Aleksandar Hemon's 'The Lazarus Project' toggles between the past and present as it follows the intersecting lives of Lazarus Averbuch and Brik, two Eastern European immigrants in Chicago. It begins with a grim historical event: in 1908, Lazarus, a young Jewish man, is fatally shot by the Chief of Police. Fast forward to contemporary times, where Brik becomes fixated with Lazarus's story. With his photographer friend Rora, Brik journeys through Eastern Europe, retracing Lazarus's footsteps. Their exploration uncovers a tapestry of historical struggle and identity, as they find echoes of the past in the modern landscape. Through potent storytelling intertwined with Rora's photos, Hemon examines the persistence of history and the narrative of immigration in 'The Lazarus Project'—a novel that blends humor, heartbreak, and a profound examination of the human condition.