The novel "Alwah wa Dusur" (Planks and Nails) blends fantasy with the literature of "magical realism," which gained prominence in the last three decades after one of its foremost authors, Gabriel García Márquez, won the Nobel Prize in Literature. This novel, however, uses this combination to present a contemporary literary take on the story of Prophet Noah. It does so in a way that leverages the story and its universal meanings to connect with the consciousness of the modern person.

The novel's events unfold in an unspecified time and place, featuring a variety of human characters found everywhere. These characters are not purely good or evil; they are complex individuals who may hesitate at crossroads, make right or wrong choices, and then attempt to correct their mistakes. The narrative follows these characters as their city faces a unique kind of flood—a multifaceted deluge that some might initially welcome, but whose consequences will prove to be drastically different.

The child "Noor" is the central character of this novel. The author needs no proof of Noor's historical existence, as he truly exists in every time and place. And we, each of us, regardless of our age or qualifications, are almost living proof of the child Noor's existence.

• Author: Ahmed Khairi Al-Omari
• Publisher: Dar Al-Fikr Al-Moaser - Damascus
• Edition Number: 3
• Year of Publication: 2011
• Number of Pages: 390
• Binding Type: Hardcover
• Paper Type: Cream
• ISBN: 978-9933-10-043-8