Against the Loveless World

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of racism, physical abuse, and gender discrimination.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Against the Loveless World alternates between Nahr’s confinement in “the Cube” and her life before imprisonment. What did you think of this back-and-forth timeline? Did it do anything for the story that a chronological telling might not have?

2. Nahr’s transformation from a young woman disconnected from her Palestinian heritage to a committed resistance fighter spans decades and multiple countries. Which aspects of her journey resonated most strongly with you?

3. Susan Abulhawa writes a complex portrayal of diaspora and displacement throughout the novel. How does her approach to these themes compare with other exile narratives such as Mohsin Hamid’s Exit West or Viet Thanh Nguyen’s The Sympathizer?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Throughout the novel, characters develop different coping mechanisms to deal with displacement and trauma. What strategies have you developed in your own life to navigate difficult transitions or unexpected challenges?

2. The relationship between Nahr and Um Buraq evolves from exploitation to genuine friendship over many years. Can you recall a relationship in your life that began in one way but transformed into something entirely different?

3. Cultural identity is central to Nahr’s story as she navigates life between Kuwait, Jordan, and Palestine. In what ways has your sense of belonging been influenced by different places or communities?

4. Nahr refuses to feel shame about her past work despite societal judgment. When have you stood firm in your convictions despite facing criticism from others? What gave you the strength to maintain your position?

5. The novel explores how different generations relate to collective trauma differently. Nahr’s grandmother and mother have direct experience of the Nakba, while Nahr must discover her connection to Palestine. Have you noticed similar generational differences in how your family processes shared history or traditions?

6. For Nahr, the concept of home shifts repeatedly throughout the novel. What constitutes home for you? Is it tied to a physical place, to people, to memories, or something else entirely?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. What aspects of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East did this book illuminate that news coverage often fails to capture? How did Abulhawa’s portrayal of historical events like the Nakba, the Gulf War, and the Second Intifada deepen your understanding of Palestinian experiences?

2. How did the scenes of Western journalists visiting Nahr in prison make you reflect on your own assumptions about the Palestinian experience? Can literature provide insights that journalism cannot?

3. Abulhawa portrays gender expectations within Palestinian communities while also critiquing external stereotypes about Arab women. How does this dual perspective challenge Western views of women in the Middle East?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. What connections can you draw between Nahr’s literal imprisonment in “the Cube” and the larger constraints on Palestinian movement and autonomy? How effective is this spatial metaphor in conveying the Palestinian experience?

2. What insights does the recurring motif of Eastern dance provide about the relationship between art, identity, and resistance? How does Nahr’s relationship with dance evolve throughout her life journey?

3. Nahr is both protagonist and narrator, telling her story from prison. In what ways does her imprisonment influence how she recalls and presents past events to readers? Do you consider her a reliable narrator?

4. What statement does Abulhawa make about masculinity through her contrasting portrayals of Mhammad and Bilal? How do these representations compare to other complex male characters in Palestinian literature, such as those in Hala Alyan’s Salt Houses?

5. Water imagery flows throughout the novel, from Nahr’s name (which means “river”) to the shower in her prison cell that she names “Attar.” What significance does water hold for themes of displacement, cleansing, and renewal?

6. How do Nahr’s mother, grandmother, and Um Buraq embody different responses to occupation and patriarchy? Which of these women did you find most compelling, and why? Do their varying survival strategies offer different models of resistance?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Write an additional chapter set five years after the novel’s conclusion. What would happen to Nahr and Bilal? Would they continue their resistance work, build a life together in exile, or find another path?

2. What medium would you choose for a visual art piece inspired by Nahr’s story? What elements would you include to represent her journey? How would you capture the tension between confinement and freedom that defines much of her life?

3. The novel spans multiple decades of Middle Eastern history. If you were adapting this story for film or television, which historical events would you emphasize, and how would you help viewers understand their significance to the characters?

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