2019 MENA Lit Challenge Progress

[Melanie, Marhaba Language Expertise]

Thanks for the recommendation Jalilah!

[Eileen]

Jalilah wrote: "So I am reading Last Train to Istanbul for #9 and really liking it! It's historical fiction set in the time of WW2. Although the author says all the characters are fictitious, the e..."

I recently read Last Train to Istanbul and enjoyed it, though I found the translation just a tad stilted. I learned quite a lot from the book and that is always a good thing.

[Tamara]

I read The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak for #9.

I thought it was well done. It's about an Armenian and a Turkish family whose lives intertwine in unexpected ways. It was stronger than Shafak's Three Daughters of Eve and probably as good as her The Architect's Apprentice.

My four star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tamara]

I read The Red Tent by Anita Diamant, set in Palestine and Ancient Egypt for #1.
I thought the novel started off strongly but then lost focus. A bit disappointing.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tamara]

Finished The Orchard of Lost Souls by Nadifa Mohamed for #11.
It is about the civil war in Somalia as experienced through the eyes of three females. It was quite good.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tamara]

I have a question. I just finished What Makes Civilization? The Ancient Near East and the Future of the West by David Wengrow. I'm wondering whether I can count it for #1 in the challenge.

Wengrow draws parallels between Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. The book is non-fiction and it addresses a region. It's not technically a city, but I'm wondering if it would still count for #1 in the challenge.

If it works, I can move The Red Tent from #1 to #4 in the challenge. If it doesn't work, no worries. Just let me know either way. Thanks.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Samy]

✔︎1. a novel or non-fiction book about or set in a MENA city with an ancient history: Baghdad: City of Peace, City of Blood by Justin Marozzi Finished 12 April

✔︎2. a novel book based on a famous real life MENA historical figure : Khufu's Wisdom by Naguib Mahfouz Historical Fiction about Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu trying to escape fate. Finished 25 February

✔︎3. a fantasy, dystopian or science fiction book by a MENA author: Iraq + 100: stories from a century after the invasion by Hassan Blasim Speculative fiction-short stories Finished 03 March

✔︎4. a book, fiction or non-fiction written by a female author: The Baghdad Clock by Shahad Al Rawi Novel about young girl growing up in Baghdad starting in the 1990s. Finished 04 March

✔︎5. book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Al Sham (Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria): probably will be Fünfzig Gramm Paradies: Roman aus dem Libanon by Iman Humaidan in German. English version is The Weight of Paradise. About various women in Beirut in the 70s and 90s. Finished 24 March


✔︎6. A book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from The Arabian Peninsula - ( Yemen, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia , the United Arab Emirates, and Iraq): The Baghdad Eucharist by Sinan Antoon Novel about Iraqi Christians in Baghdad. Finished 11 March


✔︎7.A book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from The Maghreb ( North Africa) - Algeria: The Angels Die by Yasmina Khadra Tragic story about a boxer in 1930s Algeria. Finished 29 Apr


✔︎8. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Egypt: Memoirs from the Women's Prison by Nawal El-Saadawi Her prison experience during the reign of Anwar Sadat Finished 19 April

✔︎9. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by a Turkish author: Madonna in a Fur Coat by Sabahattin Ali About an odd love story in early 20th century Turkey and Germany Finished 29 March. Also read, which I liked more: about family relationships and expectations, xenophobia, violence, Turkish-Kurdish issues: The Lost Word by Oya Baydar Finished 16 April and a cozy mystery (silly plot but fun comments about Istanbul and people) Divorce Turkish Style by Esmahan Aykol Finished 08April.

✔︎10. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an Iranian author: Tehran Noir edited by Salar Abdoh crime-based stories, mostly tranlsated from Farsi, but a few originally written in English. Finished 03May

✔︎11. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an author from Sudan and the Horn of Africa (Somalia): Africa's First Democrats: Somalia's Aden A. Osman and Abdirazak H. Hussen by Abdi Ismail Samatar Very detailed history of Somalian politics in mid-20th century. Finished 24 May.


✔︎12. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an author from the "Stan" countries or Central Asia (Pakistan) currently reading Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie Based on the mythic play Antigone, a novel about the complexities of love, identity and loyalty, highly recommended. Finished 20 April.

[Tamara]

Finished and reviewed The Adventures of Ibn Battuta: A Muslim Traveler of the Fourteenth Century by Ross E. Dunn for #2.
It recounts the 24-year journey of a 14th Century globe trotter as he traveled to the far reaches of the Islamic world. Professor Dunn situates each location in its historical and cultural context.

My 4-star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'm shuffling things around. I had put Cleopatra: A Life for #2 but I'll move it to #4.

[Calzean]

I'm off to a slow start with this challenge but here are my plans and progress:

1. a novel or non-fiction book about or set in a MENA city with an ancient history:
Baghdad: City of Peace, City of Blood by Justin Marozzi 3/5 read 31 Mar. A detailed study of a city in the midst of ancient to modern history.

2. a novel book based on a famous real life MENA historical figure:
The King by Kader Abdolah 4/5 read 18 Apr. A fascinating depiction of the Shah of Persia in the late 1800s. Story telling at its finest.

3. a fantasy, dystopian or science fiction book by a MENA author:
Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi 4/5 read 16 Apr. A clever satire on the madness of Iraq after it had been "freed" by the US.

4. a book, fiction or non-fiction written by a female author:
A Different Kind of Daughter: The Girl Who Hid from the Taliban in Plain Sight by Maria Toorpakai 3/5 read 20 Apr. A different kind of autobography.
Tears For Tarshiha by Olfat Mahmoud

5. book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Al Sham (Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria)
The Secret Maker of the World by Abbas El-Zein 5/5 read 27 Apr. A set of short stories telling of various characters, in different places and ages. Impressive.
Salt Houses by Hala Alyan 2/5 read 9 Apr. Four generations of a Palestinian family never really developed any of the possible themes.

6.A book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from The Arabian Peninsula - ( Yemen, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia , the United Arab Emirates, and Iraq)
The President's Gardens by Muhsin Al-Ramli 4/5 read 29 Apr. A haunting fictional account on the lives of three friends living through the reign of the Butcher of Baghdad.

7.A book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from The Maghreb ( North Africa)
Chaos of the Senses by Ahlam Mosteghanemi

8. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Egypt
No One Sleeps in Alexandria by Ibrahim Abdel Meguid 3/5 read 5 Apr. Better than The Levant Trilogy

9. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by a Turkish author
The Museum of Innocence by Orhan Pamuk
Three Daughters of Eve by Elif Shafak read 21 Mar. I've enjoyed her other novels more.

10. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an Iranian author
My Uncle Napoleon by Iraj Pezeshkzad 4/5 read 2 Apr. I wonder what Iranians say about this humorous book full of lovable characters.

11. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an author from Sudan and the Horn of Africa (Somalia , Djibouti and Eritrea)
The Orchard of Lost Souls by Nadifa Mohamed 3/5 read 14 May. Somalia in the 1980s as seen through the experiences of two women and a girl.

12. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an author from the "Stan" countries or Central Asia ( Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan , Uzbekistan) and Afghanistan or Pakistan
Red Birds by Mohammed Hanif 5/5 read 13 May. Weird but a modern day Catch-22.

[Jalilah]

I just read Zeina by Nawal El-Saadawi for #8 book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Egypt:

[Tamara]

Jalilah wrote: "I just read Zeina by Nawal El-Saadawi for #8 book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Egypt:"

What did you think of it? Was it any good?

[Tamara]

Finished Broken Verses by Kamila Shamsie for #12.
Disappointing. Personally, I don't recommend it. If you want to read a Kamila Shamsie, I recommend Home Fire, which is a much better book and is a modern re-telling of the Antigone myth.

My review of Broken Verses: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Carol]

Tamara wrote: "Finished Broken Verses by Kamila Shamsie for #12.
Disappointing. Personally, I don't recommend it. If you want to read a Kamila Shamsie, I recommend [book:Home Fire|33..."

Bummer, having read and loved Home Fire, I anticipated everything in her back catalog would be equally stunning. Silliness, I know.

[Gina]

Carol wrote: "Tamara wrote: "Finished Broken Verses by Kamila Shamsie for #12.
Disappointing. Personally, I don't recommend it. If you want to read a Kamila Shamsie, I recommend [bo..."

I read Broken Verses recently and really liked it . I thought the writing could have been a bit tighter towards the end, but overall I enjoyed it. I found the protagonist very enjoyable. Will have to try Home Fire as well.

[Tamara]

Carol wrote: "Tamara wrote: "Finished Broken Verses by Kamila Shamsie for #12.
Disappointing. Personally, I don't recommend it. If you want to read a Kamila Shamsie, I recommend [bo..."

You might want to give Broken Vessels a try, Carol. Gina @64 liked it. So it could just be me. But I do think Home Fire is a much better book.

[Jalilah]

Tamara wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "I just read Zeina by Nawal El-Saadawi for #8 book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Egypt:"

What did you think of it? Was it any good?"

Sorry Tamara! I did not see your post until now!
I liked it quite a lot, but didn't love it to the point where it will become one of my favourite books.
Part of the problem might have been the cover description. In my review I suggested avoiding reading it. The description makes it seem like certain events are what the book is about, where as in reality you don't even find out about them until the last few chapters.

[Jalilah]

I forgot to mention that I ended up reading Girls of Riyadh for #6 A book from the Arabian Peninsula
It's a little silly. Not badly written but for a much younger audience

[Tamara]

Jalilah wrote: "Sorry Tamara! I did not see your post until now.
I liked it quite a lot of didn't love it to the point where it will be come one of my favourite books...."

No worries. Thanks for getting back to me.

It doesn't look like something I'll be anxious to read.

[Niledaughter]

Jalilah wrote: "So I am reading Last Train to Istanbul for #9 and really liking it! It's historical fiction set in the time of WW2. Although the author says all the characters are fictitious, the e..."
Interesting , I wanted to read for Ayşe Kulin , maybe I will have a chance .

I read The Heretic Queen for number 2 (a historical figure ) .
I was Curious how Nefertari and Ramesses II (Ramesses the great) will be portrayed . It was disappointing , the whole novel was based on the link between Nefertari and Nefertiti - (which has no historical base) - making her rejected by people and priests . the novel was a pale portrait ending with the construction of Abu Simbel .

[Jalilah]

I just read Always Coca-Cola and will count it either for 4. a book, fiction or non-fiction written by a female author or 5. book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Al Sham depending on what else I read.

[Tamara]

I finished Cairo Modern by Naguib Mahfouz for #8.
He tends to hammer the point home, but I think the theme of the novel is as relevant today as it was when he wrote it in 1945.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jalilah]

I know the author is not from a MENA country, but it's not easy finding Fantasy or SciFi from a MENA author, so I am reading
The Bird King by G. Willow Wilson for 3. a fantasy, dystopian or science fiction book by a MENA author. I am enjoying it a lot.
For those of you who read Alif the Unseen one of the characters from it is in this book!

[Robin]

Thank you everyone for all these wonderful recommendations. I have a lot of work ahead of me to catch up. I put most of them into a unified list for my own reference (and to work on over the coming years...)--plus I added a bonus category #13, see below:

1. A book about or set in a MENA city with an ancient history.
The Gardener of Baghdad
Mecca: The Sacred City
Baghdad Noir
Beirut Noir
Tehran Noir
Marrakech Noir
Istanbul Noir
Istanbul: Memories and the City
The Baghdad Eucharist

2. A book based on a real-life MENA historical figure.
Leo Africanus
Tree of Pearls, Queen of Egypt
Regards from the Dead Princess: Novel of a Life
Ibn Khaldun: An Intellectual Biography
Hypatia of Alexandria
The Architect's Apprentice
Travels with a Tangerine: A Journey in the Footnotes of Ibn Battutah
The Adventures of Ibn Battuta: A Muslim Traveler of the Fourteenth Century, Revised Edition, with a New Preface
Khufu's Wisdom
Cleopatra: A Life
The King

3. A fantasy, dystopian or science fiction book by a MENA author.
The Night Counter
Unholy Land
HWJN
The Queue
Women of Karantina
Iraq + 100: stories from a century after the invasion
Frankenstein in Baghdad

4. A book by a female MENA author.
Sex and the Citadel: Intimate Life in a Changing Arab World
Rain Over Baghdad
A Map of Home
Always Coca-Cola by Alexandra Chreiteh FINISHED 4/19/2019 my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Women in the Qurʼan : An Emancipatory Reading
The Baghdad Clock
Tears For Tarshiha

5. A book by an author from Al Sham.
In the Name of Identity: Violence and the Need to Belong by Amin Maalouf, who was born in Lebanon FINISHED 4/2019 my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Cinnamon
The Cry of the Dove
Death Is Hard Work
No Road to Paradise
Borrowed Time
States of Passion
Brothers of the Gun: A Memoir of the Syrian War
Nietzsche's Camel Must Die: An Invitation to Say 'No'
We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled: Voices from Syria
I Remember Beirut
Beirut Noir
Pearls on a Branch: Arab Stories Told by Women in Lebanon Today
The Weight of Paradise
Salt Houses
Always Coca-Cola by Alexandra Chreiteh FINISHED 4/19/2019 my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

6. A book by an author from the Arabian Peninsula or Iraq.
An Apartment Called Freedom
Girls of Riyadh
The Watermelon Boys
Frankenstein in Baghdad
The Book of Collateral Damage
The Turtle of Oman
Celestial Bodies
Baghdad Noir
The Baghdad Eucharist
The President's Gardens

7. A book by an author from North Africa.
So Vast the Prison
Children of the New World
Maps of the Soul
The Hospital
The Happy Marriage
For Bread Alone
Marrakech Noir
Dreams of Maryam Tair: Blue Boots and Orange Blossoms
Feminist Traditions in Andalusi-Moroccan Oral Narratives
The Angels Die
Chaos of the Senses

8. A book by an author from Egypt.
The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit: My Family's Exodus from Old Cairo to the New World
Embrace on Brooklyn Bridge
Zeina
A Cloudy Day on the Western Shore
The Law of Inheritance
A Border Passage: From Cairo to America – A Woman's Journey
After Coffee
Memoirs from the Women's Prison
No One Sleeps in Alexandria
Cairo Modern

9. A book by a Turkish author.
My Name Is Red
Aylin
The Bastard of Istanbul
Snow
The Forty Rules of Love
The Museum of Innocence
Madonna in a Fur Coat
The Time Regulation Institute
Motherland Hotel
The Disconnected
The Other Side of the Mountain
Last Train to Istanbul
A Mind at Peace
The Black Book
Istanbul Noir
Istanbul: Memories and the City
Three Daughters of Eve

10. A book by an Iranian author.
To Keep the Sun Alive
Equal of the Sun
Us & Them
Soundtrack of the Revolution: The Politics of Music in Iran
Women Without Men: A Novel of Modern Iran
The Man Who Snapped His Fingers
Remembering Akbar: Inside the Iranian Revolution
Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books
Tehran Noir
Saddlebag
The Complete Persepolis
Together Tea
Refuge
The King
My Uncle Napoleon

11. A book by an author from Sudan or the Horn of Africa.
African Titanics
Lyrics Alley
The Kindness of Enemies
The Orchard of Lost Souls
Africa's First Democrats: Somalia's Aden A. Osman and Abdirazak H. Hussen

12. A book by an author from Central Asia, Afghanistan, or Pakistan.
A Bed of Red Flowers: In Search of My Afghanistan
Broken Verses
Burnt Shadows
The Pearl That Broke Its Shell
The Golden Legend
A Curse on Dostoevsky
Home Fire
Red Birds
"Believing Women" in Islam: Unreading Patriarchal Interpretations of the Qur'an
Threading My Prayer Rug: One Woman's Journey from Pakistani Muslim to American Muslim
The Islam Quintet: Shadows of the Pomegranate Tree, The Book of Saladin, The Stone Woman, A Sultan in Palermo, and Night of the Golden Butterfly

13. BONUS: A book written by a European Muslim.
Death and the Dervish
The Fortress
Kiffe Kiffe Tomorrow

[Jalilah]

Robin wrote: "Thank you everyone for all these wonderful recommendations. I have a lot of work ahead of me to catch up. I put most of them into a unified list for my own reference (and to work on over the coming..."

That's a great list Robin! It's very helpful too, as I still have not decided on all the categories.

I have been having a hard time finding a fantasy novel. I read Frankenstein in Baghdad and The Night Counter last year.
I am currently reading and enjoying The Bird King, but for the challenge would have preferred an author from a MENA country. I tried so hard to find HWJN with no luck!

[Melanie, Marhaba Language Expertise]

Dreams of Maryam Tayr has fantasy elements.

[Jalilah]

Melanie wrote: "Dreams of Maryam Tayr has fantasy elements."

Good to know! I buy never few books nowadays, preferring to use the library, but I actually decided to buy this one! I was going to read it for an author from the Maghreb, but I could read something for that category.

[Jalilah]

Melanie wrote: "Dreams of Maryam Tayr has fantasy elements."

Thank you so much for recommending this book Melanie!
I just finished Dreams of Maryam Tair: Blue Boots and Orange Blossoms and am deeply moved!
I will be counting it for my 3. a fantasy, dystopian or science fiction book by a MENA author, but it really could also count for 4. a book, fiction or non-fiction written by a female author or 7.A book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from The Maghreb.
I agree with what you say that it has fantasy elements. It definitely does, although I would not categorize it as regular fantasy, more magical realist or mythic. In any case I would like to read the authors other book Aya Dane as well. I thought we were going to have a discussion for it, but when I looked at the group home page I don't see it.

[Melanie, Marhaba Language Expertise]

Yes, we’re reading the work of Mhani Alaoui in July (discussing both her novels-you can read one or both). I’m looking forward to it!

[Jalilah]

Melanie wrote: "Yes, we’re reading the work of Mhani Alaoui in July (discussing both her novels-you can read one or both). I’m looking forward to it!"

Great! You can count on me joining in!

[Melanie, Marhaba Language Expertise]

Wonderful!

[Niledaughter]

Jalilah wrote: " In any case I would like to read the authors other book Aya Dane as well. I thought we were going to have a discussion for it, but when I looked at the group home page I don't see it...."

It is at the group home page , there must be some sort of bug that made it unclear .

[Melanie, Marhaba Language Expertise]

We also have an upcoming buddy read of Embrace on Brooklyn Bridge for the month of June. I'm the discussion leader unless someone else want to ;) - I'm reading the Arabic for this one (it's been on my shelf for years!)

[Melanie, Marhaba Language Expertise]

Also, I just opened the thread for The Architect's Apprentice here:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I'm enjoying it so far! :)

[Nan]

Melanie wrote: "We also have an upcoming buddy read of Embrace on Brooklyn Bridge for the month of June. I'm the discussion leader unless someone else want to ;) - I'm reading the Arabic for this o..."

Great! I recently read this book and look forward to reading what others think about this book.

[Nan]

Jalilah wrote: "Robin wrote: "Thank you everyone for all these wonderful recommendations. I have a lot of work ahead of me to catch up. I put most of them into a unified list for my own reference (and to work on o..."
Hi Jaliyah I found HWJN on Amazon.

[Tamara]

If any of you are still looking for a book for #3 of the challenge (fantasy fiction by a MENA author), I hope you'll consider my novel, Gilgamesh of Uruk, based on the story of the epic hero of ancient Mesopotamia. It's on sale until Saturday, May 26, 8:00 a.m. PDT.

Gilgamesh, son of the goddess Ninsun and the mortal Lugalbanda, is the arrogant king of the vibrant city of Uruk, a sprawling desert metropolis. In an attempt to quell Gilgamesh’s oppressive behavior, the gods fashion the wild man, Enkidu, to be a companion to the king and to calm his errant ways. The two form an inseparable bond, embark on a wild misadventure, and commit a series of blunders that offend the very gods who created Enkidu. What happens next sends Gilgamesh on an epic journey to find his ancestor, Utnapishtim the Faraway, to learn his story of survival and unlock the secrets of immortality.

https://www.amazon.com/Gilgamesh-Uruk...

[Niledaughter]

We will be reading for this genre in November :)

[Tamara]

I finished Celestial Bodies by Jokha Alharthi for #6.

My 4-star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Samy]

Thank you, Tamara for letting us know about your book as well as thank you to everyone for the reviews and recommendations. I have added many of these books to my very long tbr list, even if I read other ones for this challenge (now completed!).

[Tamara]

Samy wrote: "Thank you, Tamara for letting us know about your book as well as thank you to everyone for the reviews and recommendations. I have added many of these books to my very long tbr list, even if I read..."

You're welcome!

[Tamara]

I recently read The Book of Collateral Damage by the Iraqi author, Sinan Antoon. The novel is about the aftermath of the Iraq war and occupation. I thought it was very moving and very well done. I've decided to use it for #1 of the challenge instead of the book I had originally planned to use.

I posted a review of the book and recently heard back from the author. He 'liked' my review. I got a kick out of that :)

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Carol]

Tamara wrote: "I recently read The Book of Collateral Damage by the Iraqi author, Sinan Antoon. The novel is about the aftermath of the Iraq war and occupation. I thought it was ver..."

What an awesome occurrence!

[Nan]

Carol wrote: "Tamara wrote: "I recently read The Book of Collateral Damage by the Iraqi author, Sinan Antoon. The novel is about the aftermath of the Iraq war and occupation. I tho..."

I’ve got this book at the top of my TBR stack. I liked The Corpse Washer and look forward to reading this book.

[Nan]

TBR not TNB.

[Melanie, Marhaba Language Expertise]

I'm looking forward to reading that book in November (for the Folklore category)!

[Niledaughter]

I just noticed that The Longing of the Dervish is now available in English , I read it a few years ago and it could be a good choice to read from Sudan . the novel won (Naguib Mahfouz Award for Literature- 2014) and was nominated for the international Prize for Arabic Fiction 2015 .
https://arablit.org/hammour-ziada-the...

[Jalilah]

Niledaughter wrote: "I just noticed that The Longing of the Dervish is now available in English , I read it a few years ago and it could be a good choice to read from Sudan . the novel won (Naguib Mahfo..."

Thanks for the recommendation! I had been wondering about what to read from Sudan!

I also saw that one of my favourite authors Leila Aboulela has a new book out called Elsewhere, Home, although it appears to be less about Sudan particularly.

[Niledaughter]

Jalilah wrote: "I also saw that one of my favourite authors Leila Aboulela has a new book out called Elsewhere, Home, although it appears to be less about Sudan particularly.."

You are welcome !

I was thinking of reading Lyrics Alley for her .

[Tamara]

I recently finished The Turtle of Oman by Naomi Shihab Nye for #5 (Palestine). It's a cute children's story about a young boy's preparation to leave his Muscat home with his parents to spend a few years in Michigan. It's a book one can give to a child who has apprehensions about leaving home.

I seldom read children's books now that my boys have grown. This was charming. But now I'm ready to tackle something a little heavier :)

[Melanie, Marhaba Language Expertise]

Thanks Tamara, I’ve wondered about that book. Nice to hear your opinion.