Fields of Fig and Olive: Ameera and Other Stories of the Middle East

by Kathryn K. Abdul-Baki

A collection of fourteen stories portraying Arab life from the 1930s to 1990s period in the Middle East.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction

217 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1991

About the author

Kathryn Abdul-baki was born in Washington DC to an Arab father and an American mother. She grew up in Iran, Kuwait, Beirut, and Jerusalem, where she attended Arabic, British, and American schools. She attended the American University of Beirut, Lebanon, has a BA in journalism from George Washington University in Washington DC, and an MA in creative writing from George Mason University, Virginia. She has published four books of fiction, some of which have been taught at universities in multicultural literature, women’s studies, and Arab studies departments, and is the recipient of the Mary Roberts Rinehart award for short fiction. Abdul-baki has three grown children and currently resides with her husband in McLean, Virginia.

Reviews

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in my non-Western Lit class in college. The entire class was just Arabic literature and this was pre-9/11. I am so glad I took this class. I learned so much about Middle-Eastern culture. This book is written by a woman and is a collection of short stories. This book was truly enlightening.

[Melinda Brasher · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories in this collection are unique, with insights into different cultures and eye-openers about Middle East wars and different ways of life. Most are interestingly told, if a little descriptive for my tastes.