Middle East/North African Lit discussion

This is the place for discussing what we would like to read in 2018. At the beginning of November, the moderators will take the results of this discussion to set a poll to determine (at least some) of our readings for the next year!

We would like to welcome members to continue leading discussions in 2018, and so we are starting early to think about what we might all like to read in the new year. Would you like to continue with the challenge or change it? Would you like a theme or random reads at regular intervals? Is there a book that you would be interested in leading?

In our last poll, these five books were next on the list. Does anyone want one or more added to the next poll? Vertigo, The Walking, The Dove's Necklace, Embrace on Brooklyn Bridge: A Novel, A Rare Blue Bird Flies with Me

I think "Embrace" could be a great discussion & Ezzedine could certainly be roped in for it.

Other possibilities:

All The Battles, Ma'n Abu Taleb, tr. Robin Moger.

Limbo Beirut, Hilal Chuoman, tr. Anna Z-S.

I'd be interested in hearing discussion of Osama Alomar's short-story collection, The Teeth of the Comb, tr. the author and CJ Collins, I think while riding around in the author's taxi.

I think Youssef Fadel's "A Beautiful White Cat" etc. etc. (tr. Alex Elinson) makes a really interesting discussion b/c Mahi Binebine, who is one of the characters in the novel, has come out with his own novel around the same subject...

Also Vertigo, probably Ahmed Mourad couldn't make time to join in, but I think Robin Moger (the translator) would.

I'd love to read The Teeth of the Comb.

Are we going to create a 2018 Challenge?
I am asking because many of the books we are reading as group reads were books that were mentioned for this years challenge.

I'd like to see us introduce monthly nominations, voting and discussions led by those whose nominated works win the poll. It would give us a more real-time investment in the selected books and, I strongly suspect, increase participation.

Having said that, in terms of books I'd love to read and discuss as a group, I'm excited about the following:

Code Name: Butterfly by Ahlam Bsharat (Palestine)
My Uncle Napoleon by Iraj Pezeshkzad (Persia)
Arabian Nights and Days by Naguib Mahfouz (Egypt)
The Night Counter by Alia Yunis (Lebanon)
Azazeel by Youssef Ziedan (Egypt)
The Story of Zahra by Hanan Al-Shaykh (Lebanon)
Horses of God by Mahi Binebine (Morocco)
The Bleeding of the Stone by Ibrahim al-Koni (Libya)

Lila wrote: "Are we going to create a 2018 Challenge?
I am asking because many of the books we are reading as group reads were books that were mentioned for this years challenge."

I like having a challenge, too, separate from monthly reads. It's been fun to see what others are reading and has led to some great finds and side convos.

Carol wrote: "Having said that, in terms of books I'm love to read and discuss as a group, I'm excited about the following:

Code Name: Butterfly by Ahlam Bsharat (Palestine)
[b..."

I think Ahlam's book would make a good discussion (even though it's YA...I mean, I love Arabic YA...).

I love the al-Koni and would X100 be up for a re-read & re-discovery.

Here are books that I'm interested in reading, and willing to lead if there is interest in reading together...

1. Always Coca-Cola
2. I Remember Beirut (She also has an earlier graphic novel, and this discussion could include both. This discussion would not have an Arabic option. The originals are in French.)
3. The Anchor Book of Modern Arabic Fiction
4. Three Daughters of Eve by Elif Shafak

Classics
1. The Open Door - There's a new English edition coming out, and it's one of my favorites.
2. The Beginning and the End by Naguib Mahfouz - Easy to find Arabic and English editions. I think someone recommended this one for its female characters.
3. The Time-Travels of the Man Who Sold Pickles and Sweets by Khairy Shalabi - Arabic and English available.
4. There has been some discussion of the recent English translation of A Hundred and One Nights.

YA - These books are English only
1. The Green Bicycle by Haifaa al Mansour - I've seen the film and an interview with the author on YT.
2. The Turtle of Oman by Naomi Shihab Nye

I also have lots of fiction I want to read that is only available in Arabic. If anyone else is interested, I'd love to have an all-Arabic read.

I'd also like to read Three Daughters of Eve and A Hundred and One Nights
Others on my list are:
Time of White Horses
Always Coca-Cola
That Other Me
Fatma: A Novel of Arabia
Refuge
Regards from the Dead Princess: Novel of a Life
Are just a few

Lila wrote: "I'd also like to read Three Daughters of Eve and A Hundred and One Nights
Others on my list are:
Time of White Horses
[book:Always Coca-Cola|1251497..."

Lila, you will love Refuge.

I'm up for any of these.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions so far. I've looked through them and decided I'd like to read these as a group:

Embrace on Brooklyn Bridge
Code Name: Butterfly
The Night Counter
Horses of God
Three Daughters of Eve
The Green Bicycle
The Open Door
That Other Me
Refuge

And I'm adding Midaq Alley, Naguib Mahfouz's supposedly best novel. But perhaps the group has already read it together?

Re Melanie's question, I prefer random reads at regular intervals. I would be interested in leading the discussion on Horses of God or Refuge if either one is chosen.

I have the anthology Tablet & Pen: Literary Landscapes from the Modern Middle East which I would love to dip into next year. Maybe I can find some shorter works or stories there. I will also take a look at other books I want to read. I know I have many, just have to look them up.

Oh I just remembered I want to read Saddlebag byBahíyyih Nakhjavání, the woman who wrote The Woman Who Read Too Much which was part of our reading this year. I know I already have this but now I want to read it even more after reading the other book.

Sue wrote: "Oh I just remembered I want to read Saddlebag byBahíyyih Nakhjavání, the woman who wrote The Woman Who Read Too Much which was part of our reading this year. I know I..."

She also published Us & Them this year, which I own and would like to read.

Eileen wrote: "Thanks to everyone for their suggestions so far. I've looked through them and decided I'd like to read these as a group:

Embrace on Brooklyn Bridge
Code Name: Butterfly
The Night Counter
Horses of..."

Eileen, thank you for your post. Could you please clarify which book is Refuge? Who is the author? Thank you!

Melanie wrote: ".Eileen, thank you for your post. Could you please clarify which book is Refuge? Who is the author? Thank you! .."

I think she might mean Refuge by Dina Nayeriwhich I suggested and Carol suggested to me !

Thanks!

Yes, I did mean Refuge by Dina Nayeri. I liked the suggestions for Saddlebag and Us and Them by Bahíyyih Nakhjavání too.

Carol wrote: "Sue wrote: "Oh I just remembered I want to read Saddlebag byBahíyyih Nakhjavání, the woman who wrote The Woman Who Read Too Much which was part of our reading this ye..."

That looks good too. I think I would read anything by her as long as I can find it.

I would also like to read The Angel of Historythe latest book by Rabih Alameddine, the author of An Unnecessary Woman.

Carol wrote: "Having said that, in terms of books I'd love to read and discuss as a group, I'm excited about the following:

The Bleeding of the Stone by Ibrahim al-Koni (Libya)"

We read it in here
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Are you interested in any other book for him ?

Lila wrote: "I'd also like to read
Others on my list are:
Time of White Horses
.."

We read it in here if you like to check it

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Any other book from Palestine ?

Sue wrote: "I have the anthology Tablet & Pen: Literary Landscapes from the Modern Middle East which I would love to dip into next year. Maybe I can find some shorter works or stories there. I w..."

We read it here. Discussions are never closed, so feel free to continue it!
Tablet & Pen
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Carol wrote: "Having said that, in terms of books I'd love to read and discuss as a group, I'm excited about the following:

Code Name: Butterfly by Ahlam Bsharat (Palestine)
[b..."

Thank you, Carol, for all your ideas. We're putting together polls right now. As for My Uncle Napoleon, we read it here. Discussions are never closed, so feel free to continue it!
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Lila wrote: "I would also like to read The Angel of Historythe latest book by Rabih Alameddine, the author of An Unnecessary Woman."

I also plan to read The Angel of History. It looks really good.

Susan wrote: "Lila wrote: "I would also like to read The Angel of Historythe latest book by Rabih Alameddine, the author of An Unnecessary Woman."

I also plan to ..."

Sounds good to me too.

Susan wrote: "Lila wrote: "I would also like to read The Angel of Historythe latest book by Rabih Alameddine, the author of An Unnecessary Woman."

I also plan to ..."

I also plan to read The Angel of History.

Anyone will be interested in reading a historical book from Aug. 15 to Sep. 30 ?

I wanted to read A History of the Arab Peoples by Albert Hourani for while now .

I’d love to. I read sections of it at university but would love to read it properly with a group!

I’d like a discussion of Embrace on Brooklyn Bridge. It would be especially helpful if Ezzedine would be willing to patrticipate.

It’s not clear to me when we are reading the books listed at the beginning of this thread. Where do I look to find out when we will be reading these books?

Thanks for taking the time to organize this group.

Hi Nan, The books at the top of this thread did not all make it into polls this year. They had placed high in polls last year. I'll take your request to discuss with the other moderators. Thanks for the recommendation!

Also, the place to find out our 2018 plans is here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

You can also see the "Upcoming reads" on our main group page. It'll update throughout the year.

Sofia and Anasylvia , great ! :D

I'm still new here and am figuring out how this all works on this group. I'd like to say that so far I have enjoyed seeing the upcoming titles and think they look interesting and enlightening. I'm still reading The Open Door and have the next one on my shelf to start. I'm excited to see what gets picked for the rest of the year. I'd be up for something historical as well.

Niledaughter wrote: "Anyone will be interested in reading a historical book from Aug. 15 to Sep. 30 ?

I wanted to read A History of the Arab Peoples by Albert Hourani for while now ."

I would be interested in reading this too. It's on my list and my library system has several copies.

Hi Nilrdaughter. I would be interested in reading A History Of The Arab People during Aug 15 through Sept 15. I’ll start now to find the book and begin reading. Thanks

Niledaughter Sorry for the mis spelling. Nan

Sue wrote: "Niledaughter wrote: "Anyone will be interested in reading a historical book from Aug. 15 to Sep. 30 ?

I wanted to read A History of the Arab Peoples by Albert Hourani ..."

It's been several years since I last read it, now might be a good time for a reread!

Great ! :D
I am very happy ! then ( A History of the Arab Peoples) is going to be an official reading !