Having long dreamt of a free homeland, Syrians who had to live abroad for years talk to Al Majalla about the land they left, their conflicting emotions about coming home, and their hopes for Syria

Our fortnightly round-up of the latest Arabic books, covering a wide range of topics, reflecting some of the trends and thinking in the Arab world

Watching Gabriel García Márquez's epic on TV as Syria awoke from its 'eternal' slumber, Assad's ouster felt like the scene the Colombian writer forgot to write in his most famous novel

'Ghost Trail' is a timely French thriller about Assad-era atrocities, revealing what went on in the regime's darkest corners and how justice can be done by those determined enough to find the culprits

The painter with a famous namesake travels the world and is Lebanese to his core, but as his art shows, he is many other things too. In the end, his art is all about helping people take a breath

Al Majalla reviews the lives and careers of some of the world's most impressive writers, poets and artists who leave behind indelible cultural marks for future generations to appreciate

From past to present and future, the broad range of settings for Al Majalla's selection of books was emblematic. Meanwhile, controversy over an award-winner shows the power of the written word.

The year 2024 was replete with exceptional films that restored faith in the role of cinema in analysing and helping audiences process the chaos and destruction unfolding around them

Earlier eras have been characterised by peaceful coexistence in Islam, when people from different religions lived side by side, with equal rights, at a time when violence raged around other faiths

One of Islam's most influential figures is a central character in three contemporary novels, as the story of his life resonates in today's chaotic world