10 Holiday Must-Reads By Arab Authors
Discover the heart and soul of regional storytelling with these captivating novels…
Finding the perfect book for a holiday escape can be like searching for a needle in a haystack. You want a story that captivates, transports, and lingers long after you’ve turned the last page. This summer let these ten mesmerising novels by Arab authors sweep you away…
10 Holiday Must-Reads By Arab Authors
As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow
BookTok can often be hit or miss, but this recommendation will truly shatter your heart. The story of Salama, an eighteen-year-old surgeon torn between fleeing her homeland, Syria, and staying amidst turmoil, will move you. Each word is carefully chosen to evoke deep emotions, making it a haunting reminder of our own privileges and the harsh realities faced by countless children. This book is an unforgettable experience that will stay with you: “Auntie- don’t cry- when I go to Heaven-I’ll tell God- everything.”
These Impossible Things
Reconciling what our parents expect with what we truly want is a challenge many of us face. These Impossible Things captures this struggle perfectly through the lives of three best friends facing the clash between Muslim traditions and modern life in the United Kingdom. As they graduate and forge their own paths, their friendship is tested. Salma El-Wardany’s poignant exploration of cultural identity and the power of female support is personal and emotive, making it a must-read for anyone who’s ever felt torn between two worlds.
Against The Loveless World
This book – a lyrical mix of fact, fiction, and beautiful storytelling – follows Nahr, a young Palestinian refugee, and her aspirations for a better life. Incarcerated in the harsh confines of solitary confinement, she reflects on the dramatic events that have shaped her life. From one temporary home to another, Nahr eventually finds herself in Palestine, where her destiny unfolds under occupation. With moments of humour and hope, this novel offers eye-opening insights into Palestinian culture, making it a must-read this summer.
The Map of Salt And Stars
The Map of Salt and Stars by Zeyn Joukhadar connects the stories of two girls separated by 800 years, but united by their journeys across the Middle East. Nour’s present-day flight from war-torn Syria is placed in comparison to the medieval adventure of Rawiya. This dual narrative is a testament to the bonds of family and the true meaning of a home.
Watch Us Dance
Set in 1960’s Morocco, where the air crackles with both possibility and peril, Watch us Dance, tells a tense, provocative tale of two biracial siblings navigating a newly independent nation. Their search for identity and purpose against the backdrop of a country in the midst of a transformation sets for a riveting, page-turning novel on power, privilege, and personal growth, inspired by Leila Slimani’s personal experiences.
Anatomy of a Disappearance
Hisham Natar’s Anatomy of a Disappearance is renowned for its emotional precision and intimacy. Hisham’s delicately wrought prose and tender voice, “When a loved one disappears, how does that absence shape the lives of those who are left?”, makes this a haunting exploration of absence, loss, and the lingering shadows of memory.
Palace Walk
Dive into the epic Cairo Trilogy with Palace Walk, the first novel by Naguib Mahfouz. Follow the trials and tribulations of the Abd-al-Kawad family, led by the tyrannical patriarch Ahmad. Set against the backdrop of early 20th Century Egypt, this rich and evocative narrative captures the struggles of a nation and family on the brink of change.
An Unlasting Home
Mai Al-Nakib’s An Unlasting Home is a multi-generational saga that spans decades and continents. Focusing on Kuwaiti philosophy professor, Sara, and the resilient women in her family the novel explores themes of war, patriarchy, and the psychological impact of diaspora, following a narrative that reveals the complex lives of Muslim women across generations.
What Strange Paradise
Omar El Akkad’s What Strange Paradise offers a profoundly moving perspective on the global refugee crisis. It’s a story of two children, a Syrian boy and a Greek girl, who meet on a Greek island after a shipwreck. Written from a child’s perspective, this thought-provoking novel explores themes of indifference, hope, and despair.
The Hakawati
Rabih Alameddine’s The Hakawati uses the ancient art of the frame tale. The novel follows Osama al-Kharrat, who travels from Los Angeles to his father’s deathbed in Beirut. During their vigil his family each share their stories, jokes, and legends ranging from a sister’s impulsive wedding to the Lebanese civil war.
