The Book of Collateral Damage

In The Book of Collateral Damage, a young Iraqi scholar navigates the intersection of memory and war while documenting the impacts of the 2003 invasion.

In The Book of Collateral Damage, Sinan Antoon explores the aftermath of the Iraq War through the eyes of Nameer, a young Iraqi scholar studying at Harvard. Hired by filmmakers to document the destruction caused by the 2003 invasion, Nameer embarks on a journey that takes him back to al-Mutanabbi street in Baghdad, a place rich in literary history and cultural significance. Here, he meets Wadood, an eccentric bookseller dedicated to cataloguing the losses inflicted by war, from physical objects to the very essence of humanity itself.

As Nameer becomes increasingly engrossed in Wadood’s project, he finds that his life in New York is deeply connected to the remnants of his homeland. The narrative weaves together fragments of memory, including letters, poems, and personal anecdotes that reflect the emotional toll of conflict. This stylistic ambition allows Antoon to create a poignant panorama that captures the wreckage of war and the resilience of memory.

The Book of Collateral Damage is not just a tribute to the past; it is a profound commentary on how war shapes identity and memory. Antoon's formal daring and inventive style elevate this work, making it his most complex novel to date. Through Nameer's story, readers are invited to reflect on the broader implications of loss and the enduring power of recollection.