The Book of Queens by Joumana Haddad I LOVE this novel by Joumana Haddad, a brilliant Lebanese writer and a leading activist for equality, individual freedoms, and secularism and a ferocious critic of sexism in the Arab world. The Book of Queens is a family saga that spans four generations of women caught up in the tragic whirlwind of turf wars and suffering in the Middle East—from the Armenian genocide and the Israeli occupation of Palestine to modern-day civil wars and the struggles between Christians and Muslims in Lebanon and Syria. It is a gripping read—very timely. I highly recommend it.
|
|
|
A Long Walk to Gazaby Asmaa Alatawna, translated by Caline Nasrallah and Michelle Hartman This extraordinary new debut novel is forthcoming this spring. The violence of life in Gaza which has taken on immense proportions for the whole world to see is intimately rendered here in a human story of resistance and resilience. A Long Walk from Gaza is a tale of freedom—a rich telling of a Palestinian woman’s struggles under the dual hardship of being a woman living under patriarchy and Israeli occupation. Alatawna’s prose brings Gaza to life, depicting a diverse society with all its flaws and beauty that we so seldom see.
|
|
|
Wild Thornsby Sahar Khalifeh, translated by Trevor LeGassick and Elizabeth Fernea Sahar Khalifeh is deserving of the title “Virginia Wolf of Palestinian literature.” She is a prolific and highly accomplished writer, but I consider Wild Thorns, her very first novel written in Arabic in 1976, to be her best work. It vividly depicts life under Israel’s brutal occupation. It portrays the daily hazards and difficulties faced by Palestinian workers and evokes the irrepressible and indomitable spirit of Nablus and its people. I highly recommend this classic of Palestinian literature.
|
|
|
Everything Good Will Comeby Sefi Atta This powerful, coming-of-age story about two friends negotiating the politics of their nation, Nigeria, is written with lyrical wisdom and brilliant insight. It won the Wole Soyinka Prize for African Literature; was a Finalist, Multicultural Fiction, Independent Publisher Book Award; and received Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year Award. Everything Good Will Come evokes the sights and smells of Africa while imparting a wise and universal story of love, friendship, prejudice, survival, politics, and the cost of divided loyalties. I highly recommend it.
|
|
|
|
This just-published novel is Mhani Alaoui’s gripping and engaging third novel. Set in present-day Casablanca, in a country where the precarious rights of women and children can be reversed in an instant, but legacies of resilience still reverberate across time. Booklist reviewed this brilliant novel as follows: “Alaoui delves deeply into the inner lives of her diverse cast of characters, presenting their stories and experiences in vivid and descriptive language. Individual chapters explore the characters’ pasts … and how Morocco’s history feeds into the situations faced by the women in the story.
|
|
|
| This reflective, social-issue-focused character study will appeal to readers of Laila Lalami.” I highly recommend it. |
|
Namesake:Reflections on a Warrior Woman by N. S. Nuseibeh Forthcoming this spring, this is a Palestinian woman’s thoughtful collection of essays exploring what it means to be a young secular Muslim woman today. It offers a dazzling exploration of heritage, gender, and the idea of home. In it, N.S. Nuseibeh reflects on her ancestor Nusayba, the only woman warrior to have fought alongside the Prophet Muhammad at the dawn of Islam. It is masterful tapestry that probes questions of identity, inheritance, faith, feminism, and home. I am proud and super excited about this book’s release.
|
|
|
Tracing Homelands:Israel, Palestine, and the Claims of Belongingsby Linda Dittmar This is a raw and courageous memoir of the 1948 war and its aftermath and searing personal journey to uncover the suppressed traumas, facts, and myths that undergird the so-called Israeli-Palestinian conflict. When author Linda Dittmar stumbles upon the ruins of an abandoned Palestinian village, she is faced with a past that sits uneasily with her Israeli childhood memories—and the history she was raised never to question.
|
|
|
| The result is an intimate, beautifully written account that uncovers inconvenient truths about an embattled Israeli-Palestinian history that is often buried in silence. A touching memoir that I would highly recommend. |
|
My Damascus by Suad Amiry Suad Amiry is a Palestinian treasure. She is a celebrated writer and architect. My Damascus, her latest beautifully written memoir, is a nostalgic voyage that reveals the Syrian capital’s majestic allure and becomes a metaphor for a dispersed family and a lost past. In it, she takes the reader by the hand through not only the narrow alleys and lively souqs adjacent to the grand Umayyad Mosque, but also into the intimate spaces of her rich merchant grandfather’s Baroudi Mansion.
|
|
|
| Filled with drama, with touches of dark humor, My Damascus is Amiry’s homage to a timeless city. It makes for a delightfully enjoyable read. |
|
Memoirs of a Militant:My Years in the Khiam Women's Prison by Nawal Qasim Baidoun, translated by Michelle Hartman and Caline Nasrallah This powerful memoir shatters the notion that Muslim women did not play an active role in armed resistance and national liberation struggles. In this haunting and inspiring prison memoir, Baidoun offers us her first-person account of the life of a young woman activist imprisoned for four years, as well as the events leading up to her arrest and detention.
|
|
|
| Born into a nationalist family in Bint Jbeil, Lebanon, not far from the location of the prison itself, Baidoun, like so many others, found herself compelled to take up arms to resist the Israeli occupation. Her memoir skillfully weaves together two stories: that of the oppressive conditions facing ordinary people and families in South Lebanon, and that of the horrors of daily life and the struggle for survival inside the prison itself. |
|
The Journey by Radwa Ashour, translated by Michelle Hartman Radwa Ashour is a great literary figure whose writing I’ve devoured and whose activism I’ve admired for a long time. The Journey narrates the years which Ashour spent in the US and captures so vividly the spirit and ethos of the time it chronicles—the early ‘70s. It is as relevant today as when it was first published in Arabic nearly 40 years ago.
|
|
|
|
Never neutral and deeply engaged in politics, literature, people's struggles, a young Radwa Ashour charts her years as a student in the US of the 1970s, where she would become the first PhD student to graduate from the newly founded W.E.B Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies and the English Department of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1975. It is a delightful read.
|
|
|
Never neutral and deeply engaged in politics, literature, people's struggles, a young Radwa Ashour charts her years as a student in the US of the 1970s, where she would become the first PhD student to graduate from the newly founded W.E.B Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies and the English Department of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1975. It is a delightful read.
|
|
| This visually-stunning and richly-inspiring, 112-page picture book is a joyous celebration of an enduring culture and tradition—a living culture in ALL its splendor and beauty. Leafing through its pages you will find Palestine through culture and food, music, literature, and so much more. Every spread is filled with wonderful anecdotes, fascinating facts, and memorable quotes. Every word, every feature, every profile, and every illustration is an act of resistance in the face of those trying to deny our existence. Buy multiple copies to give as gifts. Order NOW! You are going to love it! |
|
Sitti's Bird:A Gaza Story by Malak Mattar (new in paperback) This is a sensitive and heart-warming story of how a little girl in Gaza finds strength and hope through her discovery of painting. It is a unique children’s picture book, written and illustrated by Palestinian artist, Malak Mattar. Reflecting her experiences of childhood in occupied Palestine, Malak’s story brings warmth and wonder to children as it tells of her rebirth as an artist during the 2014 airstrikes on Gaza.
|
|
|
|
It is the story of a young girl whose love for her family and discovery of art help her channel her fears and overcome traumas that few of us can imagine—traumas shared by countless children in Gaza and around the world.
|
|
Planting Peace: The Story of Wangari Maathai by Gwendolyn Hooks; illus. by Margaux Carpentier (new in paperback) This picture book tells the inspiring story of Wangari Maathai, women's rights activist and one of the first environmental warriors. It explores political and environmental issues in an inspirational way.
|
|
|
|
It received a starred review from School Library Journal who praised it as “An inspirational, essential work … A thorough and colorful introduction to a world icon … Carpentier’s bold, colorful illustrations evoke the beautiful land that Wangari was so passionate about, and help create a sense of place for readers.”
|
|
A Storm of Horses: The Story of Artist Rosa Bonheurby Ruth Sanderson A huge favorite of mine, this is an inspiring picture book about Rosa Bonheur, the most famous and best-selling painter of her century. In a stunning ode to underrepresented women everywhere, award-winning illustrator Ruth Sanderson tells the untold story of French artist Rosa Bonheur in this picture book biography.
|
|
|
|
This book received enormous praise. Booklist gave it a starred review and said: “With a clearly written narrative and beautifully composed oil paintings, this picture book offers a memorable introduction to Rosa Bonheur.” Publishers Weekly said “Sanderson illuminates the life of 19th-century French animalière Marie-Rosalie ‘Rosa’ Bonheur (1822–1899) in this feminist picture book.”
|
|
Rebel Voices:
The Global Fight for Women's Equality and the Right to Voteby Louise Kay Stewart; illustrated by Eve Lloyd Knight Rule Breakers. Risk Takers. Rebel Women. Law Makers This picture book is a timely, beautiful, and bold compendium of women around the world who said "time's up" on inequality. It is a celebration of women standing up, speaking out, and sticking together to battle inequality and win the vote.
|
|
|
|
Rebel Voices is a book about historical events, but truly for our times. It features the brave campaigners who fought for women's right to vote. Stunningly illustrated by Eve Lloyd Knight, it celebrates the women who refused to behave, rebelling against convention to give women everywhere a voice. You’ll love this book!
|
|
Baladi:
Palestine by Joudie Kalla The new, cheaper flexi-bound edition of this book is now available. Joudie Kalla, author of the bestselling Palestine on a Plate, introduces readers to more of the Middle East's best kept secret—Palestinian cuisine. “Baladi” means “my home, my land, my country,” and Joudie once again pays homage to her homeland of Palestine by showcasing its wide ranging, vibrant and truly delicious dishes.
|
|
|
| Palestine is a country of different seasons and landscapes, and it is these diverse conditions that create the many and varied ingredients featured in the book. With stunning color photographs to accompany each recipe, the book is also interspersed with shots of the landscapes, streets, and people of Palestine, reflecting the rich culinary culture running through the whole country. |
|
Desified:Delicious Recipes for Ramadan, Eid, and Everyday by Zaynah Din This beautifully-written and photographed cookbook is a celebration of South Asian flavors and spices. Inspired by the core principles of Ramadan, this book has more than 90 recipes, including show-stopping breakfasts, simple and satisfying dinners, and feasting dishes to share. Whether you’re looking for the best ways to break your fast or you simply want to eat well throughout the year, a desi twist is always delicious.
|
|
|
Veganistan:
A Vegan Tour of the Middle Eastby Sally Butcher The newest release from prolific food writer Sally Butcher, Veganistan is full of healthy, accessible, and delicious vegan recipes for everyone, inspired by a Middle Eastern kitchen. And it is a GREAT read! This is not a book written from a moral point of view, but primarily from a food angle, a way of exploring and celebrating the wonders of Central Asian, Iranian, Turkish, Arab, and East African vegetable cooking and creating a volume of accessible dishes.
|
|
|
|
In its starred review, Publishers Weekly praised it “[A] fun and enticing volume … An expert guide to grilling vegetables and unique beverage concoctions ... The result is a vegan cookbook with real universal appeal.”
|
|
Cooking with Anna:Modern Home Cooking with Irish Heart by Anna Haugh Featuring 85 simple, homey, accessible, and delicious recipes from a modern Irish kitchen, by standout young chef Anna Haugh, this is a cookbook you will return to over and over again. For Anna Haugh cooking is in her bones and sharing in her nature. A born and bred Dubliner, Anna was raised on her mom’s Irish home cooking.
|
|
|
|
In this, her debut cookbook, she shares recipes that are as straightforward as they are delicious, such as Braised beef cheeks with sweet potato and basil crush, Dad’s fish pie from Howth, Vegan pulled pork, and Guinness chocolate cake. For all their heartiness, the recipes in this book taste incredible and look stunning all because Anna shares her tricks of the trade to level up flavor and bring casual elegance to simple home cooking.
|
|
|
|
