9 Must-Read Books By Arab Authors To Hibernate With This Autumn
As we shift into the new season, make settling down with a good book your most important act of self care…
Contemporary Middle Eastern literature blossoms at the intersection of tradition and modernity, crossing over from the linage of heritage Arabic literature and poetry. Storylines tend to reflect the region’s complexity as the Arab world forms the backdrop to wonderfully written and complex characters. Authors delve into rich cultural tapestries, exploring themes of identity, diaspora, and societal change, resulting in the creation of a vibrant literary landscape that resonates globally. This genre steams from classic Arab literature, which is an internationally celebrated collection of introspective, and sometimes poignant storytelling.
From experimental fiction and poetry to bold debuts and sweeping sagas, these nine titles by MENA authors will enrich your reading list, spark conversation, and maybe even transform the way you think about narrative itself.
The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami
In her latest novel, Lalami—already celebrated for her sharp explorations of migration, identity, and belonging—sets her story in a hotel that becomes a microcosm of modern society. Through its transient guests and permanent staff, the novel deftly examines privilege, longing, and displacement. With her signature elegance, Lalami blurs the line between dream and reality, creating a narrative as inviting as it is unsettling.
All The Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman
At once sharp, funny, and deeply uncomfortable, Harman’s debut is a fearless satire on motherhood and social performance. Following a woman’s uneasy initiation into the world of school-gate politics and parental cliques, the novel is both bitingly observant and devastatingly humane. Harman’s voice is refreshingly candid, making this book impossible to put down.
Dust Settles North by Deena ElGenaidi
A haunting meditation on memory, exile, and survival, ElGenaidi’s prose drifts between past and present, between the intimacy of family life and the vast expanse of history. Written with lyrical restraint, the novel illuminates the ways in which displacement shapes identity across generations. A perfect read for those seeking something poetic yet piercing.
The Dissenters by Youssef Rakha
One of Egypt’s most daring literary figures, Rakha returns with a novel that feels as explosive as it is erudite. A story of rebellion, art, and philosophy, The Dissenters captures the anxieties of a generation caught between authoritarianism and modernity. With his kaleidoscopic style, Rakha offers a work that is equal parts satire, manifesto, and fever dream.
Honey Hunger by Zahran Alqasmi
Winner of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction, Omani writer Alqasmi’s Honey Hunger weaves folklore, ecology, and human desire into a novel that is unlike anything else on the list. Through the lens of honey-hunting communities, the book probes the fragile relationship between people and nature, revealing both sweetness and sting.
On The Greenwich Line by Shady Lewis
Moving between Cairo and London, Lewis crafts a story that is both deeply personal and quietly political. Following an Egyptian migrant navigating life in the UK, the novel blends humour and melancholy, exposing the contradictions of assimilation and alienation. It’s a book that lingers in the mind long after the final page.
The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar
Known for her lyrical speculative fiction, El-Mohtar delivers a collection that feels like myth and memory entwined. The River Has Roots draws on Arab folklore and elemental imagery to create stories that feel both timeless and urgent. Reading it in December feels like being wrapped in a dreamscape: immersive, magical, and utterly captivating.
Sleep Phase by Mohamed Khair
A cerebral, genre-bending novel that unfolds at the edge of wakefulness, Sleep Phase interrogates reality, technology, and the subconscious. Egyptian author, Khair, crafts a world that feels uncanny yet familiar, as if lifted from the edge of a dream. It’s a bold work that rewards slow, thoughtful reading.
The Persians by Sanam Mohloudji
Spanning centuries and continents, Mahloudji’s sweeping family epic traces the lives of a Persian dynasty scattered by revolution and migration. With exquisite attention to detail and a cinematic sense of place, The Persians is a work of historical fiction that doubles as a meditation on memory, loss, and the resilience of culture.