Shereen Malherbe's Blog, page 14

In Palestine there are many green birds

The Land Beneath the Light

By exploring the lived realities of those living under occupation, The Land Beneath the Light presents an alternative. Drawn from the author’s own family experiences of Palestine, Shereen Malherbe showcases the beauty of this war-torn land and its people in her new novel.It follows Khadija as she comes of age and struggles to come to terms with the trauma of her past and the uncertainty of her future, using her deeply rooted Palestinian heritage to survive. Through her novel, Malherbe shows that keeping this heritage and the stories of Palestinian people alive is one of the most powerful forms of resistance.

Now is the time. To truly understand Palestinian’s, you need to understand their life under Occupation.

As I discussed on British Muslim TV, narratives are key in understanding dehumanisation and vilifying the other; in this case a carefully prepared groundwork of negative Muslim stereotypes have slowly eroded Palestinian’s lives until they mean nothing. To change this we need to support changing the narrative to the truth.

Shereen Malherbe

Live on British Muslim TV

British Muslim TV Questions with Mohammed Shafiq.

For those who missed the live show, it is currently available via British Muslim TV.

Thank you to everyone who tuned in.

Make sure you don’t miss the latest news by subscribing to my website.

Join me live tomorrow on British Muslim TV -8.30pm, BST

I will be on British Muslim TV live tomorrow, Wednesday October 25 at 8.30pm, BST to discuss the Palestinian narrative and why it is so important that we support Palestinian voices to counteract the dehumanisation of Palestinian’s in Western media.

You can watch via Sky channel 752 or stream live via Facebook on BMTV.

Please share and subscribe. We need unity now more than ever.

Muslim Lit Festival- Masjid-Al Aqsa- Why it matters and Palestine Must Reads

—

View this email in your browser
(Reblogged from Muslim Lit Festival)

WHAT’S ON AT THE MUSLIM LITFEST Al-Aqsa event PLUS Palestine Must-Reads

The recent conflict in Palestine has put a spotlight on the city of Jerusalem and Masjid Al-Aqsa, a holy site in all the Abrahamic faiths. But what is its history, and why is it so significant to so many religious followers?
Join Friends of Al-Aqsa at the Muslim LitFest on the 4-5 of November for an eye-opening discussion on Masjid Al-Aqsa, in light of current events. Book your tickets here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/muslimlitfest/1043158
Entry is FREE, but spots are limited! Book now to avoid disappointment.
Spotlight: Palestine Reads with Shereen Malherbe

With the current crisis in Gaza and Palestine, one aspect that has become increasingly apparent is the dehumanisation of Palestinian lives. But what if more people had access to books that represented a more authentic Palestine, a way of bringing their story to life?
Shereen Malherbe is a British-Palestinian author who appeared on the BBC History Documentary, The Holy Land and Us: Our Untold Stories, earlier this year. With her own powerful family history and links to the 1948 Nakba, Shereen is dedicated to rewriting the narrative around Palestine and preserving its heritage.
Check out her own Palestine-inspired novels and unique children’s book series featuring tatreez (Palestinian embroidery)!
The Land Beneath the Light
Jasmine Falling
The Girl Who Slept Under the Moon
The Girl Who Stitched the Stars
We are grateful to the following organisations for supporting the Muslim Litfest. Please support them in return.Copyright (C) 2023 Muslim LitFest. All rights reserved.
Buy tickets here
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe

Muslim Lit Festival-Birmingham UK

Hosted by Beacon Books and featuring an array of authors, speakers, events and plenty of books for all.

The event will also feature books on Palestine to show support for Palestine throughout the event. My books will also be listed there as we try and amplify Palestine voices.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of this. Buy tickets to Muslim Lit Festival.

Children of Palestine

“We are hidden here far above the sea, but the angels move the wind across the world, they rescue those who call to Allah on their desert journeys when they are about to be overcome by a murderous sword. These are stories that we tell to remind you. You have inherited much, not just the stories of your past. There is a future with you. Do not lose hope, Children of Palestine. We are not alone, Children of Palestine. We are soldiers of this land and this is where we belong.”

The Land Beneath the Light – Shereen Malherbe

Revisiting World Literature Today’s, Palestine Voices

More than ever it is important to be able to access and hear Palestinian voices. As much of the Western media continues to dehumanise Palestinian’s being massacred in Gaza and West Bank, I wanted to revisit World Literature Today’s Palestine issue featuring a plethora of Palestinian artists and writers.

Many of those featured, including myself, are already writing about the first Nakba which had and continues to have a profound effect on both our art, writing and our entire lives.

I am struggling to say, but we are witnessing the second Nakba unfolding in front of our eyes.

Now is the time to show our support for Palestine and Palestinian’s. To truly understand a culture and it’s people, turn to their voices.

As colonization slowly dehumanizes Palestine and the Palestinians, who are the victims of victims, some of the most iconic and legendary figures in history have emerged. Their flames of resistance inspire many generations, and their words, art, and actions have influenced nations and leaders around the world…

Yousef Khanfar, World Literature Today

At a time when positivity is dwindling, let’s remind ourselves of the power of unity, support and unwavering faith. Features you will see and read throughout this powerful issue.

To learn more about the Nakba visit Zochrot.com

For more work on Palestine visit my homepage that has my books for both adults and children.

To donate to Palestine visit UNWRA.

Stay up to date with my news by subscribing.

Do you see the real Palestine?

How else will the world see an intimate portrayal of Palestinian lives?

So much of the propaganda machine represents a Palestine that no one will ever truly see. In order to truly understand Palestinian’s and their lives, you need to read about their history and how they live.

When I left London and arrived in Palestine for the first time, a tourist bus pulled up. The tourists piled out, took photos, climbed back on and drove off. It was during that moment that I realised even tourists visiting the country didn’t see the real Palestine. And there I was, living in my family’s house, walking down the streets that we had lived among for years and here are visitors that would never see inside these four walls. Imagine those that have never been and don’t know anyone there. How can they understand?

Tired of the stereotypical, orientalist narrative that’s invaded the West for decades, I began to write stories that represented a more authentic truth.

To truly understand a people and culture you need to understand their lives.

How can we help those in Palestine right now?

Learn and understand the Palestinian story from Palestinian’s.

Show your support on whatever platform you have.

Donate to charities working in Palestine.

From my last visit to Palestine, this is a snapshot of some of my family there. The saddest thing I heard was that they think the world is against them. Let’s show them we stand with them loud and clear.

Palestine-Writing as a form of resistance and truth.

The Land Beneath the Light.

“We are hidden here far above the sea, but the angels move the wind across the world, they rescue those who call to Allah on their desert journeys when they are about to be overcome by a murderous sword. These are stories that we tell to remind you. You have inherited much, not just the stories of your past. There is a future with you. Do not lose hope, Children of Palestine. We are not alone, Children of Palestine. We are soldiers of this land and this is where we belong.”

The Land Beneath the Light by Shereen Malherbe

Current media on Palestine

Palestine: The realities of life under Occupation

To understand the current situation in Palestine, one needs to understand life under Occupation and it’s history.

As many others do right now, I feel powerless to help the Palestinians who are being bombarded by the Isra*lis.

Tired of the same narratives being pushed by the West, I have continually written about Palestine and my Palestinian stories for the past fifteen years. It is the least I can do when I watch such horror and ethnic cleansing committed (including my own family) as the world makes its excuses to continue to support oppression, destruction and massacres on a monumental scale.

To truly understand we need to know about Palestinian lives that others rarely get to see, so I wrote The Land Beneath the Light.

All too often we are subjected to news of turmoil and conflict in Palestine. By exploring the lived realities of those living under occupation, The Land Beneath the Light presents an alternative.

A note from the publisher

Drawn from the author’s own family experiences of Palestine, Shereen Malherbe showcases the beauty of this war-torn land and its people in her new novel. It follows Khadija as she comes of age and struggles to come to terms with the trauma of her past and the uncertainty of her future, using her deeply rooted Palestinian heritage to survive.Through her novel, Malherbe shows that keeping this heritage and the stories of Palestinian people alive is one of the most powerful forms of resistance.

The Land Beneath the Light has been nominated for the Palestine Book Awards.

Click here to buy.