It is December 8, 2024. The fall of the Assad regime. After more than half a century, an inconsolable era in the Middle East is coming to an end. On the very day of the coup, the regime's perpetrators celebrate themselves as the heroes of their visions. But within seconds, the red of their lipstick turns into deep blood guilt.
Powerful short stories make this collection a truly special read. Author Samer Al Najjar himself was forced to leave his homeland in 2012 and now shares his thoughts and desires through his literary work. Feelings of loneliness, hopelessness, and the powerful longing for home and belonging emerge before the reader's inner eye.
Topics on Syria, flight and migration
With his new collection of stories, "Lipstick and Blood," Samer Al Najjar tells more than just the story of the suffering of Syrian society under Assad. What are his short stories about?
He responds as follows: "In my short stories, I address a variety of topics that extend far beyond the boundaries of Syrian society. War, flight, belonging, love, poverty, and injustice are central themes that run like common threads through my works. I try to focus on universal human experiences while making individual fates tangible. These topics not only touch the Syrian population, but reflect global challenges and emotions that affect people regardless of their origins."
The author wrote the first story, "Lipstick and Blood," in November 2024, a time when the situation in Syria was particularly grim. Hope for change had long since vanished for almost all Syrians. With this narrative, he aims to shed light on the suffering of political prisoners in Syria by taking the perspective of a prison guard and depicting his seemingly normal everyday life.
But suddenly, on December 8, the Syrian regime collapsed. Numerous innocent prisoners were freed, but the stories of hundreds of thousands remained unknown—they disappeared without a trace, as if they had never existed.
How important is the theme of flight across Lebanon, Turkey, and the Mediterranean in this collection of stories? Flight has been a central part of the lives of many Syrians over the past 13 years. In these short stories, Samer Al Najjar attempts to capture these people's deep longing for safety—the desperate quest for a place where they can live free from violence and fear. But the suffering doesn't end with reaching a supposedly safe haven.
Experiences of escape - autobiographical and autofictional elements
The experiences of war, loss, and displacement leave scars that are often invisible, yet torment people's souls for years, if not decades. These scars, which may fade in the external world, remain deep within—as constant companions in a new life that can never be completely carefree.
With his stories, Samer Al Najjar aims to portray not only the external struggles of refugees, but also their internal conflicts and their struggle for healing. It's an attempt to shed light on the invisible wounds that persist and shape lives even in the safety of a new home.
Naturally, the author's wishes and thoughts are also reflected in his short stories. Many of his short stories reflect both his deepest longings and his greatest fears. Some stories tell of experiences he would have liked to have had—like small escapes into a world he desires. Others, however, are dark reflections of his worst nightmares, which haunt him and which he tries to process through writing: "For me, writing is an outlet, a way to come to terms with my inner world, which is sometimes characterized by hopes, but sometimes also by fears and doubts. Thus, each story becomes a part of me—a piece of my wishes, thoughts, and dreams."
"Dust" is one of his stories, one that is very close to his heart. In the narrative, the dust symbolizes the gray, the unclear, and the oppressive – a metaphor for the uncertainty, fear, and confusion that have characterized the lives of many Syrians for years. This dust settles on everything: on people's memories, on their hopes, and even on their identities.
Confidence for Syria
The overthrow of the Assad regime is undoubtedly a significant first step toward a better, freer future for Syria. But the dust left behind by decades of oppression, suffering, and violence will not settle quickly. It will take time, courage, and perseverance to heal the deep scars left both in society and in people's hearts.
How did the author first get into writing? Even as a child, he loved the fantastic tales and stories told by his parents and grandparents. At some point, he began reading books. But writing itself began in his early youth. As a teenager, he wrote his first short story, but quickly stopped because he couldn't arouse the interest of those around him. He then began composing songs and poems, until after the outbreak of the Syrian revolution in 2011, when he resumed writing literary texts in Arabic. Later, when he began learning German in Germany in 2014, he attempted to write his first German texts. One example of these first German short stories is "Die salzige Heimat" (The Salty Homeland).
Samer Al Najjar's short stories challenge readers to think beyond the usual boundaries. They are not just narratives, but invitations to a journey through the hidden corners of human existence: "I want to ask the reader: What would they do if they were suddenly confronted with their own identity, their own past, or their own morality?"
The stories raise questions that seek answers—but don't necessarily offer clear answers. They aim to move the reader to question their own beliefs, develop compassion, and become aware of the reality of those who live in the shadows of society. And maybe, just maybe, the reader will be left with a different perspective on the world after turning the last page.
March 2025.
This article is machine translated from German.
The book is available in print and as an e-book here!
The book "Lipstick and Blood" is available in bookstores and from our publishing house, as a printed book (ISBN 978-3-910347-62-5) and as an EPUB (ISBN: 978-3-910347-63-2).
