Three Banned Saudi Novels Everyone Should Read
Despite its repressive regimes, Saudi Arabia has produced a number of world-class novelists — several of whom have seen their best work banned. Rana Asfour reviews three in English translation.
Category: Book Reviews
Diary of the Collapse: Charif Majdalani on Lebanon’s Trials by Fire
A.J. Naddaff reviews the latest work of creative nonfiction by Lebanon's Charif Majdalani, as his nation teeters on the edge of the abyss.
The Vanishing: Are Arab Christians an Endangered Minority?
Hadani Ditmars reviews Janine di Giovanni's ambitious new travelogue on beleaguered Christian communities in Iraq, Gaza, Syria, and Egypt.
The Ignominy of Guantánamo: a History of Torture
Marian Janssen, biographer of a forthcoming volume on the flamboyant American poet Carolyn Kizer, reviews the new memoir by former prisoner Mansoor Adayfi.
Racha Mounaged’s Debut Novel Captures Trauma of Lebanese Civil War
From time to time, TMR reviews recent titles published in other languages, to give readers insight before they become available in English. A.J. Naddaff One of the most… Continue reading Racha Mounaged’s Debut Novel Captures Trauma of Lebanese Civil War
Faraj Bayrakdar, Once Syria’s Prisoner, is Freedom’s Poet
India Hixon Radfar A Dove In Free Flight, Selected Poems of Faraj Bayrakdar Edited & introduced by Ammiel Alcalay and Shareah Taleghani Upset Press (October 2021) The truth is… Continue reading Faraj Bayrakdar, Once Syria’s Prisoner, is Freedom’s Poet
Poetry: Mohammed El-Kurd’s “Rifqa” Reviewed
Rifqa, poems by Mohammed el-Kurd Haymarket Books (Sept. 2021) ISBN: 9781642595864 India Hixon Radfar Poet Mohammed El-Kurd often plays by pairing his words, thus doubling or halving their… Continue reading Poetry: Mohammed El-Kurd’s “Rifqa” Reviewed
Gitmo and Abu Ghraib, Infamous Symbols of US Human Rights Violations
Lawyers Beyond Borders, Advancing International Human Rights Through Local Laws and Courts By Maria Armoudian University of Michigan Press (Sept 2021) ISBN 9780472132560 Mischa Geracoulis “The human rights cases… Continue reading Gitmo and Abu Ghraib, Infamous Symbols of US Human Rights Violations
Egypt Dreams of Revolution, a Review of “Slipping”
Mohamed Kheir’s oneiric novel takes readers on a journey around Egypt after the failed Arab Spring.
The Triumph of Love and the Palestinian Revolution
Fouad Mami reviews Susan Abulhawa's powerful new novel "Against the Loveless World," about Palestinians in a revolutionary mode.
Three North African Novels Dance Between Colonial & Postcolonial Worlds
BookFabulous' Rana Asfour delivers capsule reviews of three recent North African novels from Libya and Morocco.
Being Jewish and Muslim Together: Remembering Our Legacy
Joyce Zonana reviews two recent titles that reveal Jewish-Muslim connections and communities of the Arab world.