gifted by the publisher

After hearing a bizarre short story, Khaled becomes obsessed with the power of words and moves from Libya to the UK for school. When a protest turns violent, Khaled finds himself in exile and, over the next decades, struggles to define his sense of self as the Arab Spring erupts.

Devastatingly beautiful yet cautiously hopeful, MF is a propulsive meditation on friendship & family. Apart from the writing that makes this a slow but compelling read, I loved Khaled's deep character development as his friendship deepens. I also resonated deeply with the unique lens of building a home and finding belonging apart from one's homeland.

Matar's prose evokes deep melancholy following Khaled's exile while dissecting the life-saving power of friendships & their evolution through the decades. It's impossible to put my love for this book into words, so I'll just say MF is my favorite read of the year (so far