out to make a point. It reminds me of when a few years ago there was a movement in the US to organise ‘a day without Mexicans’ to make a point about how essential they were. (hide spoiler)]

[Valerie]

Lorraine wrote: "I'm at Chapter 20 now. Alaa’s character is deeply moving — we really feel his inner struggle through the journal entries he writes to his grandmother. We still don’t know what happened to all the ..."
At chapter 20. (view spoiler)[ I agree that Alana’s voice is very powerful and moving, and the fact that he addresses his thoughts to his grandmother works really well. They really had a very special relationship and she is his link to the past. Ariel’s voice is less strong and clear and he seems confused, not least because the journal is revealing that he really didn’t know his friend at all (hide spoiler)]

[Lorraine]

Beth wrote: "Oooh, I missed this when it was posted as a suggested in the main thread. I just took this from the library, and I'll be joining you soon. I have a few other books due back at the library in the ne..."

Welcome! It's a very interesting book.

[Lorraine]

At Chapter 37. I had to stop myself from finishing it this afternoon, but I’ll definitely finish it tomorrow. (view spoiler)[ We still don’t know what happened to the Palestinians, but we’re learning more about Ariel’s and Alaa’s families, as well as about events that took place during the Naksa. I’m not sure who the woman is yet, but I suspect she might be Alaa’s grandmother—though I may have missed something. I really like this book, even if it’s difficult to read right now, knowing what’s happening in Gaza, where people are starving and being fired at. (hide spoiler)]

[Lorraine]

On another note, I am still not getting notifications.

[Valerie]

At chapter 32. Definitely a sense of unease prevailing as the wait for an explanation continues. Imagination fills a vacuum when news is not forthcoming, that’s just the way the human mind works (view spoiler)[ Ariel seems to be getting nowhere in his investigations but he keeps trying to find a logical explanation. There is a parallel with Alaa in his relationship with his grandfather who is a strong influence on Ariel’s interpretation and justification of history. Very different from those that Alaa inherited from his grandmother. I wonder how much they revealed to each other or whether Ariel hid his views in the same way as Alaa in order to stay friends. (hide spoiler)]

[Valerie]

Finished. Definitely a book that lingers in your mind after the end (view spoiler)[ the fact that the central mystery is never explained but is left deliberately open has me wondering not just what happened but also what would happen if they all suddenly reappeared like ghosts haunting their former lives. Its central theme of inherited memories, and their link to cultural identity and a place that really only now exists in those memories, is very powerful and thought provoking. I like the way the author embraces all the complexities and contradictions of the situation without trying to make it simple to understand. Overall, it’s a book that makes me sad because 11 years later the situation remains in desperate need of a solution to end the cycles of violence and suffering and even further from achieving it. (hide spoiler)]

[Lorraine]

I completely agree with you, Valerie — this book stays with you long after you’ve finished it. (view spoiler)[ I’m still thinking about the story, especially the way people reacted to the disappearance of their friends, colleagues, and neighbors. What disturbs me most is how easily they take over their apartments, homes, and belongings, showing little sign of mourning for those who were once important to them.

I wonder if the author is trying to show how, after years and years of war, people become numb — or perhaps this is what it feels like when the world turns a blind eye to your disappearance. And yes, it’s heartbreaking that eleven years after the book was written, the situation remains unchanged. In fact, even more people have lost their lives in this never-ending conflict.

It’s a powerful and haunting story. As soon as I finished the book, I lent it to my neighbor — I hope more and more people will read it and start reflecting more deeply on the ongoing situation between Palestinians and Israelis. (hide spoiler)]

[Beth]

I started this a few times but got distracted. I still have it on loan from Libby so want to read it before I have to return it and before this thread is archived!