Finding books from less-represented countries

[Lilisa]

Thanks a ton Val - will check it out!

[dianne b.]

any suggestions about / around Palestine?
i am hoping to visit and would love some recs for books that might help me with culture, past/present....any great historical fiction? Insightful political writing? Anything helps. Thanks.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

dianne wrote: "any suggestions about / around Palestine?..."

Hi Dianne, last year I read Chasing Shadows about a Palestinian family who eventually become refugees in Beirut. A bit clunky, but not bad for a debut novel. For my challenge this year I have Mornings in Jenin, but have not read it yet. I think a few of the other group members have - it's meant to be pretty good.

[dianne b.]

Thanks. 'Mornings in Jenin' sounds especially wonderful.
Unfortunately, my library doesn't have 'Chasing Shadows' (actually it DOES have 3 other books with the same title but not this one).
i appreciate your suggestions!
Cheers!

[Lilisa]

Dianne - I've read Mornings in Jenin - it was a 5-star book for me - I really enjoyed it. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I've also read The Almond Tree - which was good - 4 stars. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A couple of others I have on my to-read list are: Fast Times in Palestine: A Love Affair with a Homeless Homeland (non-fiction) which has a 4.14 rating and Three Daughters which has a 3.96 rating, so guessing they'll probably both be pretty good as well. Good luck and hope you get to visit soon. Let us know how you get on with your reading and travel plans!

[dianne b.]

i will. Thank you!

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Another one for Palestine is Wild Thorns, which is short but not easy. :)

[Sara]

Lilisa wrote: "Dianne - I've read Mornings in Jenin - it was a 5-star book for me - I really enjoyed it. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I've also read The Almond ..."</i>

I just finished [book:Three Daughters and I don't recommend it at all. The first two parts were good and believable but the last 2 parts were totally different and so unbelievable that I felt I wasted my time reading over 700 pages. I read Mornings in Jenin & The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East and I loved them both.

[Lilisa]

Sara wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "Dianne - I've read Mornings in Jenin - it was a 5-star book for me - I really enjoyed it. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I've also read [b..."

Thanks for your take Sara - scrapping Three Daughters from my TBR list!

[Lilisa]

Susan Abulhawa, author of Mornings in Jenin has a new book out - The Blue Between Sky and Water - set in Palestine as well.

[Nicola]

I just came across this book -- it's short, but fascinating. It's called Saudi Girl Barbara

http://www.amazon.com/Saudi-Girl-Barb...

by a woman named Barbara Hauser. I think she self-published it on Amazon. But she has been working (as a blonde mid-western woman) as a wealth-management strategist in Saudi Arabia for years and it's an amazing behind-the-scenes look into places that are simply off-limits to Westerners 99% of the time. As a woman who follows Middle-east politics I was riveted.