French author Agnès Desarthe’s new novel, Qui se ressemble, connects the lives of iconic Egyptian singer Oum Khalsoum and her own Jewish grandmother, Bouba, a Libyan-born refugee. Released in January by Éditions Buchet Chastel, the book explores themes of identity, memory, and the complex relationship between Jewish and Arab communities-a connection Desarthe says is frequently enough obscured by conflict. Coming on the heels of her fall novel L’oreille Absolue, Qui se ressemble arrives at a moment of renewed focus on the historical and ongoing tensions in the region, prompting a reexamination of shared heritage.
For French author Agnès Desarthe, 2024 is shaping up to be a particularly musical year. Following the fall release of her novel L’oreille Absolue, which centered around a municipal brass band, Desarthe is launching a new work in January that draws inspiration from the iconic Egyptian singer Oum Khalsoum.
Titled Qui se ressemble (roughly translated as “Birds of a Feather”), the book weaves together the stories of the legendary vocalist and Desarthe’s own grandmother, Bouba, a Jewish woman born in Libya, who later became a refugee in Algeria before settling in France in the 1960s. Desarthe describes the connection as stemming from a shared experience. “A shared language, Arabic, a handkerchief always at the ready, tinted glasses, and above all, two women who weren’t easily managed, very determined, who knew how or had to build a life without men,” she explained.
“Music is shared, beyond language, by people who can be moved by tones. If they were to speak, they might argue. But they will unite in their love of this music.”
A Rich and Complex History
The novel also explores the complex relationship between Jewish and Arab communities, acknowledging both their common ground and historical conflicts. Desarthe recalls the anxieties within her family during the October 1973 Arab-Israeli War. “Since my grandfather had been murdered at Auschwitz, for me, war meant the Germans, the Nazis. And then I was told, it’s the Arabs. So I thought they were going to wake up, because we are Arabs. You can’t wage war on yourself,” she said.
Through a non-linear narrative, Qui se ressemble delves into the intricacies of memory and identity. The recent conflict stemming from the October 7, 2023, attacks has prompted Desarthe to revisit questions she grappled with as a child. “On both sides, there are people who perfectly know they are connected, and I experience this firsthand,” she stated. The book, she hopes, will foster a deeper understanding of that connection. “Like Alice in Wonderland and her mirror, I fell into this abyss of the past and went to visit my younger self,” the author concluded.
Qui se ressemble is available from Éditions Buchet Chastel, as part of the Les Résonnantes collection. L’oreille Absolue can be found at Éditions de l’Olivier.
