What Strange Paradise

What Strange Paradise is a 2021 novel written by acclaimed writer Omar El Akkad, author of American War. The plot is split between “Before” chapters, depicting protagonist Amir’s life as a refugee fleeing Syria as well as his time aboard an ill-fated refugee boat, and “After” chapters, in which he meets the secondary protagonist, Vänna, and contends with the perils of a country hostile to immigrants. El Akkad’s novel sheds light on the motives of migrants and refugees, as well as the insecurities and violence that plague the countries that receive them. What Strange Paradise was a New York Times notable book of the year in addition to being rated as one of the best books of 2021 by the Washington Post, NPR, and Buzzfeed, among others. The novel won the 2021 Scotiabank Giller Prize and was a finalist for the 2022 Aspen Words Literary Prize and the Oregon Book Award.

Born in Cairo, Egypt, Omar El Akkad grew up in Doha, Qatar, moved to Canada, and currently lives in Portland, Oregon. As an award-winning journalist, he has reported on major conflicts across the world, including the US war in Afghanistan, the trials at Guantánamo Bay, the Arab Spring in Egypt, and Black Lives Matter in Ferguson, Missouri.