Middle East/North African Lit discussion

I just wanted to compare notes w/ others in this group to find out what their favorite Middle East reads have been. My recent favorites include "Persian Girls", "The Cry of the Dove" and "Nine Parts of Desire". I also really enjoyed "My Life in the Kingdom", "Kabul Beauty School", "Man in the White Shark Skin Suit", "Last Days of Babylon" and "Three Cups of Tea". I'm sure I am missing lots of other good ones -- anybody have any recommendations for me?

*almost* everything i read is from or about or by someone from the middle east (mostly the arabic-speaking part, but also persian and turkish). i could make lots of recommendations and i'm excited to hear recommendations from others, but it might be helpful to know what themes readers are interested in...for example, i'm always interested in how women perceive themselves and their societies. i'm also always interested in how religion, particularly islam and christianity, show up in storylines...i'm also interested in red lines and how people deal with them, which is why i love (even though i found it totally depressing) ahdaf soueif's "in the eye of the sun." so that's my first recommendation, based on things i'm interested in. but i'd love to hear what others are interested in...

I just started reading "Infidel" -- has anyone else read it? If so, what did you think? I thought it might be interesting to get a discussion going about it if others have also read it or are reading it.

Hi Wendy!

Is anyone else there???
i just brought "infidel" home from work today. i will start it...even though i'm deep in the middle of "rwanda means the universe" (which i highly recommend).

I hope others are out there and would like to join in a discussion. Ayan Hirsi Ali is quite controversial and the truthfulness of her lifestory has been questioned. I think this could make for a very dynamic discussion!

How far have you gotten, Wendy?

i am thoroughly enjoying her eloquence. i saw her speak in person once and was really taken with her speaking ability and am quite happy to find that her writing is just as eloquent.

I am finding Ayaan's story very compelling and I really admire her courage to speak out in a situation where it would have been far more convenient (not to mention safer) to keep quiet. I would really be interested to hear what others think about this book though.

Hello Group. I enjoyed very much "The Cry of the Dove." Titles I would recommend are "The Lovers of Algeria," and Philip Cuputo's novel of Sudan, "Acts of Faith." Both are emotionally difficult to get through, but turned into favorites by the time I finished.

hi william...this group has not been active, but i'm guessing from those books you listed above, you should *definitely* check out and join "Great African Reads" if you haven't already...it's a really great group and really active. we are reading a book from each country in alphabetical order (among other things) and we are about to begin with the Algeria selection and are now voting on a selection for Angola for our December pick.

it would be nice to get this group energized, though...

I really enjoyed Three Cups of Tea...not so much the writing style, but the wealth of information and his inspirational story. I just finished the English translation of Taxiwhich I absolutely loved - and it's a must read for anyone who has been to Cairo. Another of my favorites is Habibi - even if it is written for young adults!

i didn't realize Taxi had been translated yet! Thanks for posting here about that. I really want to read it. Perhaps it can generate some real discussion here...i'll try to get my hands on it very soon.

I loved Taxi so I hope you can find it soon! I'd love to discuss it.

Thanks for the recommendation on Taxi. I added it to my wish list and will try to get to it soon too!

I wanted to comment on "Infidel". I read the book about 6 months ago, and it still resonates with me, particularly the lack of control that Ayaan had over her own destiny in Somalia, as a prisoner of a family that did not allow her the autonomy to make her own decisions about marriage or career. Her struggle to leave Africa without relinquishing her cultural identity was compelling.

For something different, try Al Khan - a compilation of the entire first series of the daily comic strip run in The Daily News Egypt. You probably have to be a bit familiar with the goings-on in Egypt to get it all but it was a hilarious read! And at the same time it tackled many social issues of the day.

I really enjoyed A Reed Shaken by the Wind Travels among the Marsh Arabs of Iraq about the life of Marsh Arabs in southern Iraq prior to the construction of the dams mid-century which destroyed much of the marshland. Also check out www.tingismagazine.com - a Moroccan-American online magazine with some book reviews specific to North African literature.

Thanks for that suggestion, Melissa. I've added the book to my wish list. It sounds fascinating!

And I like the online magazine...which reminded me of one I receive, Saudi Aramco World:

"The bimonthly magazine's goal is to broaden knowledge of the cultures, history and geography of the Arab and Muslim worlds and their connections with the West. Saudi Aramco World is distributed without charge, upon request, to interested readers worldwide."

If you want it in print - for free (multiple copies possible if requesting for classroom use) - all you have to do is send them a letter.

You can also read the current issue and all of the archives online at http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com

Thanks for the link. I love free stuff for my classroom (much less hassle than begging for school funds), so will contact them soon.

From PBS Frontline World:

Read excerpts from the book Taxi:

http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/sto...

Just moved back to the US after 2 years in Cairo, so I've been working on my ME/NA literacy. "Infidel" is a good read - unless you're a cultural relativist, I suppose - and "Man in the White Sharksin Suit" is a must. But the one that really knocked my socks off was "A Border Passage," by Leila Ahmed. An excellent historical, literary contemplation of women's roles in the Middle East.

And no one has mentioned Naguib Mahfouz - too obvious? The Cairo Trilogy is a classic.

Sorry, one more (I'm really into this!). Once I picked up "The Hakawati," by Rabih Alameddine, I literally could not put it down ... and I was on safari in Kenya at the time! The book follows a young man between Lebanon (post-civil war) and the US, but the book is really *about* oral history as a mechanism for knowledge and tradition transmission.

Yes! A Border Passage From Cairo to America--A Woman's Journey is a great book! After I read it, I learned it was written by the aunt of a friend of mine. Cool.

Encounters with the Middle East: True Stories of People and Culture that Help You Understand the Region

Can you help us in here ?
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4...

I'm appreciating these posts....I have read several of the books...only have a moment to be on the computer now....but I'll be interested if you start all reading one book at the same time, and discussing it....I'd like to participate...thanks....

glad to have you with us , we will be working on that , Thanks :)

I haven't read most if not all of the books you mentioned but I'll make a mental point to check them. Right now I'm interested in reading more for Arab authors from different countries. I'd love to read In The Country of Men because I think it'll be something new for me.

The Blood of Flowers is great for people who are interested in learning more about Persian authors, it's about carpet making there.
On The Hills of God by Ibrahim Fawal is an amazing read of the Palestinian nakbah... It just takes you to another place and makes you understand things. It's not as popular as it should be.

Happy readings everyone. :)

Noor, thanks for recommending "On the Hills of God." Is it a book translated into English?

As I mentioned in another thread, I would highly recommend Susan Abulhawa's Mornings in Jenin, arguably one of the best novels of 2010.

Noor, I read In the Country of Men awhile ago. i liked it; i would definitely recommend it to others. Nile Daughter has recommended The Blood of Flowers to me and i am looking forward to eventually reading it. I am not familiar with On the Hills of God so I definitely will check that out. :D

and again, don't forget to vote, everybody!

Dear Noor
I am so so happy to see you here , also glad you put recommendations :D I wll add them to the bookshelves ;)

Amir
Welcome onboard , I think On the Hills of God was originaly written in English like Mornings in Jenin , I did not read neither of them :o but I will add them both to the bookshelves , Thanks :)

Marikie:
Hope you will find The Blood of Flowers and like it :D

@ Nile daughter thanks a lot for the welcome :)

@ Amir yes it's originally written in English, ;) Wonderful story!

@ Marikie The Blood of Flowers is great, but it's sorta kinda obscene so you're warned! I'm glad you liked in the Country of Men, that's more of a motivator to read it! But I've stopped buying new books till I finish the ones I have, so it'll take me a while to go get it.

Moon Over Samarqand is a book I love for one of my favorite authors Mohamed Al-mansi Qandil.. He's Egyptian and he writes about an Egyptian man's quest for truth, love and life. The events of the book takes place in Central Asia, how convenient is that! :D
It was a great joy to read, and I think you will all love it as much as I did.

Ok dear , I will add it , it is on my to-read list too ;) !

Ng wrote: "Moon Over Samarqand is a book I love for one of my favorite authors Mohamed Al-mansi Qandil.. He's Egyptian and he writes about an Egyptian man's quest for truth, lo..."

I LOVE Mohamed Qandil, and Moon over Samarqand is one of my underappreciated favorites. I have a review of it somewhere...Baltimore Review maybe?...but I don't think it's online. Anyhow, I second what Ng says. A joy to read. A joy to think about. A joy to reflect on.

Tiffany wrote: "And no one has mentioned Naguib Mahfouz - too obvious? The Cairo Trilogy is a classic."

And Miramar, for anyone who hasn't read that one. Also, for Eng-language readers, AUC Press will finish up translating all 35 of Mahfouz's novels before his centenary next Dec. 11.
http://arablit.wordpress.com/2010/12/...

I read Miramar while i was in Alexandria, which was a really fun thing to do. i'm rereading it now (trying to read the arabic with the english alongside it!) and it's as good as i remembered. :D

Marcia :
Thanks for the comment and info :) I wish you can help us in the news thread if you do not mind:

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4...

Marikie:
I could not read this week , I started Miramar , I liked it , and in Naguib RC group , the discussion is getting into depth , I want to catch on !

I strongly recommend , by The Gaze of the Gazelle by Arash Hejazi. It is his memoirs of living in Iran in the past 30 years. Very engaging.

Three Cups of Tea, a disappointment really - I thought I'd like it more, but not so.

I loved Kite Runner and the other book - forget the title just now.

There are two from Africa - and I can't remember those, but I will when they come up again. It's a family story, where the father is pretty strict and ridiculously religious.

You guys have already read them all, I suppose.

What I'm curious about is how many of you are actually from those places on the globe - do you enjoy the books about them?

Just as much as I enjoy a book that takes place in Toronto, Canada, I'd expect you to enjoy something that takes place in a Kenya environment, for instance.

Does it aggravate you if the writer just doesn't get the facts straight? That bothers me - if I read one thing on a page that isn't right, it throws me off for the rest of the book.

The Time in Between - David somebody . . . I actually won the book from our library - Book Buzz is Toronto Public Library's online discussion. Members on it usually get freebies.

I really enjoyed this book - I've read it twice. Gave it away since.

It's about a brother and sister who go to Taiwan (I think it's Taiwan), looking for their father. He's a Nam vet, and went down there for an indefinite stay - trying to get rid of his demons kinds' thing.

The brother and sister occupy their time while there in totally different ways, and each have different ways of looking at things, of course.

Marieke wrote: "Noor, I read In the Country of Men awhile ago. i liked it; i would definitely recommend it to others. Nile Daughter has recommended The Blood of Flowers to me and i am looking forward to eventually..."

The Blood of Flowers - that reminds me of one I read . . . The Bed of Red Flowers - that was a goodie.

Carly, were you thinking of Purple Hibiscusabove?

Marieke, I very much liked Purple Hibiscus but Half of a Yellow Sun was even better! I have been helped at GR Feedback with my question about titles in different languages!

Carly, I have added Bed of Red Flowers. I love memoirs. I wonder if I will prefer it over
The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns!

Hello Carly , I can not remember if we added A Bed of Red Flowers: In Search of My Afghanistan or not , I will check .

I am not sure I got your point right , I am from Egypt , I prefer reading Egyptian books about Egypt , more close to my mind and feelings .

Chirisse :
I loved Half of a Yellow Sun a lot !

i really really liked Purple Hibiscus so i'm excited to hear that Half a Yellow Sun is even better...
Carly, do you know about Great African Reads? it seems like you might like that group as well. :D
(disclosure: i co-moderate it.)

Marieke, you know I rarely read two books by the same author. I cannot remember which I read first by Adichie!

I recently re-read The Almond by Nedjma (Morocco) and appreciated it more than the first time.

That is very interesting , thank you both :)

Ruby : thank you for this post :)

In Memory of the Flesh there's a reference to Kateb Yacine's novel Nedjma. Has anyone read it, and what did you think of it?

Okyrhoe , I did not know about Nedjma !!! Thnk you so much for telling us about it :)