Middle East/North African Lit discussion

Thanks for letting us know! There are couple of different dates - by any chance do you know how we can find out which book is selected for those dates?

Mona wrote: "Thanks for letting us know! There are couple of different dates - by any chance do you know how we can find out which book is selected for those dates?"

Hi Mona, thanks for your interest. I don't have these details, but I've PMed you with contact info.

Is anyone reading some good poetry or anything else you'd like to recommend lately?

Looking ahead to Jul-Sep, I've already started The Jinn Daughter. If anyone happens to want to read that one, I'm open to doing a buddy read.

I also got my copy of The Djinn's Apple for the Oct-Dec group read. (My list of the 2024 group reads is here: https://www.melaniemagidow.com/blog/m... ). Wishing you some good reads!

Melanie wrote: "Looking ahead to Jul-Sep, I've already started The Jinn Daughter. If anyone happens to want to read that one, I'm open to doing a buddy read. ”

I’d definitely like to read that one!

Jalilah, let me know when you get your copy :)

I'm writing to inform anyone interested that there is an upcoming free online event next month about The Jinn Daughter, a conversation with the author Rania Hanna, moderated by me. You'll have the chance to submit questions for the author in the Chat. Here is the registration link:
https://aucegypt.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Join us for the virtual book discussion of "The Jinn Daughter", the stunning debut novel of Rania Hanna and an impressive feat of storytelling that pulls together mythology, magic, and ancient legend in the gripping story of a mother’s struggle to save her only daughter.

Syrian–American writer and author, Rania Hanna, will be in conversation with Melanie Magidow, Translator and Founder of Marhaba Language Expertise.

Melanie wrote: "I'm writing to inform anyone interested that there is an upcoming free online event next month about The Jinn Daughter, a conversation with the author Rania Hanna..."

I would love to participate in this discussion! A while back I ordered it from my library, but it hasn’t arrived yet

Wonderful all are welcome

Looks interesting! I will try to join, but cannot reach a copy of the novel so far.

Sounds fun! I have guests that week and imagine we’ll be doing dinner around the same time but if we do a late dinner, maybe I can catch some of it!

I believe it will be recorded

Melanie wrote: "I believe it will be recorded"

I think I’m going to go ahead and buy this book so I can participate in the discussion!

You can participate before reading. Questions are welcome!

For those interested in the recorded discussion of The Jinn Daughter, it is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZmW0...
And on Facebook:
https://fb.watch/tnJo-SyAtY/

Melanie wrote: "For those interested in the recorded discussion of The Jinn Daughter, it is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZmW0...
And on Facebook:
https://fb.watch/tnJo-SyAtY/"

Sorry to have missed it live! I will definitely watch later!
Btw I got a notification from the library that my copy of Jinn Daughter is in!

Melanie wrote: "Is anyone reading some good poetry or anything else you'd like to recommend lately?

Looking ahead to Jul-Sep, I've already started The Jinn Daughter. If anyone happens to want to ..."

I’m reading The Jinn Daughter now. Melanie I assume you have read it already, right?

Yes, looking forward to your ideas

Melanie wrote: "Yes, looking forward to your ideas"

I think it’s well written and highly readable. I personally prefer the type of fantasy or speculative fiction that takes place in our world, as opposed to a made up world. For this reason I am not enjoying as much as I might. The same goes with folklore and mythology. I enjoy authors who are well versed in it and then incorporate it into or develop it their own fiction. Finally, necromancy gives me the heebie jeebies.
So I could say it’s not going to be my favourite, but as I said, I do appreciate her writing.

Right, I remember that you like staying in our world. If it helps, I think of the "death realm" in this book as potentially any "over there" place - it could be the "old world" for immigrant families (as the author's family is). It's a place you can't reach easily or all the time, a place where people are who you miss, a place that you mis/remember and re/imagine. For all the death stuff, she's influenced by Garth Nix. For me, both Nix's Sabriel series and The Jinn Daughter provide insights into the ways we work with grief and loss. Thanks for reading and for your comments.

Melanie wrote: "Right, I remember that you like staying in our world. If it helps, I think of the "death realm" in this book as potentially any "over there" place - it could be the "old world" for immigrant famili..."


Good idea! I’m imagining the setting to be like Lebanon in the mountains because of the all descriptions of forests.
I haven’t finished yet. I’m about halfway through