“I now believe that all journeys are ridiculous: the only journey from which you don’t always come back empty-handed is the journey inside yourself.”
Amos Oz’s A Tale of Love and Darkness is a powerful memoir that blends personal history with the wider political and cultural struggles of Israel-Palestine. If you’re looking for books like A Tale of Love and Darkness, whether for their historical depth, themes of identity and exile, or lyrical storytelling, this list offers compelling reads. From memoirs about childhood in war-torn countries to historical fiction exploring Jewish identity and political conflict, these books provide profoundly moving and thought-provoking narratives. Whether you’re drawn to literary memoirs about family and war, stories of growing amid political turmoil or explorations of Middle Eastern history, join us at What We Reading as we present our favourite read-alikes to A Tale of Love and Darkness that will transport you through time, place and memory.
I Saw Ramallah – Mourid Barghouti
First up on our list of books like A Tale of Love and Darkness is Mourid Barghouti’s I Saw Ramallah, a powerful memoir reflecting on exile, identity and the longing for home. A Palestinian poet, Barghouti was exiled from his homeland in 1967 and spent decades living abroad. The book charts his long-awaited return to the West Bank after three decades, offering a deeply personal yet politically charged meditation on displacement and loss.
Through lyrical prose, Barghouti captures the emotions of seeing his homeland again, yet feeling like a stranger in it. He reflects on the physical and emotional scars left by occupation, the changes in his town and family, and the enduring pain of exile. His narrative blends personal memories with broader historical and political themes, making the book both an intimate memoir and a poignant account of the Palestinian experience.
Snow – Orhan Pamuk
Orhan Pamuk’s Snow is a thought-provoking novel that explores themes of identity, politics and faith in modern Turkey. The story orbits around Ka, a poet and political exile, who returns to Turkey after spending years in Germany. He travels to the remote town of Kars, where a wave of suicides among young women protesting the headscarf ban has rocked the community. As a snowstorm isolates the town, Ka finds himself ensnared in a deep web of tensions, love and personal reflection.
Through Ka’s story, Pamuk explores what happens when secularism and Islamism collide, individual freedom versus societal expectations, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world. Blending political intrigue and poetic introspection, Snow is a haunting exploration of Turkey’s divided soul and an exploration of faith and identity that any fans of A Tale of Love and Darkness will recognise.
The Hare With Amber Eyes – Edmund de Waal
The Hare with Amber Eyes is a profoundly moving family memoir similar to A Tale of Love and Darkness that explores themes of history, art, identity and loss. The book traces the journey of a collection of 264 Japanese netsuke – small, intricate wood and iron carvings – through generations of the Ephrussi family, a once-affluent Jewish banking dynasty with roots in nineteenth-century Vienna, Paris and Tokyo.
As author Edmund de Waal uncovers the history of these objects, he reconstructs his family’s rise to prominence and their eventual downfall during the Second World War, when the Nazis seized their wealth and forced them into exile. The netsuke, miraculously preserved, become a symbol of resistance, resilience and memory. The Hare with Amber Eyes is a beautifully delivered exploration of inheritance, displacement and the stories objects carry across generations.
The Parisian – Isabella Hammad
Isabella Hammad’s The Parisian is a sweeping historical novel set against the backdrop of the First World War and the early years of the Arab-Israeli conflict. It orbits around the life of Midhat Kamal, a young Palestinian man who moves to Paris to both study and immerse himself in the intellectual and cultural vibrancy of the city. As Midhart navigates the complexities of love, identity and political awakening, he becomes increasingly embroiled in the turbulence of the Middle East.
Hammad’s debut novel is one of the most underrated history books because of its intimate exploration of the personal and political aspects during a time of profound change, providing a unique lens on the intersection of Eastern and Western worlds. Through richly woven narrative and evocative prose, The Parisian delves into themes of loyalty, loss, and the complexities of identity during times of conflict.
The Return – Hisham Matar
Born to Libyan parents, Hisham Matar spent much of his life in exile after his father, Jaballa Matar, a prominent dissident was abducted by Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 1990 and imprisoned in the infamous Abu Salim prison. For decades, his fate remained a mystery. In 2012, after the collapse of the Gaddafi regime, Matar returned to Libya after over three decades, hoping to uncover the truth behind his father’s disappearance.
Matar’s journey is both a political and emotional reckoning, as he reconnects with family, revisits childhood memories and grapples with the lingering wounds of authoritarianism. Written with poetic restraint and deep introspection, The Return is one of the best books like A Tale of Love and Darkness as a meditation on grief, exile, the enduring bonds between family and the personal costs of political oppression.
The Yacoubian Building – Alaa Al Aswany
Alaa Al Aswany’s The Yacoubian Building is a bold and compelling book that captures the social, political and moral complexities of modern Egypt. Set in a once-grand Cairo apartment complex, the story centres around a series of colourful characters – from the wealthy and powerful to the poor and marginalised – whose lives intertwine within its walls.
Through figures such as Zaki Bey, an ageing aristocrat nostalgic for Egypt’s past, Taha, an ambitious young man radicalised by social injustice, and Busayna, a working-class woman navigating economic hardship, Al Aswany presents a vivid picture of Egyptian society. Similar to A Tale of Love and Darkness, The Yacoubian Building offers an unfiltered look at corruption, religious extremism, class struggles and the realities of life in contemporary Cairo.
Exit West – Mohsin Hamid
Set against the backdrop of a war-torn city, Exit West by Mohsin Hamid centres around Nadia and Saeed, two young lovers who, in the middle of escalating violence, discover mysterious doors that allow them to escape their city and travel to different parts of the world.
As they journey through Greece, England and the United States, their relationship is put to the test by the strains caused by displacement and the challenges of adapting to new cultures. The novel explores the emotional and psychological toll of migration, the fluidity of borders and the resilience of the human spirit when faced with crisis. With lyrical prose and a global perspective, Exit West is another one of the best books like A Tale of Love and Darkness for readers looking for another poignant exploration of how love, identity and home are redefined in an increasingly interconnected world.
The House Of The Mosque – Kader Abdolah
The House of the Mosque by Kader Abdolah is a stunning historical novel that follows three generations of a prominent family in Iran as they navigate the country’s political and social upheavals. Set in a grand house attached to a mosque in the city of Senejan, the story runs from the 1950s to the aftermath of the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
At the centre of the novel is Aqa Jaan, a respected merchant and head of the household, who attempts to preserve tradition whilst the world around him is totally transformed. As Iran is rocked by rapid change – Western influence, political unrest and the rise of religious extremism, Aqa Jaan and his family are forced to decide between their loyalty to their roots and the uncertain future ahead. Like A Tale of Love and Darkness, The House of the Mosque is a story that blends history, politics and intimate family drama that also offers a humanising perspective on Iran’s turbulent past.
Check Out The Best Books To Understand Iran In 2025
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
