A Day in the Life with Forugh Farrokhzad (and a Tortoise)
A woman’s sexual ruminations kindles memories of her conservative upbringing in Iran and a longing for the liberating poetry of Forugh Farrokhzad.
London Cemeteries: And Now It Is Death
Selma Dabbagh’s run through a London cemetery proves to be valuable fodder for the creative inspiration the writer was searching for.
“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.
They and I, in Budapest
An Egyptian student in Budapest wakes up each morning to embody a new character, conquer language barriers and learn about her new city.
A Day in the Life of a Saturday Market Trawler in Cairo
Karoline Kamel captures the enchantment of Egypt’s flea markets where a nostalgic encounter with a Barbie doll fulfilled a childhood longing.
A Day in the Life of a Niqabi Mother in New York
Noshin Bokth immerses herself in anti-colonial and post-colonial literature as she spends the day with her daughter at a New York library.
“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.
Traveling Through Turkey With Gertrude Bell and Pat Yale
Arie Amaya-Akkermans reviews Pat Yale’s latest book that follows in the footsteps of Gertrude Bell while highlighting Turkey’s rich history.
Laila Halaby’s The Weight of Ghosts is a Haunting Memoir
Thérèse Soukkar Chehade reviews Laila Halaby’s memoir about coming to terms with the trauma of losing her first son.
The End of Arabic and the Dumbing Down of America
What happens when public universities begin shutting down entire area studies departments, and learning foreign languages becomes a luxury?
“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.