Middle East/North African Lit discussion

Dear All,
Hello! I'm opening a space here for envisioning 2025. This is a place for you to mention any books you're hoping to read in the new year.

I'll start with the new full trilogy of Radwa Ashour's Granada: The Complete Trilogy, coming out in English (by Kay Heikkinen) from AUC next month hopefully.
https://aucpress.com/9781649033765/

Any other books you'd like to share?

Hey everyone, I am new to this group but happy to share what is coming up on my TBR. As I mentioned in my introduction post, I have been doing a ton of research on Algerian history so most of these books reflect that! These are books I ordered recently and plan on reading in 2025.

- Inside the Battle of Algiers, Zohra Drif
- A Savage War of Peace, Alistair Horne
- The Seine was Red, Leila Sebbar
- The Art of Losing, Alice Zeniter
- Orientalism, Edward Said
- The Wretched of the Earth, Frantz Fanon

isa wrote: "Hey everyone, I am new to this group but happy to share what is coming up on my TBR. As I mentioned in my introduction post, I have been doing a ton of research on Algerian history so most of these..."
What book would you suggest is a good starting point for somebody who wants to learn about the Algerian war? For a complete beginner

I don't have specific plans yet for 2025 MENA reads but there's plenty on my TBR list.
I have in common with isa an interest in Frantz Fanon and Edward Said.

I definitely want to read more books by classic, influential authors like Naguib Mahfouz.

1234getonthedancefloor wrote: "I definitely want to read more books by classic, influential authors like Naguib Mahfouz."

I loved Palace Walk by him and would be happy to get to the second part of the trilogy.

Jen wrote: "1234getonthedancefloor wrote: "I definitely want to read more books by classic, influential authors like Naguib Mahfouz."

I loved Palace Walk by him and would be happy to get to the ..."

Yes I've heard his Cairo Trilogy is really good! Maybe the MENA lit group can hold a discussion for the trilogy!

on non-fiction, Orientalism is on my reading list, together with Hourani's A history of the Arab people's. On fiction: Parias (Pariahs) by Beyrouk, and les sacrifices des vaches noirs (The sacrifice of the Black cow) by Moha Layid.

Melanie wrote: "Dear All,
Hello! I'm opening a space here for envisioning 2025. This is a place for you to mention any books you're hoping to read in the new year.

I'll start with the new full trilogy of Radwa As..."


Is the full trilogy translated? I remember a few years ago only the first was. If so, count me in!
Other books I’d like to to read in 2025 are Every Rising Sun by Jamila Ahmed and The Book Censor's Library by بثينة العيسى

And Of course more books by Palestinian authors

Yes, the full trilogy will hopefully be available in translation next month :)

Melanie wrote: "Yes, the full trilogy will hopefully be available in translation next month :)"

Wow! Did you translate it?

It is so nice to see new mentions of ( orientalism) and (Cairo triology) !

No Jalilah, the translator is Kay Heikkinen :)

I did not have a chance to finish ( A history of Arab people) or (Orientalusm), Any of them could be our reference read for this year.
- I like to read from Algeria but I feel at loss now.
- It will be great if we can have a reading group for (Granada - the triology(
- For Mahfouz ( Cairo triology), it has been a while since I read it, we can host a buddy read for it if several members are intrested, I can follow the discussion.
- Censor's library seems interesting.

For fiction from Algeria (if it is of interest), we're currently reading The Djinn's Apple here:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

This is a medieval medical mystery with a female protagonist. And I recently read the novel La discrétion by Faïza Guène and found it the best contemporary Algerian novel I've read (focuses on an Algerian immigrant family in Paris). English translation here:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

In case anyone is interested in participating in an online book club meetup to discuss Granada: The Complete Trilogy, it so happens that The Markaz Review will be hosting one. To be clear, we are not affiliated with this group. I just thought some of you might be interested; we have received requests from a few members in the past for a live online meeting for discussing books. This is an opportunity for that. Details here: https://themarkaz.org/book-club/

Melanie wrote: "In case anyone is interested in participating in an online book club meetup to discuss Granada: The Complete Trilogy, it so happens that The Markaz Review will be hosting one. To b..."

Oh cool. Tempting. Thanks for sharing.

Oh, something I want to read in the coming year- I thought I was going to get to it this year but didn't- I Stared at the Night of the City by Bakhtiyar Ali / Bachtyar Ali. I got the book, but it wasn't easy for me to find, so I understand if it doesn't work well as a group read. Offering it up just in case.

Thanks Jen R! As we will start the year with reading (Granada) trilogy, we will have time to pick another book from the different recommendations.

Niledaughter wrote: "Thanks Jen R! As we will start the year with reading (Granada) trilogy, we will have time to pick another book from the different recommendations."

Yay! I have a copy of the trilogy!

Im interested in it too. I hope I’ll be able to get it and fit it in next month 😊

I love the spirit :)

ICYMI book launch discussion and several authors looking back at the impact of Granada: The Complete Trilogy (the Granada trilogy in Arabic, only now available as a complete translation in English) on them on Arablit.org here: https://arablit.org/2024/12/10/author...

Hallo everyone. Happy 2025.
This year I try definitively to read more from the MENA region. Is there a challenge again? Thanks for the moderators.

Johanna wrote: "Hallo everyone. Happy 2025.
This year I try definitively to read more from the MENA region. Is there a challenge again? Thanks for the moderators."

Happy new year.

We can resume with our yearly one, Anyone have other ideas?

Niledaughter wrote: "Thanks Jen R! As we will start the year with reading (Granada) trilogy, we will have time to pick another book from the different recommendations."

The discussion is now open in here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

1234getonthedancefloor wrote: "I definitely want to read more books by classic, influential authors like Naguib Mahfouz."

Two books I liked that don’t seem to get as much attention are:
The Beginning And The End
and
Akhenaten, Dweller In Truth
There is always another great book to read.

Niledaughter wrote: "I love the spirit :)"

Thanks for the link.
I’ve been waiting for an English translation of the second and third books.
It looks like the complete trilogy will be published this spring.

Niledaughter wrote: "Johanna wrote: "Hallo everyone. Happy 2025.
This year I try definitively to read more from the MENA region. Is there a challenge again? Thanks for the moderators."

Happy new year.

We can resume w..."

I would love to do the challenge again! I always end up reading so many books I might not otherwise have read

In regards to ideas for a 2025 challenge, I find it okay to keep it how it is, with the different MENA regions. There are always some areas that I find more difficult to find books for, so it forces me to go a little out of my comfort zone. I like that!

Some books I plan to read ( besides Granada trilogy which I’m starting soon ) are:
The Djinn's Apple by Djamila Morani
Every Rising Sun by Jamila Ahmed
The Book Censor's Library by Bothayna Al-Essa
There Are Rivers in the Skyby Elif Shafak
Then He Sent Prophets by Mohamed Seif El Nasr

If anyone else is interested in any of these it would be fun to read them in good company!

This year, I would like to read several books I couldn’t get to last year, such as Mahmoud Darwish’s Una trilogia palestinese (I have it in Italian), which collects several of his works, The Devils’ Dance by Hamid Ismailov, and An Apartment Called Freedom by Ghazi A. Algosaibi.
I would also like to join the group reading of Radwa Ashour’s Granada: The Complete Trilogy, but I only have the previous English-language version of the first book and am still waiting for the new edition.

I would love to do the challenge again!

This all sounds wonderful. You can feel free to add to discussions forever.

Granada: The Complete Trilogy is able for purchase here: https://aucpress.com/9781649033765/

Our discussion of An Apartment Called Freedom is here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Jalilah wrote: "In regards to ideas for a 2025 challenge, I find it okay to keep it how it is, with the different MENA regions. There are always some areas that I find more difficult to find books for, so it force..."

For me it's ok.

I will set the challenge as soon as I can. love the enthusiasm:)

Niledaughter wrote: "I will set the challenge as soon as I can. love the enthusiasm:)"

Yay! 😆

Thanks very much. Take your time Niledaughter.

After finishing the Granada trilogy my vision for 2025 is to finally finish books on my 2020 TBR list.
I Stared At The Night Of The City
The Theocrat
Velvet

Sounds good!

I finished the first novel of the Granada series and loved it so much!
In the meantime a while back I’d ordered Time of White Horses as an inter-library loan and it just arrived. I wanted to see if I liked it enough to buy my own copy, but I’m not enjoying it that much. If I didn’t have anything else to read I’d definitely still read it ( I’m not hating it, there are parts I like) but the characters in Granada keep calling to me. I might go back to it instead

Thanks Jalilah for the update. I look forward to seeing what you think about the rest of Granada. I read Time of White Horses a long time ago. I remember it as richly detailed but a bit tedious, more documentary than character-driven. I can relate to wanting more in the character department. I’m reading a memoir by Ibrahim Nasrallah, but not very far yet

Melanie wrote: "Thanks Jalilah for the update. I look forward to seeing what you think about the rest of Granada. I read Time of White Horses a long time ago. I remember it as richly detailed but a bit tedious, mo..."

Yeah, my thinking is there is no way I’ll be able to complete Time of White Horses in 2 weeks, which is all I get with inter-library loans and I can tell I don’t like it enough to buy. So I think I’ll continue with Granada instead. I’m loving it so much

I am so sorry to be this late:(

Here is the link to the challenge and inside it the progress thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/...

The thread
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Niledaughter wrote: "I am so sorry to be this late:(

Here is the link to the challenge and inside it the progress thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/..."

Shukran! ❤️

Hello
How are you everyone?

What would you like to read starting from May?
l went through posts and saw individual recommendations. Not sure where we are heading? reread (Orientalism) or (A history of Arab people). A book for Mahfouz?

I would like to reread (Khufu's wisdom) by Naguib Mahfouz.

I am planning to start The Moor's Account by Laila Lalami sometime this month.

I'd loveee to have a buddy read for Orientalism as I still haven't tackled that one.

Jen R. we will open a thread for fiction general reading starting from May where members can discuss their readings, may be others can join you for a buddy read.

Mona, I never finished reading (Oriantalism). we can revive the thread and start reading in May. what do you think? anyone would like to join?

I'm very much in. I read the first few pages of the introduction by following the explanatory videos posted by 'Postcolonial Space' on Youtube - but then I stopped.

Here is the link for Orientalism discussion :
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4...

And here is the link for the general fiction read:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...