Honey Hunger

"Zahran Alqasmi portrays the inimitable lifeways deep in Oman’s mountainous interior as no other writer does. We can taste and smell the sweet pungency of the natural world that this powerful writing brings forth. In this exceptional narrative, hunger for honey portends hunger for the unknown: Alqasmi’s characters are ever on the move to discover who they are by means of searching for the ever-elusive mountain honey."—Jokha Alharthi, Booker Prize-winning author of Celestial Bodies

"An evocative, unpredictable novel."—Words Without Borders

“This captivating novel is a search for hope, longing, love. . . . [T]hose readers who enjoy lyrical books, as the author is also a poet, will be transported to a rich and vibrant world among the bees.” —Tulsa Book Review

“This is a landscape novel that seems to sit outside of time, technology and politics. . . . Honey Hunger. . . succeeds in drawing the reader into a distinctly drawn landscape and way of life.” —Irish Times

“Honey Hunger beautifully highlights the connections between bees and people, and it showcases our bond with nature and how we strive to protect our ecosystems together. The author draws a lot of knowledge about beekeeping from his own life which adds a wonderful touch to the story, inviting readers to reflect on both the literal and metaphorical significance of sweetness and the insatiable craving for something more in life.”—Rana Asfour, TMR Book Club

"Hypnotic"—AramcoWorld

“Right from the start, Honey Hunger pulls you into its world.”—Oman Daily Observer

"Alqasmi uses simple, elegant language to describe Azzan’s beekeeping tasks and the dramatic landscape, two motifs to which his narrative keeps returning."—Booklist

"Literary takes on the human experience. . . . Azzan exhibits external quiet and calm, but his thoughts are revelatory, illuminating his ardent passion for beekeeping." —Foreword Reviews

"The storytelling is poetic, creative, and striking."—Al-Quds Al-Arabi