Middle East/North African Lit discussion

Hello every one ,

Thank you all for your support and ideas and thank you so much for your patience :) . It was really difficult for us to put a full plan for the whole year after our discussion in " 2019 brain storming" thread .

As a start we will try to make the book choice decision closer to the reading period as much as we can as you all know it is not always easy to reach the books we read in our group .

Also we attend to encourage nominators more in leading discussions , hopefully the "buddy reads" section will be more in power this year .

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Last edit December 2019

Here are our edits for the group plan this year , they were inspired by the challenge and the previous discussions , we will be reading as the following schedule :

January
topic : (identity )
discussion : https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

book :In the Name of Identity
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...


February
topic : (City )
1 Baghdad and Babylon
recommendations , polls or free read - to be decided in January
Recommendations:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

chosen:
BAGHDAD, CITY OF PEACE, CITY OF BLOOD BY JUSTIN MAROZZI
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...


March
topic : (identity )
book : Always Coca-Cola
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

April
(City topic)
2- Beirut

Recommendations
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
choosen
Pity the Nation: The Abduction of Lebanon
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

May
topic : One of MENA historical figures
recommendations
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Chosen book The Architect's Apprentice
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Buddy read Akhenaten: Dweller in Truth May 21 , ,2019
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...


June
topic : (City )
3-Cairo
recommendations
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Chosen book The Yacoubian Building
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Buddy read Embrace on Brooklyn Bridge
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

July
topic : dedication for Mhani Alaoui , reading Aya Dane
discussion
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Buddy read about Cairo : The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit: My Family's Exodus from Old Cairo to the New World
discussion
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...


August
topic : (City )
4- Isfahan ( possibly also Shiraz )/ Iranian cities
recommendations
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Chosen books:
The Septembers of Shiraz
Discussion
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Rooftops of Tehran
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

September
topic :
feminism
Our Women on the Ground: Essays by Arab Women Reporting from the Arab World
discussion:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

October
topic : (City )
5- Istanbul
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

November
topic :

Myth, Fantasy and folk tales .
Gilgamesh of Uruk
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...


December
topic : (City )
6- Jerusalem
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...





Thanks ! :)

Niledaughter wrote: "

Hello every one ,

Thank you all for your support and ideas and thank you so much for your patience :) . It was really difficult for us to put a full plan for the whole year after our discussion ..."

Thank you for all your efforts!

Niledaughter wrote: "

Hello every one ,

Thank you all for your support and ideas and thank you so much for your patience :) . It was really difficult for us to put a full plan for the whole year after our discussion ..."

Yes, thanks for all your efforts!
I look forward to discovering and reading new books with this wonderful group in 2019!

The group will go on with you around :)

To establish our plan in general , we have the first four months for Identity

What topics do you like we head for next ? - my recommendations:
# A genre : fantasy or thrillers ?
#A city : Jerusalem , Istanbul ...etc
# characters : through biographies or historical fiction like women for example :)

Any ideas ?

Niledaughter wrote: "The group will go on with you around :)

To establish our plan in general , we have the first four months for Identity

What topics do you like we head for next ? - my recommendations:
# A genre : ..."

I like the idea of a city, especially if we include ancient cities/locations.

Cairo? Cities in general?

Tamara wrote: "Niledaughter wrote: "The group will go on with you around :)

To establish our plan in general , we have the first four months for Identity

What topics do you like we head for next ? - my recommen..."

Thank you for all your york. I’ve discovered books I might never have read.
Niledaughter wrote: "

Hello every one ,

Thank you all for your support and ideas and thank you so much for your patience :) . It was really difficult for us to put a full plan for the whole year after our discussion ..."

Melanie wrote: "Cairo? Cities in general?"

I'm happy with whatever you decide.

The advantage of focusing on one city is that we might read different books (fiction and non-fiction) and share different perspectives on the same city.

The advantage of focusing on cities in general (including ancient cities) is that the broader exposure may encourage some of us to read about cities we hadn't considered before.

But, as I said, I'm happy with whatever you folks decide.

The ideas of cities is great! Perhaps we can include some of these ideas in the challenge?
For example" read a book about or set in a MENA city with an ancient history"?
I like some of the other ideas too and they could be worked in, for example "
"Read a book based on a famous real life MENA historical figure"
And
"Read a fantasy or science fiction book by a MENA author"

Please let me know if you like this and I'd be happy to set up a challenge again!

Happy new year everyone !

Nan wrote: "Thank you for all your york. I’ve discovered books I might never have read. ..."

Thanks , glad to have you with us ! :)

Jalilah wrote: "Please let me know if you like this and I'd be happy to set up a challenge again! ..."

Sure dear , you did a great job with us before , I love the challenge idea ,just give me the green light when the plan is settled !


Melanie wrote: "Cairo? Cities in general?"

Love you :D


Tamara wrote: "MThe advantage of focusing on cities in general (including ancient cities) is that the broader exposure may encourage some of us to read about cities we hadn't considered before...."

So , you are thinking about multiple cities instead of one ?

I’d be interested readings in Iran. Cities? Perhaps Esfahan or Shiraz?

For everyone interested in doing a challenge in 2019 please check out this thread https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

It seems that "Cities" will be the next topic after "identity"

We have :
- Jerusalem
- Cairo
- Iranian City (Esfahan or Shiraz)
- Istanbul
- Baghdad

What else ?

Istanbul?

Fl wrote: "Istanbul?"

I edited the post :)

Niledaughter wrote: "It seems that "Cities" will be the next topic after "identity"

We have :
- Jerusalem
- Cairo
- Iranian City (Esfahan or Shiraz)
- Istanbul

What else ?"

Baghdad?

Tamara wrote: "

Baghdad?"

I edited the post :)

Niledaughter wrote: "It seems that "Cities" will be the next topic after "identity"

We have :
- Jerusalem
- Cairo
- Iranian City (Esfahan or Shiraz)
- Istanbul
- Baghdad

What else ?"

Beirut, please.

Esfahan then, if I have to choose

we have our challenge for this year in here
https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/...

Please check the event forAlways Coca-Cola Giveaway in here
https://www.goodreads.com/event/show/...

***********************
So for the "CITIES" topic we have:

- Jerusalem
- Cairo
- Isfahan/ Esfahan
- Istanbul
- Baghdad
- Beirut

## We have six cities , What do suggest ? how do we run this ?

- Give a time period for each city or run a poll to choose ?
- What is the time length you suggest for reading ?
- Do you want to have group reads or each one picks his books ?

Niledaughter wrote: "we have our challenge for this year in here
https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/...

Please check the event forAlways Coca-Cola Giveaway in here
https..."

Lol we could have created a challenge just for all the different cities! Seriously!

Niledaughter wrote: "we have our challenge for this year in here
https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/...

Please check the event forAlways Coca-Cola Giveaway in here
https..."

What about Babylon? an ancient city could be interesting.

Kenza wrote: "What about Babylon? an ancient city could be interesting. .."

Why not , also we can have it with Baghdad in the same reading period ?

We just need to figure out how we will organize this theme.

Niledaughter wrote: "Kenza wrote: "What about Babylon? an ancient city could be interesting. .."

Why not , also we can have it with Baghdad in the same reading period ?

We just need to figure out how we will organize..."

I can think of two possibilities:

One could be to choose a city and that all the chosen books revolve around this city.

The other possibility could be to choose "cities" as the topic and for each book to focus on a different city.

Jalilah wrote: "Niledaughter wrote: "we have our challenge for this year in here
https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/...

Please check the event forAlways Coca-Cola G..."

This also could be amazing!

Kenza wrote: "I can think of two possibilities:

One could be to choose a city and that all the chosen books revolve around this city.

The other possibility could be to choose "cities" as the topic and for each book to focus on a different city. ..."

Thanks :)
we will study which method will be more suitable for most interested members .

Here are our edits for the group plan this year , they were inspired by the challenge and the previous discussions , we will be reading as the following schedule :

January
topic : (identity )
book :In the Name of Identity

February
topic : (City )
1 Baghdad and Babylon
recommendations , polls or free read - to be decided in January

March
topic : (identity )
book : Always Coca-Cola

April
(City topic)
2- Beirut
recommendations , polls or free read - to be decided in March

May
topic : One of MENA historical figures
recommendations , polls or free read - to be decided in April

June
topic : (City )
3-Cairo
recommendations , polls or free read - to be decided in May

July
topic :
(Fantasy and folk tales )
recommendations , polls or free read - to be decided in June

August
topic : (City )
4- Isfahan ( possibly also Shiraz )
recommendations , polls or free read - - to be decided in July

September
topic :
feminism
recommendations , polls or free read - to be decided in August

October
topic : (City )
5- Istanbul
recommendations , polls or free read - to be decided in September

November
topic :
1- poetry
2- dedication for a certain author
recommendations , polls or free read - to be decided in October

December
topic : (City )
6- Jerusalem
recommendations , polls or free read - plan in previous month

Please post your thoughts and recommendation for reading in February in here :
eadinRg about historical Babylon and Baghdad

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

Reading the plan the first thing that comes to my mind for October is Istanbul: Memories and the City , I know the proposal is obvious, but it's a wonderful book. I read it years ago and I wouldn't mind reading it again, this time in English, I remember that I enjoyed every moment I had it in my hands.

In June, Cairo, in my opinion the indicated writer is Mahfouz, there is no Cairo without Mahfouz, nobody takes you through the city and its inhabitants like him. The chosen book would give me the same because I love all his work and I don't mind reading it again and again.

And about Baghdad, there is a book of poetry that I haven't read yet but that is among my wishes, (I don't know if poetry can be included, besides is November's topic), Baghdad: The City in Verse . It goes across the city in time and its history through its poetry, starting in the 700s and ending in 2012.

Thanks, Kenza. The Istanbul book is on my to-read list too!

Thank very much, Niledaughter, it was not an easy one to pull!
I have read Istanbul: Memories and the City, it comes out as the perfect book about a city, its great and small history. I agree with Mahfouz for Cairo, but which one?
Bagdhad and/or Babylon?

Kenza
Thank you so much for the recommendations , I think we will sort them again into recommendations thread near the reading time for each book :)

Fl
You are welcome , we hope it will work out :)

For your question about "Bagdhad and/or Babylon" , I am not sure , maybe one of them or both , it depends on members' participation , we will see which will be better .As moderates we are considering more flexibility this year :)

By the way , for Istanbul: Memories and the City we read it in 2011 in here
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

We can study the idea of reading it again when the time comes .

Congratulations to the winner of the free copy of Always Coca-Cola!

Also, I'd like to announce ANOTHER Giveaway. Interlink has generously offered provide one free copy of TWO books by Mhani Alaoui: her first book, Dreams of Maryam Tair: Blue Boots and Orange Blossoms, and her brand new book, Aya Dane. To enter the Giveaway, visit this link: https://goo.gl/forms/6oy0XhOMM3wGzJZK2

This author is from Morocco, and teaches Anthropology in Casablanca. She wrote these books in English (which might appeal if you'd like a break from navigating translation). If you have interest in reading either of these books together in 2019, please post here. I'm willing to be discussion leader (and also happy to let someone else lead). I'm excited to read these :) These books could fulfill Challenge/Group Read categories such as: author from the Maghreb, feminism, magical realism, folktales...Member interest will determine whether/how we make a Group Read around this author's books in 2019. Thanks!

Melanie wrote: "Congratulations to the winner of the free copy of Always Coca-Cola!

Also, I'd like to announce ANOTHER Giveaway. Interlink has generously offered provide one free copy of TWO books..."

Do enter! This author lives down the road from me in Casablanca, and, in her latest book, she is navigating the many spaces between the US & Morocco, & between social classes & groups.

Yes it’s international! I’m delighted that you want to read the book. I started it, and found the beginning enchanting!

I am also interested in reading both of this author's books. (I've entered the Giveaway) They sound great for a group read.

Thanks!

A brand new review of Aya Dane here for anyone interested:
https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/soc...

Also, Interlink says that the author is available for interviews by email. If we have enough member interest, we can do a group read in November dedicated to Mhani Alaoui (participants can read and discuss any of her writings). In the course of the discussion, we could write five or so questions for the author, and I'd send them off and report back with the author's answers.

Melanie wrote: "A brand new review of Aya Dane here for anyone interested:
https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/soc...

Also, Interlink sa..."

:O :O :O
<3 <3 <3 !

(sorry, had no words really)

Hi everyone,
I'd like to suggest Syrian Brides by Anna Halabi for the feminism topic in September. It's a collection of funny short stories about the lives of women in Aleppo, Syria.
The women characters are strong and sometimes peculiar. 😂 These women fight their way through cope with the injustice and oppression.
Happy Reading!
Gretchen

Gretchen wrote: "Hi everyone,
I'd like to suggest Syrian Brides by Anna Halabi for the feminism topic in September. It's a collection of funny short stories about the lives of women in Aleppo, Syria.
The women char..."

Thank you ! please post again when we open the recommendations thread in September :)

Melanie wrote: "Congratulations to the winner of the free copy of Always Coca-Cola!

Also, I'd like to announce ANOTHER Giveaway. Interlink has generously offered provide one free copy of TWO books..."

I may have the opportunity to meet Alaoui soon. She has been invited to speak at a meeting of the American International Women's Association of Rabat at some point in the near future. I will report back if/when we meet.

That sounds great, Eileen!

I just opened the discussion thread for Always Coca-Cola. Looking forward to it!

Also, I'm happy to announce that we have a winner for the Mhani Alaoui books giveaway (courtesy of Interlink Books). We plan to have a group read for July dedicated to Mhani Alaoui (participants can read either or both of her books: Dreams of Maryam Tair: Blue Boots and Orange Blossoms) and Aya Dane). If you're wondering how this came about (without a poll for example), I learned of Mhani Alaoui recently, and when Interlink offered me free copies of her books, I thought there might be interest in a group read. Some members expressed interest in a group read, and 42 people entered the Giveaway (including members). The author has also agreed to answer about 5 questions from the group, with her responses to be incorporated into our group read discussion thread. I've started reading both books, and find the writing style very strong, with lots of promise! I hope you'll consider joining in :)

Please share your ideas to read about Beirut next month in here :

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

Niledaughter wrote: "Please share your ideas to read about Beirut next month in here :

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/..."

No one wants to read about Beirut ? :(
Carol ?

I would love to read about Beirut, I just don't know enough to recommend any books. I was hoping some of you who know more than I do would recommend some books.

I would love to read about Beirut ! I wouldn't know what to recommend though.

Niledaughter wrote: "Niledaughter wrote: "Please share your ideas to read about Beirut next month in here :

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/..."

No one wants to read about Beirut ? :(
C..."

I would love to :) But I don't have the bandwidth to lead a discussion in April, unfortunately. Spring break - the last with our daughter - etc. etc.

I'm glad to offer some suggestions, though, if someone else can lead .... otherwise, i'm lighting candles of support for wonderful nominations.

Hmm , we try to put some recommendations and see how it will turn out .