The Fiction of Palestine’s Ghassan Zaqtan
Cory Oldweiler reviews three novellas by Bethlehem born and raised, Ramallah-based poet and writer Ghassan Zaqtan.
Fiction
“Before the Earthquake”—a short story by Salah Badis
In which a woman ponders the fate of the individuals who left behind their garments, now long forgotten, at the laundromat.
“The Hauntology of Varosha” or “Room Number 137 of the Argo Hotel”
A Cypriot writer's story about a forgotten child in an abandoned town the writer looked on to from her window in Cyprus.
“My Rebellious Feet”—a story by Diary Marif
A Kurdish boy in Sulemani province in northern Iraq, near the Iranian border, would do anything to own a proper pair of shoes.
The Contemporary Literary Scene in Iran
Salar Abdoh reports from Tehran on the beauty and complexity of Iranian literature that thrives despite warring factions.
“Silence is Golden”—a short story by Farah Ahamed
In Farah Ahamed's latest satire, one man's misunderstood greatness drives him to take preposterous action.
“Supplication”—a short story by Hisham Bustani
In Hisham Bustani’s new short story, one man’s religious nightmare brings him face to face with an unlikely public intellectual of his day.
“Kaleidoscope: In Pursuit of the Real in a Virtual World”—fiction from Dina Abou Salem
Caught between Beirut and a town in the Californian desert, Buthayna searches for the meaning amid life’s absurdities.
“The Beggar King”—a short story by Michael Scott Moore
Michael Scott Moore channels veteran experiences through a wily cat as an Iraq war vet tries to readapt to life in Calaveras, California.
“A Dog in the Woods”—a short story by Malu Halasa
Malu Halasa's story takes place on one day in the life of the family patriarch who confronts memories of assimilation and broken families.
“Hamidinou’s Smile”—a Mauritanian story by Ahmed Isselmou
In Ahmed Isselmou's short story, a Mauritanian man struggles to maintain his resilience and perseverance in the face of ongoing misfortunes.
“Sweet Tea”—a classic Kurdish story by Hussein Arif
In this short story translated from Kurdish for the first time, a young man discovers that his discomfort was suppressing his true feelings.
“Tainted”—fiction from May Haddad
In May Haddad's story, a conversation between a young girl and her grandmother reveals the fault lines between the generations.
“Kill Yusuf”—a short story by Hisham Al-Najjar
In a modern interpretation of Eros and Thanatos, "Kill Yusuf" reveals how thwarted love can lead to unexpected consequences.
Stories From The Markaz, Stories From the Center
TMR's literary editor introduces the 2023 double summer literary issue.