Syria's Secret Library

July 1, 2019
A BBC reporter's portrait of Darayya library in Syria, "a secret library filled with thousands of books rescued from the rubble of war." Telling an extraordinary story with consummate narrative skill, putting readers directly in the thick of the action, Thomson grabs our attention from the beginning and doesn't let go. The author relied on Skype and WhatsApp for much of his reporting. Though the internet was often down, people recorded answers to his questions on their mobiles, ready to send when the connection was restored. Surrounded in 2012 by government forces, Darayya was subjected to bombing, chemical attacks, and siege for four long years, which makes the survival of a secret library even more remarkable. In 2013, amid the devastation of bombed-out buildings, a devoted group salvaged books from private libraries, council offices, and ruined buildings, at great personal risk. The new library's overseer was Abdul Basit, followed closely by 14-year-old Amjad, the "self-declared Chief Librarian." Other caretakers included students of civil engineering and chemistry and a rebel fighter. The revolution ended all university work, but the library found textbooks to help students continue. Their site was top secret, a basement in a side street with destroyed upper floors and no sign. Word of mouth was the only way to find it. When they did discover it, their joy reflected the deep need for normality in a war zone. The appearance of the "Syrian Banksy," with his inspiring graffiti, produced hope for the present, and the library gave people hope for the future. Throughout the book, readers will be impressed and inspired by the resilience of these people. When the siege ended, the citizens of Darayya were evacuated, mostly to Idlib, another revolutionary center near the Turkish border, and allowed only a suitcase or two--no books. Thomson's reporting is unquestionably thorough and compassionate. A fantastic, timely story, beautifully told, of a civilization's refusal to die.

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July 15, 2019
In this compassionate account, journalist Thomson knits together and expands his reporting for the BBC on the underground library in the Syrian town of Darayya. He explains that the town, just outside of Damascus, was the location of some of the heaviest fighting of the Syrian civil war; its remaining inhabitants were forcibly relocated to refugee camps in the north of the country in 2016. But rather than give in to despair during the siege, the holdouts who remained undertook a remarkable initiative: to construct an underground library, with thousands of books salvaged from the rubble. In Thomson’s telling, “this literary haven offered more than an escape from bombs and boredom. It was to become a portal to another world: one of learning, one of peace, and one of hope.” While the book doesn’t offer broader context on the Syrian conflict, Thomson succeeds in humanizing his subjects; the stories of such individuals as Amjad, a young boy who “managed to educate himself by reading all these books and taking on the responsibility of running the library,” demonstrate the ability of the human spirit to persevere and find meaning in even the most inhumane conditions. The stories Thomson relates, of great courage and fortitude in the service of literature and education, will move readers.

June 21, 2019

BBC News journalist Thomson was intrigued by rumors of a secret library in the besieged Syrian rebel city of Daraya. He contacts residents there who were involved in building the library and learns about their motivations for collecting books when bombs are falling and food is scarce. The story expands into an account of life under siege, as people cope with increased attacks; lack of food, fuel, and medical supplies; and a constant fear of death. The library becomes a place where they can experience a sense of community and escape as well as obtain a small degree of normalcy. Even with the tragedy unfolding around them, Syrians are surprisingly hopeful about their situation and the role the library plays in their lives. Thomson helpfully provides background on Daraya and events of the civil war to give context to the narrative. One small drawback is that the author tends to insert unnecessarily his own experiences and reactions into the story, although the Syrians' harrowing accounts speak for themselves. VERDICT A compelling window into the lives of Syrians' living in a war zone. Recommended for readers interested in the Syrian civil war and the refugee crisis.--Rebekah Kati, Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

In terms of both content and narration, this audiobook is a fine example of how compelling nonfiction can be. The story comes from BBC reporter Mike Thomson, who used mainly Skype and WhatsApp to interview a group of Syrians who are risking their lives to run a secret library in the war-torn city of Darayya. Narrator David Rintoul offers a commanding and erudite voice to Thomson's journalistic work. He skillfully captures the narrative's inherent sense of humanity, hope, and resilience during the worst of times. Audiophiles and bibliophiles will surely appreciate this true story of how books and reading are essential parts of any culture. A.T.N. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

Starred review from August 1, 2019
BBC journalist Thomson's first book grew from his popular story featuring the secret library created and maintained by the citizens of Daraya, a Syrian city that endured years of violent conflict beginning with a massacre in 2012. The library fascinates. Purposely created in a dangerous location using books rescued from bombed-out houses, it was managed by 14-year-old Amjad, who could not reach the top shelf and who tracked the books' original owners for return after the war. On its face, the secret library appears to be dangerous folly. Why risk life for books? Thomson finds the answer by talking with Daraya's people, who believe in their future and want to prepare for it. Farmers risk sniper fire to grow food in any available soil for people living on a single daily meal. An artist paints murals of hope on buildings in the night. A teacher holds class in a dark basement. A dentist tends teeth as best he can without equipment. Writing in a clear and thoughtful style, Thomson obviously cares for the people he is reporting about. This book marries geopolitical understanding of Syria's war with deeply emotional stories of humans dealing with a horrifying reality in extraordinary ways.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)