Adam loses his parents long before war tears his country apart. Raised by relatives who deny him affection, he grows up longing for a place where he truly belongs. When the Syrian Revolution erupts in 2011, hope soon gives way to violence, persecution and the devastating chemical attacks on Ghouta. Forced to flee across borders, Adam eventually arrives in Vienna, carrying memories that refuse to fade. Haunted by trauma, grief and survivor's guilt, he struggles to trust others-or himself. Yet an unexpected encounter with a young Syrian woman confronts him with the possibility that love may become the first step toward healing.
Blending coming-of-age, psychological depth and the experience of displacement, The Weight of Desires is a powerful New Adult novel about identity, resilience and the search for an inner home. Originally published in Arabic in 2020, this English edition introduces the internationally acclaimed debut novel by Syrian author Samer Al Najjar, translated by Gordon Couper from the author's own German adaptation of his first Arabic-language novel.