Amin, the protagonist, is an Arab and a naturalized Israeli citizen. He has done a great deal to distance himself from the conflict that surrounds him every day. He is an optimist who cannot understand why so many people would commit so many violent acts in the name of their country or their religion. In this respect, he is apolitical. Fancying himself a detached and objective observer, he is divorced from the political reality that many people face, and his position is made possible thanks to the privilege brought to him by wealth and recognition. His status as a doctor has allowed him to become an esteemed member of the Tel Aviv elite, even if he faces racism and prejudice on a regular basis. At the beginning of the novel, Amin lives a comfortable existence. This is shattered quickly when he discovers that his wife Sihem—the woman who he believed loved him and loved their lifestyle—has strapped a bomb to herself and blown up the restaurant. This act forces Amin to reconsider everything he has thought about his life and his political views. 

The novel is narrated from Amin’s perspective in the present tense.