The Stray Cats of Homs : The unforgettable, heart-breaking novel inspired by extraordinary true events

Eva Nour
The Stray Cats of Homs : The unforgettable, heart-breaking novel inspired by extraordinary true events
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The Stray Cats of Homs : The unforgettable, heart-breaking novel inspired by extraordinary true events
ISBN: 9780857526762
Publication Date: 4 August 2020

An unforgettable debut novel, inspired by the true story of one boy's extraordinary life in Syria. For fans of The Kite Runner, The Beekeeper of Aleppo, The Pianist of Yarmouk and The Tattooist of Auschwitz.

'This is a searing and incredibly important book, storytelling at its best'
Donal Ryan

'A cat has seven souls in Arabic. In English cats have nine lives. You probably have both nine lives and seven souls, because otherwise I don't know how you've made it this far.' Sami's childhood is much like any other - an innocent blend of family and school, of friends and relations and pets (including stray cats and dogs, and the turtle he keeps on the roof).

But growing up in one of the largest cities in Syria, with his country at war with itself, means that nothing is really normal. And Sami's hopes for a better future are ripped away when he is conscripted into the military and forced to train as a map maker.

Sami may be shielded from the worst horrors of the war, but it will still be impossible to avoid his own nightmare

Inspired by extraordinary true events, The Stray Cats of Homs is the story of a young man who will do anything to keep the dream of home alive, even in the face of unimaginable devastation. Tender, wild and raw, it is a novel which will stay with you for ever.

About the Author

Eva Nour is a journalist writing under a pseudonym. She was inspired to write The Stray Cats of Homs, her debut novel, by meeting and falling in love with the real 'Sami'. Today the couple share a life together in Paris.