This is one of those books that I will forever use as a marker in my life. The main character asked questions of herself that I am asking myself now.
There are many literary references that I didn't fully understand, but, as a former resident in Jerusalem, the political and social setting was crystal clear. These people are caged by conventions. They also break free of them in their own way. They click into place like puzzle pieces and hint at multiple untold stories.
I thought the ending was a bit cloying, but the journey there was grand. This book is a far more sophisticated version of The Storied Life of AJ Fikry and a culture connect to The Story of Zahra.