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Nad of Nadide
From the author of Replenishing the Sea of Galilee, comes a story of love, determination, and political intrigue: Nad of Nadide' reveals that love, whether between two of the same ethnicity, or between lovers who never expected to cross ethnic boundaries, is one worth fighting for, at the cost of defying all norms and challenges.
"When Palestinian Fareed met Turkish Nadide', neither could imagine the course of events that their relationship would trigger. The daughter of a ruling Turkish general, Nadide's affections are at the center of a tumultuous political landscape in the 1980s. With conflict rising between her suitor and her father, on one side, and her father's political enemies, on the other, the two targeted her with opposite benefits, albeit each wanting her to abort her yearning to reach her goal, a goal possessed by a wish to follow her heart. Will love and determination win out over personal grudges and political interests?
"When Palestinian Fareed met Turkish Nadide', neither could imagine the course of events that their relationship would trigger. The daughter of a ruling Turkish general, Nadide's affections are at the center of a tumultuous political landscape in the 1980s. With conflict rising between her suitor and her father, on one side, and her father's political enemies, on the other, the two targeted her with opposite benefits, albeit each wanting her to abort her yearning to reach her goal, a goal possessed by a wish to follow her heart. Will love and determination win out over personal grudges and political interests?
- GenresMiddle EastFiction
332 pages, Paperback
Published November 10, 2022
3854 people want to read
About the author
Wagih Abu-Rish
7 books45 followersWagih Abu-Rish is a Palestinian-American author and activist. He spent much of his career as a businessman, specializing in acquisitions. During a long and varied professional career, he was a foreign journalist in Beirut, Lebanon, and an ad executive on Madison Avenue in New York.
He has been active in promoting progressive causes such as democratic practices and equal rights. Among those causes, he feels strongly about the need for the liberation of women in the Middle East, which he considers to be the most overlooked and abridged human right of all.
It is his hope that this book highlights the themes he believes in. The most salient of such themes is the fact that most adherents are ignorant of the essence of their own religions. This applies equally to the adherents of Islam and to all other religions.
His second and mostly implied theme is the difficulty people have in humanizing others, whether that means another gender, ethnicity, or nationality. Such humanization is the starting point for resolving difficulties and conflicts between competing individuals, parties, and countries.
He has been active in promoting progressive causes such as democratic practices and equal rights. Among those causes, he feels strongly about the need for the liberation of women in the Middle East, which he considers to be the most overlooked and abridged human right of all.
It is his hope that this book highlights the themes he believes in. The most salient of such themes is the fact that most adherents are ignorant of the essence of their own religions. This applies equally to the adherents of Islam and to all other religions.
His second and mostly implied theme is the difficulty people have in humanizing others, whether that means another gender, ethnicity, or nationality. Such humanization is the starting point for resolving difficulties and conflicts between competing individuals, parties, and countries.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 6, 2024
“Don’t worry; she has been taking sneak looks at you every couple of minutes. I think she likes you …She is gorgeous and rather tall.”
Fareed, a university student, has decided to transfer to a new school in Turkey after breaking up with his beautiful but abusive girlfriend. Fareed finds his eye drawn immediately to the beautiful girl across the aisle on his plane and is intrigued to find her also enrolled in the same engineering class. They begin trading notes in class, but never speak. Even more fascinating to Fareed is that everyone warns him away from the beautiful Nadide. She is the daughter of a Turkish General and is expected to soon be engaged to one of his closest subordinates. The General expects his daughter to marry a Muslim of at least 3 generations of Turkish descent. Fareed, while Muslim, and the son of two world renowned neurosurgeons, has no chance to win the General’s favor: his father is a Palestinian and his mother is an Irish Catholic.
And so begins a Romeo and Juliet story full of political tumult and battles for self-determination. While the narrative centers around Fareed, it quickly becomes clear that the author doesn’t really want to tell Fareed’s story. What he really seems to want to show is Nadide’s battle to make her own decisions as a free and educated woman in a male-dominated world. Soon it is revealed that the real powers in this book are not the men, but the women: Fareed’s mother, Fiona, who is a neurosurgeon, and a political powerhouse who can out-diplomat several countries’ own male ambassadors; Ayshe, Nadide’s mother, who surprises everyone with her announcements toward the end of the book; and Nadide and her girl friends, who stand up for themselves at every turn. In such matters, the story was refreshing. It’s not “Romeo” to the rescue, but “Romeo’s” mother and “Juliet’s” mother who come together for the good of their star-crossed adult children.
Still, I was a bit disappointed in Abu-Rish’s decision to set such a potentially feminist book in the perspective of a man (Fareed) as the main character. It takes much too long for us to even get to know the powerhouse duo of Fiona and Ayshe. And poor Nadide, while she tries to stand up for herself and be a liberated woman, even choosing to go by the name Nad rather than her father’s preferred Nadide, she still plays subordinate to the handsome new boyfriend who picks her new name and seems to control most of their interactions. She’s even portrayed as a jealous fool several times – though she eventually gets smart. Wagih Abu-Rish’s “Nadide” did not fully meet my expectations, but I do believe the book will appeal to a wide audience, especially readers who enjoy intricate narratives that blend romance, feminist perspectives, cultural exploration, and the influence of family and society on personal destiny.
Fareed, a university student, has decided to transfer to a new school in Turkey after breaking up with his beautiful but abusive girlfriend. Fareed finds his eye drawn immediately to the beautiful girl across the aisle on his plane and is intrigued to find her also enrolled in the same engineering class. They begin trading notes in class, but never speak. Even more fascinating to Fareed is that everyone warns him away from the beautiful Nadide. She is the daughter of a Turkish General and is expected to soon be engaged to one of his closest subordinates. The General expects his daughter to marry a Muslim of at least 3 generations of Turkish descent. Fareed, while Muslim, and the son of two world renowned neurosurgeons, has no chance to win the General’s favor: his father is a Palestinian and his mother is an Irish Catholic.
And so begins a Romeo and Juliet story full of political tumult and battles for self-determination. While the narrative centers around Fareed, it quickly becomes clear that the author doesn’t really want to tell Fareed’s story. What he really seems to want to show is Nadide’s battle to make her own decisions as a free and educated woman in a male-dominated world. Soon it is revealed that the real powers in this book are not the men, but the women: Fareed’s mother, Fiona, who is a neurosurgeon, and a political powerhouse who can out-diplomat several countries’ own male ambassadors; Ayshe, Nadide’s mother, who surprises everyone with her announcements toward the end of the book; and Nadide and her girl friends, who stand up for themselves at every turn. In such matters, the story was refreshing. It’s not “Romeo” to the rescue, but “Romeo’s” mother and “Juliet’s” mother who come together for the good of their star-crossed adult children.
Still, I was a bit disappointed in Abu-Rish’s decision to set such a potentially feminist book in the perspective of a man (Fareed) as the main character. It takes much too long for us to even get to know the powerhouse duo of Fiona and Ayshe. And poor Nadide, while she tries to stand up for herself and be a liberated woman, even choosing to go by the name Nad rather than her father’s preferred Nadide, she still plays subordinate to the handsome new boyfriend who picks her new name and seems to control most of their interactions. She’s even portrayed as a jealous fool several times – though she eventually gets smart. Wagih Abu-Rish’s “Nadide” did not fully meet my expectations, but I do believe the book will appeal to a wide audience, especially readers who enjoy intricate narratives that blend romance, feminist perspectives, cultural exploration, and the influence of family and society on personal destiny.
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December 13, 2022NAD OF NADIDE by Wagih Abu-Rish is a love story that unfolds amidst the complicated and sometimes dangerous mix of intrigue, diplomacy and cut-throat politics of 1981 Turkey! A must read if you enjoy historical novels.
Read the full review on Booktrib.com
Read the full review on Booktrib.com
March 8, 2024
“Don’t worry; she has been taking sneak looks at you every couple of minutes. I think she likes you …She is gorgeous and rather tall.”
Fareed, a university student, has decided to transfer to a new school in Turkey after breaking up with his beautiful but abusive girlfriend. Fareed finds his eye drawn immediately to the beautiful girl across the aisle on his plane and is intrigued to find her also enrolled in the same engineering class. They begin trading notes in class, but never speak. Even more fascinating to Fareed is that everyone warns him away from the beautiful Nadide. She is the daughter of a Turkish General and is expected to soon be engaged to one of his closets subordinates. The General expects his daughter to marry a Muslim of at least 3 generations of Turkish descent. Fareed, while Muslim, and the son of two world renowned neurosurgeons, has no chance to win the General’s favor: his father is a Palestinian and his mother is an Irish Catholic.
And so begins a Romeo and Juliet story full of political tumult and battles for self-determination. While the narrative centers on Fareed, it becomes quickly clear that the author doesn’t really want to tell Fareed’s story. What he really seems to want to show is Nadide’s battle to make her own decisions as a free and educated woman in a masculine dominated world. Soon it is revealed that the real powers in this book are not the men, but the women: Fareed’s mother, Fiona, who is a neurosurgeon, and a political powerhouse who can out-diplomat several countries’ own male ambassadors; Ayshe, Nadide’s mother, who surprises everyone with her announcements toward the end of the book; and Nadide and her girl friends, who stand up for themselves at every turn. In such matters, the story was refreshing. It’s not “Romeo” to the rescue. It’s Romeo’s mother and “Juliet’s” mother who come together for the good of their star-crossed (adult) children.
Still, I was disappointed in Abu-Rish’s decision to set such a potentially feminist book in the perspective of a man (Fareed) as the main character. It takes much too long for us to even get to know the powerhouse duo of Fiona and Ayshe. And poor Nadide, while she tries to stand up for herself and be a liberated woman, even choosing to go by the name “Nad” rather than her father’s preferred Nadide, she still plays subordinate to the handsome new boyfriend who picks her new name and seems to control most of their interactions. She’s even portrayed as a jealous fool several times – though she gets to finally get smart in the end. The potential was there, but it fell flat for me.
Fareed, a university student, has decided to transfer to a new school in Turkey after breaking up with his beautiful but abusive girlfriend. Fareed finds his eye drawn immediately to the beautiful girl across the aisle on his plane and is intrigued to find her also enrolled in the same engineering class. They begin trading notes in class, but never speak. Even more fascinating to Fareed is that everyone warns him away from the beautiful Nadide. She is the daughter of a Turkish General and is expected to soon be engaged to one of his closets subordinates. The General expects his daughter to marry a Muslim of at least 3 generations of Turkish descent. Fareed, while Muslim, and the son of two world renowned neurosurgeons, has no chance to win the General’s favor: his father is a Palestinian and his mother is an Irish Catholic.
And so begins a Romeo and Juliet story full of political tumult and battles for self-determination. While the narrative centers on Fareed, it becomes quickly clear that the author doesn’t really want to tell Fareed’s story. What he really seems to want to show is Nadide’s battle to make her own decisions as a free and educated woman in a masculine dominated world. Soon it is revealed that the real powers in this book are not the men, but the women: Fareed’s mother, Fiona, who is a neurosurgeon, and a political powerhouse who can out-diplomat several countries’ own male ambassadors; Ayshe, Nadide’s mother, who surprises everyone with her announcements toward the end of the book; and Nadide and her girl friends, who stand up for themselves at every turn. In such matters, the story was refreshing. It’s not “Romeo” to the rescue. It’s Romeo’s mother and “Juliet’s” mother who come together for the good of their star-crossed (adult) children.
Still, I was disappointed in Abu-Rish’s decision to set such a potentially feminist book in the perspective of a man (Fareed) as the main character. It takes much too long for us to even get to know the powerhouse duo of Fiona and Ayshe. And poor Nadide, while she tries to stand up for herself and be a liberated woman, even choosing to go by the name “Nad” rather than her father’s preferred Nadide, she still plays subordinate to the handsome new boyfriend who picks her new name and seems to control most of their interactions. She’s even portrayed as a jealous fool several times – though she gets to finally get smart in the end. The potential was there, but it fell flat for me.
March 29, 2023
Excellent storytelling, great finish!
Wagih Abu-Rish remains one of the storytellers I so much respect and in this book, Nad of Nadide, the author has once more earned a stronger followership from me.
Using historical facts and complex plot, the author takes us on an amazing romantic adventure. Besides romance, there are other interesting themes that the author covers in this book, ranging from politics, to espionage, redemption and history. In general, the author did justice to this book.
Regardless of the many characters in this book, I still find them interesting to follow, especially the key characters—Nad and Fareed. It is one novel that may eventually find its way to the big screen.
Nad and Fareed’s love story is one you can compare to that of the Shakespearean Romeo and Juliet. The story is suitable for those who enjoy love stories with a lot of romance and fantasy adventures.
One other interesting fact about this book is that it is very relatable to events that are attainable in our current era where political and religious differences tend to put a barrier between people, not to mention social class. If you are a strong fan of love stories, this book is for you. It is easily a 5-star read for me.
Wagih Abu-Rish remains one of the storytellers I so much respect and in this book, Nad of Nadide, the author has once more earned a stronger followership from me.
Using historical facts and complex plot, the author takes us on an amazing romantic adventure. Besides romance, there are other interesting themes that the author covers in this book, ranging from politics, to espionage, redemption and history. In general, the author did justice to this book.
Regardless of the many characters in this book, I still find them interesting to follow, especially the key characters—Nad and Fareed. It is one novel that may eventually find its way to the big screen.
Nad and Fareed’s love story is one you can compare to that of the Shakespearean Romeo and Juliet. The story is suitable for those who enjoy love stories with a lot of romance and fantasy adventures.
One other interesting fact about this book is that it is very relatable to events that are attainable in our current era where political and religious differences tend to put a barrier between people, not to mention social class. If you are a strong fan of love stories, this book is for you. It is easily a 5-star read for me.
April 4, 2023
Nad of Nadide by Wagih Abu Rish is a book of historical romance and adventure that will have you intrigued from beginning to end. It is incredible to see a book so well written and with such an interesting story that will make you finish it from one day to the next; an incredible plot full of changes and a lot Romance.
The book tells the story of Nad, who finds love that although it starts quickly, he will have many tests to emerge victorious. It is a story full of changes, romance, espionage and a lot of adventure, with two main characters that will keep you captivated with their chemistry and incredible feats. I highly recommend this book; it's easy to read and the story really is to be glued to for hours, you won't regret letting yourself be immersed in this unique romance full of challenges.
The book tells the story of Nad, who finds love that although it starts quickly, he will have many tests to emerge victorious. It is a story full of changes, romance, espionage and a lot of adventure, with two main characters that will keep you captivated with their chemistry and incredible feats. I highly recommend this book; it's easy to read and the story really is to be glued to for hours, you won't regret letting yourself be immersed in this unique romance full of challenges.
March 29, 2023
I am such a huge fan of political romance, so reading this book Nad of Nadide was a special treat to me. Yes there was an insta-love trope but I didn't mind because the romance was written in a good, enthralling way that it didn't fail to captivate me. There was a lot of intrigue, conflict, and tension brimming in this book and both Fareed and Nadide made up such great and unforgettable characters. I simply loved the fact that diversification was highlighted in this book as well. I haven't read too many romance books with this theme and for that, I admire this book even more. If you fancy love stories that feature diverse characters with a wholesome storyline, I can definitely recommend this book!
April 6, 2023
Nad of Nadide by Wagih Abu-Rish is a historical romance set in the Middle East in the 1980s. The love of the two protagonists, Fareed of Palestine and Nad of Turkey, is a forbidden one, complicated by political tensions between the two countries. Given Nad’s family’s rank, the odds are stacked against them. I love the characters, including Fareed’s mother, and their development. I was sweating as the plot thickened—“Fareed is missing, and they found signs of struggle in his apartment and traces of blood”. I finished it more quickly than any other romance I’ve read recently, and the ending made me happy. I recommend it to fans of historical political romances who are looking for a more unique take.
February 8, 2023
Admittedly, I love a good forbidden love story...BUT, even with my bias, NAD OF NADIDE is so amazing. The setting and time period just adds to my blazing through the pages, trying to see if love would prevail this go around. The characters are well-written and the conflict is high stakes right through the ending. I love when romance has good external tension, along with internal tension, and this story balanced both nicely. Dare I say, I like this version better than the original Romeo and Juliet?!?
Love and loyalty is tested to the max in this standout!!!!
One of my favorite historical romances to date :)
Love and loyalty is tested to the max in this standout!!!!
One of my favorite historical romances to date :)
February 18, 2023
When Nad first meets Fareed, she has absolutely no idea what is in store for her future! After a quick romance, the two fall in love...but will they be able to stay together?
Illness, kidnappings, family fights, and government intrigue all meld together, for it seems that everything intends to keep Fareed and Nad apart. But their love is strong and their passion only empowered by the trials they face!
If you enjoy a story with lots of romance, adventure, intrigue, and danger, Nad of Nadidé is an excellent tale! Come and see whether the Turkish daughter of a powerful general can make it work with a man of no political influence, no matter how the world tries to tear them apart.
Illness, kidnappings, family fights, and government intrigue all meld together, for it seems that everything intends to keep Fareed and Nad apart. But their love is strong and their passion only empowered by the trials they face!
If you enjoy a story with lots of romance, adventure, intrigue, and danger, Nad of Nadidé is an excellent tale! Come and see whether the Turkish daughter of a powerful general can make it work with a man of no political influence, no matter how the world tries to tear them apart.
April 3, 2023
What an entertaining historical tale of love and suspense! Author Wagih Abu-Rish has given us an entertaining story that is hard to put down. I’ve been trying to figure out the right words to express the way my heart was entirely invested in, and devoured by, this story but it was a bit complicated.
Words are powerful, and when they are used to make people understand that love is above all political, ethnic or economic differences the reader will know just how amazing they can be.
The characters are developed in a very pleasant way and the plot itself is full of action mixed with romance.
Give it a try, this is a great book!
Words are powerful, and when they are used to make people understand that love is above all political, ethnic or economic differences the reader will know just how amazing they can be.
The characters are developed in a very pleasant way and the plot itself is full of action mixed with romance.
Give it a try, this is a great book!
July 26, 2023
I won this book from a Goodreads Giveaway, and that is the only reason I pushed through at first. The storyline itself is quite good. It takes places in the 1980's in Turkey. It's a historical (ew, 1980's is considered historical?! How rude!) romance that is told like someone is telling you a story around the campfire. Once I got used to the way it was written, it was easier to move through. I find it really interesting reading about different cultures and how they approach things in life. I would recommend this book to someone who also enjoys reading things like that. Once you get used to the writing style, it becomes easier to read and I am glad I didn't DNF it.
February 8, 2023
Romeo and Juliet finally get their happy ending! What a delight this book was to read! From cover to cover, it was captivating and beautiful. The characters—main and secondary alike—are well-written and full of such personality that they came alive on the page, and the plot, though slightly familiar, still felt unique, fresh, and valuable! I loved the way this unfolded with such emotion—and it had all the feelings you could possible want!—and the setting and time period were perfectly chosen as well. I can’t wait to read more from this author—I may just have to reread this book soon!
February 13, 2023
I’m not usually one for romances. My wife read this book though and absolutely loved it, so I figured I should give it a try.
I do like how, though the romance is the center feature, it’s not the only large factor of this book. There is a whole adventure and world surrounding these characters, something I think often gets forgotten in a lot of romance books. If you take a moment, you can really settle yourself into the narrative and ‘breathe in the moment,’ as my wife puts it. I don’t know if I’d phrase it that way, but I have no other worst to describe the feeling, so I’ll use hers.
I do like how, though the romance is the center feature, it’s not the only large factor of this book. There is a whole adventure and world surrounding these characters, something I think often gets forgotten in a lot of romance books. If you take a moment, you can really settle yourself into the narrative and ‘breathe in the moment,’ as my wife puts it. I don’t know if I’d phrase it that way, but I have no other worst to describe the feeling, so I’ll use hers.
April 11, 2023
I won this book from a goodreads giveaway. I just finished it and I’m still processing it. There are a lot of twists and turns to keep track of. The writing style was different than most books I read. It was hard for me to get in the flow of it. It is a historical fiction book and I learned so much about Turkey, international negotiations, and much more from that time period. I’m glad I read it. Thank you for my signed copy.
November 18, 2023
The international teenage love story of an Irish Palestinian boy and the beautiful daughter of a dangerous extremist Turkish general endures tremendous situations from ex love interests, prearranged marriage attempts, multiple kidnappings, ferocious mothers, deceitful friends who are terrorist. What a wild ride! The only distraction was the writing style it felt too elementary for the international political story.
April 6, 2023
The High-Performance Culture Playbook by Sam Schreim is the toolset I was looking for. This amazing book is the compilation of 11 book into one. The author did a great job when highlighting the most important facts for a successful outcome in teamwork. Every word present here is important, all the pieces of information is essential. It’s been a long time since I read such a useful book.
February 6, 2023
Nad is an absolute page turner from page one to the end. Unique story with fascinating fully developed characters. This book has it all. Romance, infidelity, relationships, mystery, intrigue,
plot after plot. Abu-Rish's writing is so very exciting that NAD has all the qualities for a very good movie. A very, very good read.
plot after plot. Abu-Rish's writing is so very exciting that NAD has all the qualities for a very good movie. A very, very good read.
March 10, 2023
Love and politics, the two are difficult to navigate alone but doing both together is almost dangerous. Great read on a day where you can binge on written words and snacks.
March 21, 2023
I don't usually read books of this nature but I am glad I gave this one a chance. Enjoyed the characters and the plot. This story makes you believe in the power of love, community and family.
May 17, 2023
A well written love story.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews