2022 challenge

[Niledaughter]

Our challenge continues:
https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/...

1. a book, fiction or non-fiction book about the Palestine conflict.
2. a book, fiction or non-fiction based on or about MENA history
3. a book, fiction or non-fiction about "Empowering women
4. a book, fiction or non fiction. written by an author from Iraq
5. book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Al Sham (Lebanon, Jordan, Syria)
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 )
7. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from The Maghreb ( North Africa) - ( Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya,Mauritania
8. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Egypt
9. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by a Turkish author
10. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an Iranian author
11. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an author from Sudan and the Horn of Africa (Somalia , Djibouti and Eritrea)
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

[Niledaughter]

My list

1. a book, fiction or non-fiction book about the Palestine conflict.
The Invention of the Jewish People


2. a book, fiction or non-fiction based on or about MENA history

Sons of the People: The Mamluk Trilogy



3. a book, fiction or non-fiction for "Empowering women"


4. a book, fiction or non fiction. written by an author from Iraq
Gilgamesh of Uruk

5. book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Al Sham (Lebanon, Jordan, Syria)
The Night Counter: A Novel


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 )
Celestial Bodies


7. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from The Maghreb ( North Africa) - ( Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya,Mauritania
The Pillar of Salt


8. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Egypt
Warda
Return of the Spirit
‫أوراق شمعون المصري‬


9. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by a Turkish author
The Architect's Apprentice


10. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an Iranian author



11. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an author from Sudan and the Horn of Africa (Somalia , Djibouti and Eritrea)
Bird Summons


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

Games Without Rules: The Often Interrupted History of Afghanistan

[Orgeluse]

As in 2021, I have decided to fill the list as I go. In 2021, I managed 5 categories, so I will focus on the rest this year:

1. about the Palestine conflict
- planned reading:

2. about MENA history
- planned reading:

3. for "Empowering Women" (2021)

4. by an author from Iraq

5. by an author from Al-Sham (2021)

6. by an author from The Arabian Peninsular
Bitter Orange Tree by Jokha Alharthi

7. by an author from The Maghreb (2021)

8. by an author from Egypt
Stealth by Sonallah Ibrahim

9. by a Turkish author (2021)

10. by an Iranian author (2021)

11. by an author from Sudan / the Horn of Africa
Bird Summons by Leila Aboulela (scheduled for January - March)

12. by an author from the -stan countries

[Orgeluse]

Niledaughter wrote: "My list

1. a book, fiction or non-fiction book about the Palestine conflict.
The Invention of the Jewish People


2. a book, fiction or non-fiction based on or about MENA history

..."

I really loved Celestial Bodies, I even re-read it :)). And I also enjoyed My Name Is Red this spring!

[Carolien]

1. about the Palestine conflict
Bible and Sword: England and Palestine from the Bronze Age to Balfour Completed 2 February 4 stars
- planned reading: Once Upon a Country: A Palestinian Life. I also own The Blue Between Sky and Water and The Hundred Years' War on Palestine: A History of Settler-Colonial Conquest and Resistance, 1917-2017 and Time of White Horses and The Arsonists' City and Salt Houses and My First and Only Love

2. about MENA history
A Bookshop in Algiers Completed 30 October 4 stars
- planned reading: Maybe The Pilgrimage of Etheria: with footnotes. I still have Midnight at the Pera Palace: The Birth of Modern Istanbul and Midnight in Cairo: The Divas of Egypt's Roaring '20s on my Amazon wishlist. I own The Guide for the Perplexed

3. for "Empowering Women"
Planned: Touba and the Meaning of Night

4. by an author from Iraq
Planned: Naphtalene: A Novel of Baghdad
I own I'm in Seattle, Where Are You?: A Memoir

5. by an author from Al-Sham
The Prophet Completed 27 February 4 stars
Still want to read Amin Maalouf and Elias Khoury.
I have The Beekeeper of Aleppo and The Proof of the Honey and The Cry of the Dove and The Arsonists' City and Voices of the Lost

6. by an author from The Arabian Peninsular
Celestial Bodies Completed 17 July 4 stars
I own The Book Smuggler and The Sand Fish: A Novel from Dubai and The Turtle of Oman


7. by an author from The Maghreb
The Ardent Swarm Completed 19 January 4 stars

I own: Children of the New World or Chaos of the Senses orStraight from the Horse's Mouth or The Angels Die

8. by an author from Egypt
The Harafish Completed 30 January 4 stars
The Tears, The English Translation of Al-Abarat: Mustafa Lutfi Al-Manfaluti, Translated by Majid Khan Malik Saddiqui Completed 11 June 4 stars
I own Shelf Life: Chronicles of a Cairo Bookseller and Children of the Alley and The Queue


9. by a Turkish author
The Island of Missing Trees Completed 25 May 5 stars
Madonna in a Fur Coat Completed 28 July 4 stars


10. by an Iranian author
The Stationery Shop Completed 29 October 4 stars

Planned: The Blind Owl
I own Tehran at Twilight or or Tehran Noir or The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree

11. by an author from Sudan / the Horn of Africa
Bird Summons Completed 28 February 3.5 stars
Or Amid the Chaos or The Fortune Men or Born in the Big Rains: A Memoir of Somalia and Survival

12. by an author from the -stan countries
Completed Jamilia 2 May 4 stars
I own A Fort of Nine Towers: An Afghan Family Story and Sparks Like Stars and Homeland Elegies and Children of Dust: A Portrait of a Muslim as a Young Man and City of Spies

A century of MENA books

1910 The Tears, The English Translation of Al-Abarat: Mustafa Lutfi Al-Manfaluti, Translated by Majid Khan Malik Saddiqui (Egypt)
1920 The Prophet (Lebanon)
1930
1940 Madonna in a Fur Coat (Turkey/Bulgaria)
1950 Jamilia (Kyrgyzstan)
1960
1970 The Harafish (Egypt)
1980
1990
2000
2010 The Ardent Swarm (Tunisia)
2020 The Island of Missing Trees (Turkey/Cyprus)

[Orgeluse]

Carolien wrote: "1. about the Palestine conflict
- planned reading: Once Upon a Country: A Palestinian Life. I also own The Blue Between Sky and Water and The Hundred Years' War ..."</i>

Great list, Carolien!! I can recommend [book:Jamilia, a quick and enjoyable read (there is also a film version available on youtube).
I have Touba and the Meaning of Night on my shelves and will add that to my list as well.
I also have Bird Summons on my TBR as a re-read, because it was a quick and enjoyable read in 2019, but when I read some of the reviews I got the feeling that I missed out some important aspects of the book so I would like to make sure I will get it this time :))

[Melanie, Marhaba Language Expertise]

I have a few categories blank still...

1. a book, fiction or non-fiction book about the Palestine conflict.
I'm reading Habibi by Naomi Shihab Nye.

2. a book, fiction or non-fiction based on or about MENA history
Sons of the People: The Mamluk Trilogy - My full review is here: https://www.melaniemagidow.com/2020/02/

3. a book, fiction or non-fiction about "Empowering women
The Night Will Have Its Say - I read it. We discussed this as a group read in 2023, including some Q&A with the translator.

4. a book, fiction or non fiction. written by an author from Iraq

5. book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Al Sham (Lebanon, Jordan, Syria)
طيور أيلول - No English translation yet - I listened to the audiobook (on Audible). Not my favorite of hers, but it's lovely to hear her reading it :)

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 )
Bitter Orange Tree - Discussed with group


7. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from The Maghreb ( North Africa) - ( Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya,Mauritania
تفاح الجن - I read and reviewed a book only available in Arabic as of now: غريبة الحسين

8. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Egypt
Stealth - read
Teita and Babcia تيتا و بابتشا رحلات في وصفات الجدات Especially poignant with the current violence in Poland. Wonderful recipes and exploration of generations and cultures. Currently available only in Arabic. For more information: https://arabkidlitnow.com - read

9. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by a Turkish author
The Island of Missing Trees - read and discussed with group

10. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an Iranian author

11. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an author from Sudan and the Horn of Africa (Somalia , Djibouti and Eritrea)

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

[Jalilah]

Except for one book I have no idea yet what I'll read in 2022, but I will definitely be participating! This will be my placeholder:


1. a book, fiction or non-fiction book about the Palestine conflict.
I Saw Ramallah by Mourid Barghouti
2. a book, fiction or non-fiction based on or about MENA history
The Annotated Arabian Nights: Tales from 1001 Nights translated by Yasmine Seale
3. a book, fiction or non-fiction about "Empowering women
The Story of Zahra by Hanan Al-Shaykh
4. a book, fiction or non fiction. written by an author from Iraq
The Watermelon Boys by Ruqaya Izzidien
5. book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Al Sham (Lebanon, Jordan, Syria) The Occasional Virgin by Hanan Al-Shaykh
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 )
Bitter Orange Tree by Jokha Alharthi
7. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from The Maghreb ( North Africa) - ( Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya,Mauritania
For Bread Alone by Mohamed Choukri
8. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Egypt
In the Eye of the Sun by Ahdaf Soueif
9. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by a Turkish author
White on White by Aysegül Savas
10. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an Iranian author
The Conference of the Birds translated by Rabiah York Lumbard
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
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
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie

[Wayne]

Wayne's List

I will add books as we go along

1. a book, fiction or non-fiction book about the Palestine conflict.: The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine
2. a book, fiction or non-fiction based on or about MENA history: A History of the Arab Peoples with a New Afterword
3. a book, fiction or non-fiction about "Empowering women: I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban
4. a book, fiction or non fiction. written by an author from Iraq: A Sky So Close: A Novel
5. book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Al Sham (Lebanon, Jordan, Syria); Leo the African
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 ): Oranges In The Sun: Short Stories From The Arabian Gulf
7. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from The Maghreb ( North Africa) - ( Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Mauritania: Fantasia: An Algerian Cavalcade
8. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Egypt: Palace of Desire
9. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by a Turkish author: The Bastard of Istanbul
10. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an Iranian author: My Uncle Napoleon
11. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an author from Sudan and the Horn of Africa (Somalia , Djibouti and Eritrea): Maps
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: A Thousand Splendid Suns

[Jeannine]

I'm in and will fill out the list as I go along...

1. a book, fiction or non-fiction book about the Palestine conflict.

2. a book, fiction or non-fiction based on or about MENA history.

3. a book, fiction or non-fiction about "Empowering women."

4. a book, fiction or non fiction. written by an author from Iraq.
Daughters of Iraq by, Revital Shiri-Horowitz

5. book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Al Sham (Lebanon, Jordan, Syria).

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 ).

7. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from The Maghreb ( North Africa) - ( Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Mauritania.

8. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Egypt.
The Committee by, Sonallah Ibrahim (READ)
That Smell and Notes from Prison by, Sonallah Ibrahim (READ)

9. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by a Turkish author.
My Name Is Red, Orhan Pamuk (READ)

10. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an Iranian author.

11. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an author from Sudan and the Horn of Africa (Somalia , Djibouti and Eritrea)

12. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an author from the "Stan" countries or Central Asia.
planned: Games Without Rules: The Often Interrupted History of Afghanistan by, Tamim Ansary (READ)

Books I have access to and plan to read(Reminder list)
The Architect's Apprentice
Celestial Bodies
Stealth
Ice

[Niledaughter]

I see interesting books on the lists ! :)
It would be nice to have a reading group for Bird Summons

Orgeluse wrote: "I really loved Celestial Bodies, I even re-read it :)). And I also enjoyed My Name Is Red this spring!..."

I want to read both for a while now.


Jalilah wrote: "Except for one book I have no idea yet what I'll read in 2022, but I will definitely be participating! This will be my placeholder:


1. a book, fiction or non-fiction book about the Palestine con..."

You decided to read In the Eye of the Sun !

[Orgeluse]

Niledaughter wrote: "I see interesting books on the lists ! :)
It would be nice to have a reading group for Bird Summons

Orgeluse wrote: "I really loved Celestial Bodies, I even re-read it :)). And I a..."

As I will re-read Bird Summons in January I am ready for a group read any time :))

[Melanie, Marhaba Language Expertise]

I've read Bird Summons in the past and can post at least once in the discussion if it's a group read.

[Carolien]

I'm planning on reading Bird Summons in February.

[Johanna]

I'm interesting in Bird Summons, but my planning is not made jet. So everything is possible.

[Nan]

My plan for the ‘22 is like my plan for ‘21. Finish the books I own which are on my reading list challenge from ‘20. This list while I read other interesting books that come along.

1. Ice, Sonallah Ibrahim.
2.Velvet, Huzama Habayeb
3 The Longing Of The Dervish, Hammour R. Ziada
4. I Stared At The Night Of The City
5. Motherland Hotel, Yusuf Atilgan
6. The Theocrat, Bensalem Himmich
7. Broken Verses, Kamila Shamsie

Seems I’m a slow reader when it comes to this list.

[Niledaughter]

Nan, do not worry about being slow. I do not manage to read 10% of what I want to read! :(

For " Bird summons", we have an official read in January, so I guess we can start discussing it in March, what do you think?

[Nan]

A worthy idea. I’ll give it a try.

I am no disciple in the first stages of reaching up to attain knowledge, excavating for answers in the discussion circles of mosques and the loneliness of monks cells.

Famous words from another group read.

[Melanie, Marhaba Language Expertise]

I've added Bird Summons to the MENA Lit Calendar I keep here:
https://www.melaniemagidow.com/blog/m...

It's interesting to see the lists of previous years :)

[Niledaughter]

Very nice Melanie! I like it!

[Orgeluse]

Niledaughter wrote: "Nan, do not worry about being slow. I do not manage to read 10% of what I want to read! :(

For " Bird summons", we have an official read in January, so I guess we can start discussing it in March,..."

Great prospect for March! Looking forward to exchanging thoughts with all of you!

[Orgeluse]

Melanie wrote: "I've added Bird Summons to the MENA Lit Calendar I keep here:
https://www.melaniemagidow.com/blog/m...

It's interesting to see the lists of previous years :)"

I have a similar list for my real life bookclub and it feels great to look back at past reads!

[Carolien]

Perfect, look forward to the discussion in March!

[Richard]

Here’s my list:

1. Balcony on the Moon: Coming of Age in Palestine by Ibtisam Barakat
2. Midnight In Cairo: The Female Stars of Egypt’s Roaring ‘20s by Raphael Cormack
3. Chronicles of a Cairo Bookseller by Nadia Wassef
4. The American Granddaughter by Inaam Kachachi
5. Land of No Rain by Amjad Nasser
6. The Mariner by Taleb Alrefai
7. A Country For Dying by Abdellah Taïa
8. Spectres by Radwa Ashour
9. The Stone Building and Other Places by Aslı Erdoğan
10. Pomegranate Soup by Marsha Mehran
11. Black Mamba Boy by Nadifa Mohamed
12. Nights of Turkistan by Najib Elkilany

[Niledaughter]

Richard wrote: "Here’s my list:

1. Balcony on the Moon: Coming of Age in Palestine by Ibtisam Barakat
2. Midnight In Cairo: The Female Stars of Egypt’s Roaring ‘20s by Raphael Cormack
3. Chronicles of a Cairo Bo..."

I remember reading The American Granddaughter, so strange I cannot remember how I felt about it!

[Richard]

Is it worth reading?

[Jalilah]

Richard wrote: "Is it worth reading?"

Niledaughter wrote: "Richard wrote: "Here’s my list:

1. Balcony on the Moon: Coming of Age in Palestine by Ibtisam Barakat
2. Midnight In Cairo: The Female Stars of Egypt’s Roaring ‘20s by Raphael Cormack
3. Chronicl..."

I read it a while ago. It was not bad but also not really good. It did not leave a lasting impression on me. On thing that irked me is the lead protagonist is of Iraqi ancestry born in the U.S. She signs up for the army thinking she will be helping Iraq and is surprised to arrive in Iraq and find the American troops are not welcome there. ( this is not a spoiler as it happens right away at the start of the book) To me this seemed very unbelievable as there were already numerous protests around the world before the US invasion ( both times)

[Jalilah]

Niledaughter wrote: "You decided to read In the Eye of the Sun
Yes! I'm enjoying it very much! :)

[Bouchra]

Working through this list for 2022:

the Palestine conflict: Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa
MENA history: ماذا قدم المسلمون للعالم 1 by راغب السرجاني
Empowering women: Zeina by Nawal El Saadawi
an author from Iraq: Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi
an author from Al Sham: Between Beirut And The Moon by Naji Bakhti
an author from The Arabian Peninsula: Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsanea
an author from The Maghreb: في قلبي أنثى عبرية by خولة حمدي
an author from Egypt: The Map of Love by Ahdaf Soueif
a Turkish author: 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World by Elif Shafak
an Iranian author: Women Without Men: A Novel of Modern Iran by Shahrnush Parsipur
an author from Sudan and the Horn of Africa: Bird Summons by Leila Aboulela
an author from the "Stan" countries or Central Asia: The Railway by Hamid Ismailov

[Wayne]

Q1 Update: I have read 1 out of 12 books for the challenge. For the quarter I have read 60 out of 150 planned, with five (1 NF, 4 F) relevant to the region. I think I am on track

Wayne's List

I will add books as we go along

1. a book, fiction or non-fiction book about the Palestine conflict.: The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine
2. a book, fiction or non-fiction based on or about MENA history: A History of the Arab Peoples with a New Afterword
3. a book, fiction or non-fiction about "Empowering women: I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban
4. a book, fiction or non fiction. written by an author from Iraq: A Sky So Close: A Novel
5. book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Al Sham (Lebanon, Jordan, Syria); Leo the African
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 ): Oranges In The Sun: Short Stories From The Arabian Gulf
7. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from The Maghreb ( North Africa) - ( Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Mauritania: Fantasia: An Algerian Cavalcade
8. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Egypt: Palace of Desire
9. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by a Turkish author: The Bastard of Istanbul
10. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an Iranian author: My Uncle Napoleon
11. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an author from Sudan and the Horn of Africa (Somalia , Djibouti and Eritrea): Maps
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 : A Thousand Splendid Suns

[Anne]

I've just finished reading Women of Sand and Myrrh by Hanan Al-Shaykh. I enjoyed it a lot.

[Nan]

Jalilah wrote: "Richard wrote: "Is it worth reading?"

Niledaughter wrote: "Richard wrote: "Here’s my list:

1. Balcony on the Moon: Coming of Age in Palestine by Ibtisam Barakat
2. Midnight In Cairo: The Female ..."

Jalilah wrote: "Niledaughter wrote: "You decided to read In the Eye of the Sun
Yes! I'm enjoying it very much! :)"

Eye of the Sun and Palace Walk were the first books I read by authors from Egypt. My reading was forever changed for the better.

Jalilah wrote: "Richard wrote: "Is it worth reading?"

Niledaughter wrote: "Richard wrote: "Here’s my list:

1. Balcony on the Moon: Coming of Age in Palestine by Ibtisam Barakat
2. Midnight In Cairo: The Female ..."

[Rachel]

Rachel’s 2022 Middle Eastern & North African Lit Challenge
12/12
✅1. about the Palestine conflict: Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa* 24 Sep 2022 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review
✅2. based on or about MENA history: The Ardent Swarm by Yamen Manai (Tunisia) 10 Jul 2022 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review
✅3. about Empowering women: The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi* (United Arab Emirates) 2 Sep 2022 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review
✅4. written by an author from Iraq: The Baghdad Clock by Shahad Al Rawi 12 Jan 2022 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review
✅5. by an author from Al Sham (Lebanon, Jordan, Syria): One Thousand and One Nights by Hanan Al-Shaykh 25 May 2022 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Lebanon) my review
✅6. by an author from The Arabian Peninsula (Yemen, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE): Celestial Bodies by Jokha Alharthi 8 May 2022 ⭐⭐⭐ (Oman) my review

✅7. by an author from The Maghreb (North Africa: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Mauritania): A Bookshop in Algiers by Kaouther Adimi 19 Jan 2022 ⭐⭐⭐ (Algeria) my review
✅8. by an author from Egypt: Palace Walk by Naguib Mahfouz* (Egypt) 29 Dec 2022 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review
✅9. by a Turkish author: The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak (Cyprus) 27 Jul 2022 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review
✅10. by an Iranian author: Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi* 15 Oct 2022 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review
✅11. by an author from Sudan and the Horn of Africa (Somalia, Djibouti and Eritrea): My Fathers' Daughter by Hannah Azieb Pool* 28 Jul 2022 ⭐⭐⭐ my review
✅12. by an author from the "Stan" countries or Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) and Afghanistan or Pakistan Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie 12 Jan 2022 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Pakistan) my review

[Wayne]

Q2 Update: I have read 3 out of 12 books for the challenge. For the year thus far I have read 111 out of 150 planned, with nine (4 NF, 5 F) relevant to the region. I think I am on track

Wayne's List

I will add books as we go along

1. a book, fiction or non-fiction book about the Palestine conflict.: The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine
2. a book, fiction or non-fiction based on or about MENA history: A History of the Arab Peoples with a New Afterword
3. a book, fiction or non-fiction about "Empowering women : I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban
4. a book, fiction or non fiction. written by an author from Iraq: A Sky So Close: A Novel
5. book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Al Sham (Lebanon, Jordan, Syria); Leo the African
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 ): Oranges In The Sun: Short Stories From The Arabian Gulf
7. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from The Maghreb ( North Africa) - ( Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Mauritania: Fantasia: An Algerian Cavalcade
8. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Egypt : Palace of Desire
9. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by a Turkish author: The Bastard of Istanbul
10. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an Iranian author: My Uncle Napoleon
11. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an author from Sudan and the Horn of Africa (Somalia , Djibouti and Eritrea): Maps
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 : A Thousand Splendid Suns

[Nan]

Niledaughter wrote: "Nan, do not worry about being slow. I do not manage to read 10% of what I want to read! :(

For " Bird summons", we have an official read in January, so I guess we can start discussing it in March,..."

I am happy to report that I have now finished Broken Verses. It was original on my 2020 list. I have continued to read from this list of books I already have. I’m not making a new list till I finish this list. My next read from this list is Ice. Happy Summer to all.

[Richard]

I am reading Nights of Turkistan by Najeeb ElKilany at the moment and it is quite a challenging book. Has anyone else read it?

[Rebecca]

Finished at last. I kept repeating categories instead of moving on.

1. a book, fiction or non-fiction book about the Palestine conflict.

Justice for Some: Law and the Question of Palestine by Noora Erakat

2. a book, fiction or non-fiction based on or about MENA history

The Animal in Ottoman Egypt – Alan Mikhail
Just about everything else here

3. a book, fiction or non-fiction about "Empowering women”

Conflict, Civil Society, and Women’s Empowerment: Insights from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip by Ibrahim Natil

4. a book, fiction or non fiction. written by an author from Iraq

The Book of Collateral Damage by Sinan Antoon

5. book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Al Sham (Lebanon, Jordan, Syria)

Samarda by Fadi Azzam (Syria)
Death is Hard Work by Khaled Khalifa (Syria)

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 )

Mama Hissa’s Mice by Saud Alsanousi (Kuwait)
Celestial Bodies by Jokha Alharthi (Oman)
Days of Ignorance by Laila Aljohani (Saudi Arabia)
The Holy Sail by Abdulaziz Al-Mahmoud (Qatar)
Silence is a Sense by Layla AlAmmar (Kuwait)

7. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from The Maghreb (North Africa) - (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Mauritania

Marrakech Noir by Yassin Adnan (Morocco)
Our Riches by Kouther Adim (Algeria)
To the Mountains: My Life in Jihad from Algeria to Afghanistan by Abdullah Anas (Algeria)
The Discourses: Reflections on History, Sufism, Theology and Literature, Volume 1 by Al Hasan Al Yusi (Morocco)

8. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Egypt

Blue Lorries by Radwa Ashour

9. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by a Turkish author

Madonna in a Fur Coat by Sabahattin Ali

10. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an Iranian author

The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree - Shokoofeh Azar

11. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an author from Sudan and the Horn of Africa (Somalia , Djibouti and Eritrea)
Home is Not a Country by Safia Elhillo (Sudan)
Telepathy by Amir Tag Elsir (Sudan)
The Fortune Men by Nadifa Mohamed (Somaliland)
The Last Nomad: Coming of Age in the Somali Desert by Shugri Said Salh (Sudan)

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
Ice Candy Man – Bapsi Sidhwa
The Last White Man - Mohsin Khan

[Carolien]

Rebecca wrote: "Finished at last. I kept repeating categories instead of moving on.

1. a book, fiction or non-fiction book about the Palestine conflict.

Justice for Some: Law and the Question of Palestine by Noo..."

Congratulations! I don't know many of these, will have to add them to my list.

[Jalilah]

I hope we do another challenge in 2023! I must said I read so many books this year that I would not have come across otherwise

[Anne]

I've just finished The Map of Salt & Stars by Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar. I thought it was fabulous.

[Melanie, Marhaba Language Expertise]

I’m glad you liked it! Thanks for letting us know.