Upheavals of Beauty and Oppression in The Oud Player of Cairo
Jasmin Attia's novel vividly portrays Egypt and Cairo by beautifully conjuring music and sound through descriptive prose.
Books
Life Along Istanbul’s Byzantine Walls, a Review
Arie Amaya-Akkermans on a book that reviews not only Turkey’s social and political deterioration over the last decade, but also the violence of the past, both recent and distant.
The Battle for Climate Justice vs. Environmental Orientalism
Little-reported green colonialism is occurring in the sun-rich but water-deprived MENA region, writes Richard Lim in this review.
Is Amin Maalouf’s Latest Novel, On the Isle of Antioch, a Parody?
Farah-Silvana Kanan questions whether, in this novel, the Franco-Lebanese master is at the height of his powers, or is having us on...
Theatre is the Thing: TMR’s Best-Books List
Editors at The Markaz Review recommend twelve titles published over a 20-year period presenting a broad range of Middle Eastern plays.
A Bicentennial Remembrance of Lord Byron, Among Greeks & Turks
Lord Byron, a theatrical poet, created the concept of celebrity and, with his poetry, brought the Ottoman world to European audiences.
Palestine, Political Theatre & the Performance of Queer Solidarity in Jean Genet’s Prisoner of Love
"Prisoner of Love" acknowledges the limitations of language in capturing the reality of the Palestinian revolution, writes Saleem Haddad.
This Strange Eventful History by Claire Messud —A Review
An entire family is preoccupied with its history and questions of national identity, confounded by France’s rejection of the pieds-noirs.
My Brother, My Land: A Story from Palestine
Saleem Haddad reviews the Sawalha family story that offers hope in resilience, resistance, and survival against all odds.
Voices Close to Oblivion and Near the Grave from Syrian Gulag
A first-ever in-depth look into Syria's prison system where prisoners endure unimaginable levels of violence and torture.
Forgotten & Silenced Histories in Moroccan Other-Archives
Language, gender, class, race, and geography shape citizenship in Morocco today, argues Brahim El Guabli in his latest book.
Feurat Alani: Paris, Fallujah and Recovered Memory
Feurat Alani, a French novelist of Iraqi descent, succeeds in capturing the connections between two disparate cultural spheres.
The Arab Paris Middle East Book List
Dive into the rich tapestry of literature by Francophone writers from the Middle East with this curated reading list.
Fady Joudah’s […] Dares Us to Listen to Palestinian Words—and Silences
Eman Quotah on Fady Joudah's latest, in which the poet takes on the inadequacy of language in conveying the pain and hope of Palestinians today.
How Fragile We Are: Hisham Matar’s My Friends
Adib Rahhal reviews Hisham Matar's latest novel, in which the precariousness of existence and Libya serve as springboards.