“No One Prayed Over Their Graves” by Khaled Khalifa (Syria)

Synopsis

December, 1907: one morning after a night of drunken carousing in the city, Hanna and his friend Zakariya return home to their village near Aleppo—only to discover a scene of tragedy. A devastating flood has levelled their homes, shops and places of worship, and their neighbours, families and children are nearly all dead. Their lives will never be the same.

Tracing Hanna’s life before and after the flood—when he embarks on a search for the meaning of life—No One Prayed Over Their Graves is a portrait of a wider society on the verge of great change; from the provincial village to the burgeoning modernity of the city, where Christians, Muslims, and Jews live and work together, united in their love for Aleppo and their dreams for the future.

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Review

“No One Prayed Over Their Graves” is an ambitious, often overwhelming novel that dives into Syria’s tumultuous history through a sprawling cast of characters. The book paints a vivid portrait of Aleppo’s multicultural past, navigating religious zeal, revenge, and the decline of the Ottoman Empire. Khalifa’s dense prose and fragmented structure can be disorienting, especially with minimal dialogue and constantly shifting perspectives. While readers appreciated the historical insights and beautifully rendered vignettes, they found the narrative too crowded and said it felt like being on a emotional rollercoaster ride—loving the story at times, and hating it at others. One reader suggested that the density of the English version might stem from the translation of Arabic, a naturally poetic language.

Readers agreed that the novel’s strength lies in its evocative detail and exploration of themes like the selfishness of the elite and the chaos of competing ideologies. However, the sheer number of characters and the many tangled dysfunctional relationships made it a slog to follow, with many figures—including the protagonist Hanna—failing to leave a lasting impact. Despite some moments of brilliance and a compelling final act, the book’s jarring structure and emotional detachment frustrated readers who were seeking a more cohesive or character-driven experience.

This sixth book of Season 25 scored 6.6 out of 10.

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Nicola’s Book Club reading list

Season 25 – 20^th anniversary (Oct 2024 – Jun 2025)

“Happiness™” by Will Ferguson (Canada)
“A Long Petal of the Sea” by Isabel Allende (Chile)
“Claire of the Sea Light” by Edwidge Danticat (Haiti) *
“Beyond the Door of No Return” by David Diop (Senegal)
“Happiness” by Aminatta Forna (UK – London)
“No One Prayed Over Their Graves” by Khaled Khalifa (Syria)
“How We Disappeared” by Jing-Jing Lee (Singapore)
“Amnesia” by Peter Carey (Australia)

* The book club favourite
In italics, Nicola’s Coup de Cœur