‘The Arsonists’ City’ Review: An Arab Perspective From Beirut to Cali

“The Arsonists’ City” by Hala Alyan, published by HarperCollins in 2021, is the story of a family, spanning generations and decades. It’s also the story of Lebanon, of Syria, of Palestine and of the trauma inflicted on their people — trauma that gets passed down to future generations.

If you’re a fan of character-driven, multi-generational family stories, then this is the book for you. It’s also a story about homeland and immigration, and being a child of immigrants. Unlike most books about Arab American families, this one feels grounded in reality and doesn’t stereotype the characters in any way. Take a look at our review to decide if “The Arsonists’ City” is your next read.

‘The Arsonists’ City’ Summary: Following a Mixed Arab Family From California to Lebanon and Syria

“The Arsonists’ City” by Hala Alyan follows the story of the Nasr family: a Syrian mother, a Lebanese father and three adult children who were born and raised in California. Focusing at first on the children — Ava, Mimi and Naj — the novel shows us that their lives are far from perfect. Ava is raising two kids and fixing her marriage after her husband’s affair. Mimi is an aspiring rock star. But, now in his 30s, he’s not so sure he’ll ever find success. Instead he lives in the shadow of his younger sister, Naj, whose music career has taken off. She lives in Beirut, performing and partying, while keeping her queerness a secret from most of her family.

Their grandfather passed away recently, leaving behind the family home in Beirut. Idris, their father, is determined to sell it, despite the rest of the family’s protests. He insists on spending the summer in Lebanon, and Mazna, his wife, guilts the children into joining them.

The story also flashes back to 1970s Syria when Mazna was a teenager performing in plays and dreaming of moving out of the country and away from her conservative parents to become an actress. The story then follows Mazna, and we see how she and Idris meet. Unbeknownst to Mazna’s parents, Idris takes her on weekend trips to a war-torn Beirut, where she stays with his wealthy family, pretending to be friends with his sister so as not to arouse suspicion. Idris is in love with Mazna, but she does not love him back. Her attention is drawn to Idris’ best friend, a Palestinian refugee named Zakaria.

The novel takes us through the lives of the Nasr family members as they come to terms with their pasts and who they have become. When the family converges in Lebanon, secrets and truths are revealed, forcing the Nasrs to come together and confront their issues.

Audience and Genre: Appeals to Fans of Literary Fiction About Family, Arab Americans and the Arab World

In terms of genre, “The Arsonists’ City” falls under the category of adult literary fiction. The story would appeal to a wide audience, as it doesn’t pigeon-hole itself into any niche genre or topic. While the story focuses on an Arab, Muslim family, readers do not need to be Arab or Muslim to enjoy it. Above all else, this is a story about a family, their history and their secrets. Immigrants and children of immigrants especially might enjoy Alyan’s novel, as it draws on themes of living between two cultures and fitting into a new community.

Perspective: All Close Third Person, But Multiple Points of View

Alyan tells this story in close third person, primarily from the points of view of Ava, Mimi, Naj and Mazna. While multi-narrative stories can be hard to pull off, especially with as many narratives Alyan includes here (four main perspectives), “The Arsonists’ City” does so with deftness.

At first, when switching between narrators, it took me a few pages per section to actually connect to the characters and get into their individual stories. But once I got to know each character, the transitions felt natural and kept my interest throughout. Every character was well-developed and unique, and Alyan does an excellent job distinguishing their voices and personalities. Even when the characters are acting out or in moments when they become unlikeable, I still felt invested in the story and the character arc.

Mazna, for instance, often acts selfishly, hurting others and thinking only of herself. Nonetheless, she’s arguably the most interesting character in the book. Anytime we’re in her point of view, I was hooked.

When Alyan focuses on the siblings, we get to see the complexities of their relationships with one another through their different points of view. They are all longing to connect but struggle to do so. As the reader, it’s fascinating to see how they converge in the end within each of their sections of the book.

A multi-narrative story like this one can easily fall apart, get confusing or lose the readers’ interest. Normally it’s easy for some characters to wind up being less compelling than others. However, Alyan manages to make all of the characters distinct and interesting in their own ways.

Three Cs: Compelling, Clear, Concise

Editorial Note: We believe these three factors are important for evaluating general writing quality across every aspect of the book. Before you get into further analysis, here’s a quick breakdown to clarify how we’re using these words:

• Compelling: Does the author consistently write in a way that would make most readers emotionally invested in the book’s content?
• Clear: Are most sentences and parts of the book easy enough to read and understand?
• Concise: Are there sections or many sentences that could be cut? Does the book have pacing problems?

Compelling: For Lovers of Character-Driven Stories

Unlike most novels, this story doesn’t follow only one or two main characters, but rather, it focuses on four main characters. Only a very skillful writer can jump between four POVs while still keeping each section compelling. Alyan is a skillful writer, as I found myself immersed in the story, the setting and the relationships between characters.

While some sections are longer than others — Mazna, for instance, takes up a large chunk in the middle of the book — it never feels like the story drags on, and we’re always in each section long enough to get fully invested in that character. However, if you’re a fan of fast-paced, plot-heavy fiction more in the lines of genre fiction, then this story might be too slow for you. This is a more character-driven story, with a lot of internal thought and observation.

Clear: Very Much So, Despite Jumps in Perspective, Time Period and Setting

Again, it’s not easy writing a multi-POV novel that jumps forward and backwards through time like this one. There’s always a risk of events and characters becoming confusing, or the timeline being unclear. However, Alyan manages to tell this story quite successfully, as there was never a moment where I felt confused or lost. The sentences are clear, and I never had to go back and reread anything. The plot makes sense, with no continuity errors or plot holes, and the characters’ actions and motivations feel true.

Concise: A Lengthy Story

The paperback version of “The Arsonists’ City” sits at a lengthy 443 pages. Admittedly, this is a bit long for any novel. However, looking back at the text, the novel length makes sense. There’s so much story to tell about these characters and this family that I wouldn’t know what could even be cut.

The pacing was done well, and there were no superfluous or fluffy sentences that I could make note of. Even the beginning of the story immerses the reader immediately. It opens with a character in danger: Idris’s Palestinian friend Zakaria, who we don’t really learn about until much later in the story. The section is quick and concise, and right away, we’re brought into the action.

Character Development: Clear Motivations, Understanding of What’s at Stake

All four of the main characters (Mazna, Ava, Mimi and Naj) in “The Arsonists’ City” are very well-developed. They each get their own sections, so we’re able to spend time with each character in a close third-person perspective. This structure allows us to get to know them very well.

In every section, it feels like I am in that character’s head. As a reader, I understand their motivations and desires. Alyan uses a nice mix of internal thought, dialogue and action to show what each character is like and what’s at stake for them.

They also change as the novel progresses. Mazna, for instance, is not at all who she was in her past, but we see how she develops, as well as the events that cause her to change: the death of someone she loves, immigration to America, the dissolution of her dreams. Her voice also changes when she moves from Damascus to California, as she realizes the life she thought she’d have would never come to fruition.

Meanwhile, we see how the siblings change during their summer in Lebanon. They grow closer to one another and begin to see themselves through the eyes of their other siblings. As they learn family secrets, they’re also able to understand and empathize with their mother, and we see how that dynamic plays out internally.

The secondary characters are also quite compelling. While not all of them get equal time in the book, the ones that really stand out are Idris and Zakaria. Without giving too much away, both characters play a major role in the story’s trajectory, and although we’re not in either of their perspectives, we very clearly understand what’s at stake for them. Through Mazna’s point of view in particular, Alyan does a nice job at developing these two secondary characters.

Overall, the characters are interesting and well-rounded, and even when they’re unlikeable, their stories are compelling. The Nasr family feels both unique and relatable. They have all of the problems a normal family might have: sibling rivalries, affairs, secrets from the past. But at the same time, their problems are unique to them.

Story: Realistic, Engaging and Emotionally Charged Arab American Story

Many books written about Arabs or Muslims often resort to stereotypes, or have a subplot about terrorism or oppressed women. This novel, however, doesn’t have any of that, which was such a relief. The characters in the story aren’t overly conservative stereotypes of Arab Muslims. Rather, they’re quite liberal and free, as many of us are. As a result, the novel feels realistic and true to the average Arab experience, which was quite refreshing.

In addition, it’s clear that Alyan meticulously plotted this story from beginning to end. With four points of view, it would be risky not to, as the plot points and backstory need to stay consistent between characters.

The ending, too, was wrapped up in a satisfying way. As the characters convene in Beirut, their stories come together in a way that feels intentional and well-thought-out. Again, without giving too much away, the characters’ stories are wrapped up nicely, as family secrets come to the forefront, forcing everyone to reckon with who they once were and who they’ve become.

No Clear Reason for Mentioning Arson in the Title, and the ‘City’ is Not Specific

In isolation, “The Arsonist’s City” sounds like the title of an action or mystery book about a series of arsons or a serial arsonist living in one city. Even after knowing the context that the novel is an Arab family saga, the title may prime many readers to have certain questions and expect answers. The story takes place in several cities, so is there a specific city that is supposed to be an eponymous city? Is it Beirut? Damascus? Both?

The story does not feature any literal arson. There are bombings and fires in Beirut, but it’s not clear if arson started any of the fires. If the arson is supposed to have a figurative meaning, Alyan does not spell out this rhetoric for the reader.

It’s possible Alyan is arguing that bombing is a form of arson because the bomber intentionally starts a fire, albeit as a secondary effect. If this rhetoric was her intention, Beirut and Damascus certainly would be arsonists’ cities. Nonetheless, it’s not like Beirut and Damascus are the only cities in the Arab world that have been bombed frequently.

If you’re the kind of reader who likes a title that is open to interpretation, you’ll be satisfied with the uncertain meaning of “The Arsonist’s City.” If you prefer titles that answer the questions they pose, the title of this book may feel disappointing and misleading.

Prose Style: Conversational but Poetic

Hala Alyan primarily writes poetry and has published five poetry collections. It’s often evident when a novel is written by a poet, and “The Arsonists’ City” is no exception. The tone is conversational, because we’re close in the characters’ heads, yet the prose is also lyrical and poetic.

For instance, Alyan writes, “Their mother put her feet up. Her toenails are a perfect pink, and there are scraggly black hairs on her big toe. They remind Naj of the flower stems on Fee’s X-rays, the night in the foyer.”

As you can see, the book is written in the present tense, in a sort of stream of consciousness, making the reader feel as though we’re directly inside of the character’s head. This sentence in particular stood out to me because of the contrasting imagery. The mother’s pink toe with “scraggly black hairs” alongside the image of flower stems, particularly flower stems in an X-ray. The stark contrast seems like only something a poet would put together. It’s descriptive and vivid: the hairy pink toes giving off something abject. At the same time, as Naj remembers the flower stems in an X-ray, the image becomes delicate.

Alyan often puts contrasting images like this together through her language and metaphors, allowing the reader to see the characters in a unique light. At the same time, the prose isn’t flowery or superfluous. It’s easy to read and feels as though we’re simply listening in on a character’s thoughts.

Dialogue: Realistic

There’s nothing too distinct about the dialogue in “The Arsonists’ City,” but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The dialogue is realistic and clear. It doesn’t draw attention to itself, and it flows well with the rest of the prose. There are never any dense, dialogue-heavy scenes where we’re slogging through conversation. Rather, the dialogue mixes with narration so that we’re both seeing a scene as it plays out, while also being in a character’s head, observing what they observe, and filtering the scene through their perspective.

Setting: Vivid, Detailed Whether It’s California, Syria or Lebanon

“The Arsonists’ City” takes place in a number of locales, primarily Blythe, California; Damascus, Syria; and Beirut, Lebanon; and briefly in Austin, Texas. Alyan does a nice job at realistically describing each location. When we see the nightlife of Beirut, for instance, it feels like we’re there. The descriptions evoke the sense of the author having been there, as we get the specific smells and sounds of the space we’re in.

The scenes in Blythe also stand out. When Mazna and Idris arrive, we experience Mazna’s shock and dismay at the small, suburban town they end up in. She expects to be near Los Angeles, where she conjured images of glitz, glamour and fame, but instead they live in a small apartment in a regular, nondescript town, much to Mazna’s disappointment.

The story also jumps between the past and the present. For instance, we see what Beirut was like in the 1970s. We see Mazna’s life in Damascus before the ravages of war, when the streets were quiet and peaceful, when it was safe. At the same time, when she travels to Beirut, we see the contrast in setting, as they run into police check points and hear news of bombings and violence in the city. Meanwhile, Mazna visits Idris’s home, where he lives with his wealthy parents, and the violence we hear so much about is nonexistent. In describing Idris’s family home, Alyan provides a nice contrast between the lives of the wealthy versus the lives of Zakaria and his mother, who live in a refugee camp. Overall, I thought the descriptions of setting were quite realistic, providing the reader with a very clear picture.

Rhetoric: Anti-Zionism and Anti-Colonialism

With the novel being set in Syria, Lebanon and America, it’s impossible not to have some sort of political stance. While the main story is primarily about family, the effects of American violence in the Middle East are prevalent. The contrast of the Syria we know today, for instance, is stark against the 1970s Syria we see in the novel. We see Lebanon already teeming with colonial violence, and Palestinian refugees being slaughtered for no clear reason. Multiple colonial forces are at play as well. While it’s made clear that the Palestinians are there because they’ve been driven out of their homes by Israel, we also see them being treated poorly by Lebanese law enforcement, who show up at Zakaria’s door with the intention of violence in the very first chapter. Although Alyan never explicitly states any political views, the reality of the situation in the Arab world is clear, and we can see how it affects everyone in the story.

Cultural and Political Significance: Conflict in the Middle East

“The Arsonists’ City” is especially timely because of current events in the Middle East. We see in this story that the conflict in Palestine is not new, as the book opens with a Palestinian refugee who is murdered. We learn his identity later on, but those events occur in the 1970s. We also see a war-torn Lebanon, and Syria before American and Israeli troops destroyed the lives of its citizens. While the book isn’t specifically about that history, the violence in the backdrop of the novel speaks volumes, and anyone following today’s current events would find that aspect interesting.

Critiquing the Critics: The Classic Problem of Conflating Character Dislike With Writing Quality Issues

Critics are for the most part in agreement about Alyan’s book. Her Kirkus review calls it “Painful and joyous, sad and funny—impossible to put down.” And the reader reviews on Amazon and Goodreads are fairly positive as well. People were drawn to the characters more so than anything else, and that makes sense because this is a character-driven book.

The more negative reader reviews frankly have more to do with personal preference than the quality of the book itself. Some people found the characters unlikeable, and one Goodreads reviewer called them “insufferable.” While I don’t agree with that sentiment, it’s understandable.

Nonetheless, I don’t think a character has to be good or likeable for the story to be good—or even to enjoy the story. I think that critique as a whole is a bit shallow. However, most reviews for this book were quite positive.

Book Aesthetic: Peaceful and Painterly Cover Design

Critiquing a book cover/aesthetic for a traditional novel (not a graphic novel or comic, etc.) does feel like a matter of personal preference, as people are drawn to different covers and different types of art. It’s also important to note that while authors do get input into the cover, they don’t always get the final say, and there’s a separate cover artist who designs the work.

I like the cover for “The Arsonists’ City.” When sending cover art to my own book cover designer, some of the examples I gave were “painterly” covers much like this one. Needless to say, this style aligns with my personal taste. The colors also stand out to me. They’re not dull, and the red tree in the foreground really pops.

As a whole, the cover doesn’t give away much about the story, but it focuses on a peaceful setting: a house, rather than the bustling cityscape of Beirut. The house is Idris’s family home, where the characters all reconvene. It represents their past and their family’s connection to the land. In the novel, there’s a dispute over the cutting of an almond tree in the front yard. The realtor selling the home wants to cut the tree down, while the family, particularly Naj, is adamant that it must stay. It was Naj’s grandfather’s tree, and its roots represent the family’s roots in Beirut. While the tree isn’t the main plot in the story, its meaning is highly significant, so it makes sense to have it on the cover.

Reviewer’s Personal Opinion: Fully Immersed in the Story and Characters

I really enjoyed this book. As an Arab, Muslim writer myself, I’m always looking for stories about Arabs and Muslims that don’t resort to stereotypes and that show the characters living normal lives. The characters in this book are Arab, and they feel so normal and real, which I genuinely appreciated.

Regarding the reader reviews about certain characters being unlikeable, I actually really enjoyed that aspect of the book. Mazna was my favorite character, as her life is so complex and layered. As I mentioned earlier, she’s often making selfish decisions and hurting others. But that made her sections even more compelling to read. It made her well-rounded and flawed, and I was so immersed in her story.

Books Like ‘The Arsonists’ City’

‘You Exist Too Much‘ by Zaina Arafat

• The story of a Palestinian American woman caught between cultural, religious and sexual identities.
• Like “The Arsonists’ City,” this is another story about an Arab American who is dealing with generational trauma and looking for home.

‘Olga Dies Dreaming‘ by Xochitl Gonzalez

• The story of familial trauma, political corruption, and being an outsider in America.
• While this isn’t a story about Arab Americans, many of the themes of this book are similar to those in “The Arsonists’ City.” The characters are once again dealing with generational trauma as they try to connect and empathize with one another, all while recognizing the disillusion of the American Dream.

‘The Arsonists’ City’ Review: A Realistic Portrait of Family

Overall, I think this book deserves all five stars because I was very impressed with Alyan’s ability to create four well-rounded, compelling characters, giving them each their own distinct sections and POVs. I was hooked pretty early on, and I really can’t think of any glaring imperfections to lower the star rating.

Buying and Rental Options

E-Commerce Text and Audio Purchases

• Amazon
• Barnes & Noble
• Bookshop.org
• Rakuten Kobo
• Google Play

E-Commerce Audio Only

• Audible

Physical Location Purchase and Rental Options, and Digital Rental Options

Right now it seems like most bookstores are not stocking this title. You’re more likely to find the novel in left-leaning independent bookstores, especially those in Arab American areas such as Michigan and Minnesota. Many libraries offer digital rentals of this book, and some have physical copies.