Rana Asfour

is the Executive Editor at The Markaz Review, as well as a freelance writer, book critic, and translator. Her work has appeared in such publications as Madame Magazine, The Guardian UK, and The National/UAE. She chairs TMR’s English-language Book Club, which meets online the last Sunday of every month. She can be found on X & Instagram @bookfabulous.

“My Choices Are My Downfall”—a short story by Fadi Zaghmout

“My Choices Are My Downfall”—a short story by Fadi Zaghmout

What happens when a human-robot relationship forms? In near-future Dubai, an accident in a skyscraper holds the key...

4 JULY 2025 • By Fadi Zaghmout, Rana Asfour
Always Beware of Dogs by Samir Kacimi — An Excerpt

Always Beware of Dogs by Samir Kacimi — An Excerpt

Creatively blending elements of fantasy, Kacimi offers readers a fresh lens onto contemporary life in Algeria.

6 JUNE 2025 • By Samir Kacimi, Rana Asfour
Read These Books by Arab American Authors

Read These Books by Arab American Authors

An inspiring collection of remarkable titles to mark Arab American Heritage Month in the US, showcasing vibrant culture...

4 APRIL 2025 • By Rana Asfour, Jordan Elgrably
TMR’s Top 10 Must-Read Memoirs in 2025

TMR’s Top 10 Must-Read Memoirs in 2025

A curated selection of memoirs for 2025 featuring captivating stories that provide deep insight into the human experience.

7 FEBRUARY 2025 • By Rana Asfour
The Closed Door — Return to Syria

The Closed Door — Return to Syria

After 13 years away, writer Odai Al Zoubi returns to Syria following the Assad regime's collapse, aiming to...

7 FEBRUARY 2025 • By Odai Al Zoubi, Rana Asfour
Return to Damascus…the Long Road Home

Return to Damascus…the Long Road Home

A son of Hama — a former prisoner and now a TV correspondent — takes his first steps...

13 DECEMBER 2024 • By Zaher Omareen, Rana Asfour
“Ghosts of Farsis” — a cyberpunk story

“Ghosts of Farsis” — a cyberpunk story

 The story is part of Hussein Fawzy's cyberpunk story collection “Graduation Project” recently published by Waziz House.

6 DECEMBER 2024 • By Hussein Fawzy, Rana Asfour
Top 10 Books to Read this Fall

Top 10 Books to Read this Fall

Editors recommend their top ten titles to read this season, from novels set in Egypt, Zanzibar, Oman and...

13 SEPTEMBER 2024 • By Rana Asfour, Malu Halasa
Mohammad Hafez Ragab: Upsetting the Guards of Cairo

Mohammad Hafez Ragab: Upsetting the Guards of Cairo

Maha Al Aswad sheds light on Egyptian writer Mohammad Hafez Ragab, a literary figure of the 1960s whose...

6 SEPTEMBER 2024 • By Maha Al Aswad, Rana Asfour
“Fragments from a Gaza Nightmare”—fiction from Sama Hassan

“Fragments from a Gaza Nightmare”—fiction from Sama Hassan

A Gaza-based writer captures the intense and harrowing experiences of individuals enduring the brutal realities of genocide.

30 AUGUST 2024 • By Sama Hassan, Rana Asfour
“The Mulberry Tree”—an excerpt from Altercation in Jahannam

“The Mulberry Tree”—an excerpt from Altercation in Jahannam

In the Libyan village “Hell,” temperatures soar to unimaginable heights, and war breaks out over a parking space...

5 JULY 2024 • By Mohammed Alnaas, Rana Asfour
The Top 12 Books to Read This Summer

The Top 12 Books to Read This Summer

Travel through the center of the world this summer from the comfort of your couch when you pick...

5 JULY 2024 • By Rana Asfour
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