“Common Types of Melancholy”—fiction from Shalaw Habiba
The Markaz Review presents a rare piece of prose in English translation from Kurdish writer Shalaw Habiba, translated by Savan Abdulrahman.
fiction
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.
My Love for Derna: Interview with Libyan Writer Mahbuba Khalifa
A Libyan writer from Derna laments the floods that came not long after she devoted a short story collection to her hometown.
Literature Takes Courage: on Ahmet Altan’s Lady Life
In and out of Turkish prisons for his unflinching political essays, Ahmet Altan returns with a new novella in English.
Stories From The Markaz, Stories From the Center
TMR's literary editor introduces the 2023 double summer literary issue.
“The Agency”—a story by Natasha Tynes
A shrewd businesswoman runs a matchmaking agency in Amman that finds brides for male clients based on a virginity scale.
We Saw Paris, Texas—a story by Ola Mustapha
In Ola Mustapha's new story, a man falls for the seduction of a film and it becomes the blueprint for love, life, and even death.
Rich and Poor People—fiction by Farah Ahamed
After her controlling husband dies, a wealthy woman obsesses over the neighborhood crows until her maid decides to take matters into her own hands.
“My Mother is a Tree”—a story by Aliyeh Ataei
Aliyeh Ataei's new story centers on a young woman exploring herself as a writer while choosing life in Paris.
“The City Within”—fiction from MK Harb
In MK Harb's latest story, a man steps out of his home in Beirut after two years of living in isolation to a life-changing encounter.
“The Burden of Inheritance”—fiction from Mai Al-Nakib
In Mai Al-Nakib’s new short story, a woman makes a Herculean effort to preserve the memory and artwork of her late husband.
STAMP ME—a monologue by Yussef El Guindi
Yussef El Guindi explores an anxious traveler's mind racing with thoughts of what to say as he faces border and customs control.
Abortion Tale: On Our Ground
In Ghadeer Ahmed's latest story, three women with no abortion rights refuse to be victims of exploitation and blackmail.
On Ice—fiction from Malu Halasa
In an excerpt from an unpublished novella by Malu Halasa, ice skating in the desert is more than just a sport.
Hayat and the Rain—fiction from Mona Alshammari
The power of the imagination may not be enough to save a young girl’s hopes when faced with rural poverty.