Nominated for the Booker Prize 2020. Bassam Aramin is Palestinian. Rami Elhanan is Israeli. They live in a place of conflict that colors every aspect of their lives, from the streets they are allowed to drive on to the checkpoints, both physical and mental, they must pass through daily. Two similar tragic incidents, related to their daughters, mark them forever. Rami and Bassam are thus raised to hate each other. However, the loss of their children is a shared experience that will unite them for a higher purpose. Together, they decide to harness their heavy personal grief as a weapon for peace, recounting their stories again and again in front of an audience, believing that if they managed to overcome their differences, the same could happen for others.
In "Apeiron", with the central axis being the true and unpredictable friendship of two fathers, crossing centuries and continents, drawing elements from nature, art, history, and politics, Colum McCann composes a multi-dimensional, heartbreaking, and hopeful novel.
"Apeiron is a wonderful book. McCann's pen, with exquisite attention to detail, is full of humanity as it describes inhumane situations and things. The result literally captivates you. At the peak of his literary prowess, McCann gives us a book that we unfortunately needed. Personally, it left me with a sense of hope – this is its great gift. What a remarkable read!" Elizabeth Strout
"An authentic literary achievement. McCann's latest novel may be the best he has written so far." Kirkus Reviews
"McCann performs his own epic tightrope walk between life and art, brilliantly illuminating the side effects of violence and grief, as well as the miraculous power of friendship and love, courage and truth." Booklist
