The novel depicts several Palestinian women who experience tragic love stories under difficult circumstances in Baq’a refugee camp in Jordan. The main character, Hawwa, meets Qamar, a seamstress, and becomes her protégé. In addition to sewing, Qamar teaches Hawwa about life. Unlike most other Arabic novels relating to Palestine, Velvet contains very few Palestinian political or patriotic themes. Rather, the narrative focuses on the human dimensions of everyday life for Palestinians — particularly women — with little or no attention to politics. 

Approximate number of pages: 361 p.

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