for such a necessarily political work, no character becomes a mere cipher for suffering or victimhood. Although the novel is written according to Anglo-American conventions, it echoes the poetic prose that is a feature of contemporary Arabic writing. Abulhawa effectively communicates her bubbling joy in what she calls 'the dance' of Arabic, pondering the language’s intricate courtesies and imagistic flair." Controversies In 2007, a live reading of The Scar of David was later reduced to only a book signing by the Barnes & Noble store in Bayside, New York. Barnes and Noble stated that the change was made due to “author safety and a seeming need of sensitivity to the Jewish community”. Notes External links Book review and plot summary - Kirkus Reviews Interview With Susan Abulhawa 2010 American novels Palestinian literature Israeli–Palestinian conflict books Books about Palestinians 2006 American novels Bloomsbury Publishing books