Books By Arab Writers – Equal Opportunity Reader

[REVIEW] The Book of Disappearance, by Ibtisam Azem, translated by Sinan Antoon

The weathered looking Kindle cover of The Book of Disappearance stands propped up against metal balcony bars, overlooking a hill full of houses.

(Buy this book.) One day Alaa’s beloved grandmother gets up, takes a bath, puts on a lovely dress and headscarf, spritzes on her favorite perfume, sits on a public bench overlooking her native Jaffa (also called Tel Aviv), and dies. Heartbroken, Alaa begins to journal his memories of her, and the memories she shared ofContinue reading “[REVIEW] The Book of Disappearance, by Ibtisam Azem, translated by Sinan Antoon”

[REVIEW] Things You May Find Hidden In My Ear, by Mosab Abu Toha

The Kindle cover of Things You May Find HIdden In My Ear, depicting a home viewed through a shrapnel hole blown in another home's wall, held up in front of trees at sunrise.

(Buy this book here.) On November 19th, 2023, the Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha was detained by IDF forces while attempting to evacuate Gaza with his wife and children. 200 others were also taken. Two days later, after extensive news coverage and outcry in the international literary community, Abu Toha was released and immediately hospitalizedContinue reading “[REVIEW] Things You May Find Hidden In My Ear, by Mosab Abu Toha”

Last Week In Books: Support Black Writers, Asian Bookstores and Palestinian Libraries

A photo of a hijabi in a bookstore, standing in front of a shelf reading a paperback.

Fellow readers! Welcome to this week’s round up of diverse bookish news across genres. Info about diverse writers is becoming even more thin on the ground, which has increased my resolve to keep up with these posts as often as I can. Then again, it is the Blah time before winter solstice and for someContinue reading “Last Week In Books: Support Black Writers, Asian Bookstores and Palestinian Libraries”

[REVIEW] Shubeik Lubeik, by Deena Mohamed

The beautifully designed colorful cover of the graphic novel Shubeik Lubeik is held up by a Black woman's(my) hand on a white shelf in front of a white wall . A matching circular mirror frame and a delicate painted ceramic cup are in the background. The cover illustration depicts an Egyptian woman's hands reaching out in the darkness to grab an illuminated bottle containing a wish.

(Buy this brilliant book here.) “In Arabic folktales, Shubeik Lubeik is the first part of the rhyme a genie speaks once released from a lamp. It means “Your wish is my command.“ It’s been a very long time since I read something so captivating. This graphic novel, recently translated from Arabic into English, drew meContinue reading “[REVIEW] Shubeik Lubeik, by Deena Mohamed”