'Amid a series of personal disasters, Aliyah and her daughter, Sakina, retreat to rural NSW to make a new life. Aliyah manages to secure a run-down property and hires a farmhand, Shep, an extremely private Palestinian man and the region’s imām.
'During a storm, she drives past the town’s river and happens upon a childhood friend, Hana, who has been living a life of desperation. Aliyah takes her in and tries to navigate the indefinable relationships between both Hana and her farmhand. Tensions rise as Aliyah’s devotion to Hana is strained by her growing bond with Shep.
'Finally, all are thrown together for a reckoning alongside Hana’s brother Hashim, and Aliyah’s confidante, Billie – a local Kamilaroi midwife she met working at the hospital – while bushfires rage around them.' (Publication summary)
'Jumaana Abdu’s startling debut novel doesn’t explain Islam but explores its depths.'
'Each month we celebrate an Australian debut release of fiction or non-fiction in the Kill Your Darlings Debut Spotlight feature. For October that debut is Translations by Jumaana Abdu (Penguin Random House). Translations is a beautifully moving novel following the lives of Aliyah, her daughter Sakina, and her friend friend Hana as they grapple with a series of personal disasters while bushfires rage around them in rural New South Wales.' (Introduction)
'Jumaana Abdu’s startling debut novel doesn’t explain Islam but explores its depths.'
'Each month we celebrate an Australian debut release of fiction or non-fiction in the Kill Your Darlings Debut Spotlight feature. For October that debut is Translations by Jumaana Abdu (Penguin Random House). Translations is a beautifully moving novel following the lives of Aliyah, her daughter Sakina, and her friend friend Hana as they grapple with a series of personal disasters while bushfires rage around them in rural New South Wales.' (Introduction)
