Middle East/North African Lit discussion

Yay for libraries, and time to read, and safe journeys, and returns home :)

Welcome back Sheila ! :)

Thank you for the welcome back

Aziz wrote: "hi"



Welcome Aziz !

Hello. My name is Una and I'm from Croatia. I've always been interested in Arabic culture, but just recently I actually started to nurture my interest. For know, I've fallen in love with the work of Naguib Mahfuz, and Persian Hafiz. I'm on a quest to profound my reading, and with a great hope that one day I'll be able to read this amazing literary world in it's original language. Hope to learn a lot from you all. :)

Welcome, Una!

Melanie wrote: "Welcome, Una!"

Thank you Melanie. :)

Una, you are in the right place for inspiration! happy reading!

Welcome on board Una! :)

Hey i just noticed that I'm supposed to introduce myself here. So my name is Rebecca, Lebanese and mostly living in Cairo. Joined the group a while ago but I'm a bit on the silent side and don't engage much in conversations. I'm interested in various kinds of reading, but it would be fair to say I predominantly like to read introspective and historical novels from the global south (naturally with some emphasis on african american writers, latin american surrealism if that is he right word, and levant writers) and on that note would love to read more from maghreb writers. My other main interest is theoretical books orbiting around womanism, colonialism/post-colonialism, sexuality and science... Ok that's it :-D

Belated welcome, Rebecca - thanks for being here!

Welcome Rebecca! I think you'll find a lot to read here. :)

Re: theoretical stuff...if you haven't joined Great African Reads, you might want to have a look. A friend there is leading a theory project throughout this year and up first is postcolonialism. Let me know if you need a link to it!

Welcome Rebecca! happy to have you with us :)

Welcome Aziz, Una and Rebecca, glad to have you join us here.

Welcome Rebecca! Greetings to Cairo for me! I have not been there for so many years!

Hi! I am joining from Vancouver Island, Canada. I have just found a book this interesting anthology Modern Arabic Fiction: An Anthology , and decided I would really like to get to know the region's literary traditions and important figures better. Or at least what I can find in English translation :)

Welcome Lucinda, fortunately there is a good amount of Arabic literature in English translations so you should be able to find lots of good stuff to read.

Hi Lucinda! Jayyusi's anthology is fantastic! And I'm really glad to see you here because I know you'll add a lot to our discussions. :D

Welcome Lucinda ! :)

Hi all, just another white Brit in London trying to decolonise my mind. I have a particular attachment to Iran and used to have a bit of Farsi. I've read precious very little literature from anywhere in the region, but I have watched quite a few Iranian films!

Zanna wrote: "Hi all, just another white Brit in London trying to decolonise my mind. I have a particular attachment to Iran and used to have a bit of Farsi. I've read precious very little literature from anywhe..."

yay Zanna! Good to see you here! we like to discuss films here too, so we will surely enjoy your recommendations and thoughts on those as well as books. :)

Great! = D

Zanna wrote: "Hi all, just another white Brit in London trying to decolonise my mind. I have a particular attachment to Iran and used to have a bit of Farsi. I've read precious very little literature from anywhe..."

Welcome Zanna! I agree that reading books is a good way to help decolonize ones mind! I gave discovered some excellent ones in this group!

Welcome Zanna. I've discovered some excellent reading and new ideas and friends here. It's a great group.

Thanks friends! xxx

sarah wrote: "Salam/peace everyone. My name is sarah, and I'm delighted to have stumbled upon this group. I am a first generation Egyptian-American student/community organizer/aspiring writer living in Californi..."

Welcome Sara , I am glad you found us !:)

Welcome Chiara ! I am glad you found us and I hope you will like it in here :)

Chiara wrote: "Hi everyone. My name is Chiara, Italian and currently living in Florence. Passionate about all things Middle Eastern, especially literature. It is really nice to have found a group on my favourite ..."

Welcome Chiara!

So happy to be part of this group. I was born in Iran, and now live in Los Angeles. I'm an avid reader, and have primarily been a screenwriter for the last decade. Last month, my first novel The Walk-In Closet was published. It's the story of an Iranian family in Los Angeles, and concerns the disconnect between the generations in immigrant families. I'm trying to spread the word to anyone interested in reading about contemporary Iranian-Ameican life, so excuse the shameless self-promotion. If you read the book, please let me know. I love hearing from readers. Looking forward to being part of this group. Here's more info about my novel:
The Walk-In Closet

Welcome Abdi :)

Hi, I'm moving to Amman in a couple of months for work and want to learn more about the region through literature. Looking forward to discussions with you all!

Hi, I'm Bianca and I live in the Netherlands. The Middle East has a special place in my heart since my early twenties, which has grown stronger since I lived in Egypt for a couple of years. Meanwhile I moved back to my country of birth, where I recently joined an 'Arabic Reading Group'. We're a mixed bunch, some of us are native speakers, others are Arabists and as for myself, I just had a weak spot for the region for the longest time.
Hopefully, the group can get me a little bit up-to-date concerning books (coming out). Can't wait to see what happens! :-)

Welcome Bianca!

Hi everybody, My name is Shaimaa Deebes. I'm Egyptian. I wanted to study politics and to specialize in Middle East affairs because of my interest in it,but it doesn't happen. Now I'm a major English student who turns her interest to comparative lit and now I believe that LITERATURE,not politics, can do it! :)
I'm really eager to join you discussions.

Welcome! Ahlan yaa Shaimaa :)

Welcome Everyone!

Wow!
I missed a lot , Sorry I am on a vacation out of Cairo...
Welcome to all new faces Stacie , Bianca and Shaimaa :D
I hope you will enjoy being with us . Summer made the group a little bit calm but hopefully soon we will back into order . meanwhile feel free to explore our group and you may find any of our currently readings from Iraq interesting for you .

Nile daughter wrote: "Wow!
I missed a lot , Sorry I am on a vacation out of Cairo...
Welcome to all new faces Stacie , Bianca and Shaimaa :D
I hope you will enjoy being with us . Summer made the group a little bit calm..."

Thanks, I'll look into it! :-)

Hello, my name is Anne. I fell in love with all things Arabic when I met my husband, who is from Palestine. He introduced me to the literature of the region so I was so pleased to find this group on Goodreads.

Welcome Anne!

welcome Anna ! can you read in Arabic ?

Hi! I'm Timothy. I'm Turkish/Portuguese, currently living in Istanbul,Turkey, studying a Masters degree in economics. It looks like I'm late to the groups focus on Turkey, but I'm looking forward to 2015. I've been to Egypt few times and I admire the culture and stuff.

ETA: I live in Ortakoy, where the photo on the groups home page was taken. My place is 3-5mins walk to Ortakoy Mosque.

Welcome to the group Timothy. Even though we've finished the group reading from Turkey doesn't mean you can't revisit the topic posts and you're certainly welcome to read and post new comments to those threads at anytime. We look forward to your participation in the upcoming reads too.

Welcome Timothy !

Thank you Cassandra & Niledaughter.

Hi you guys! I'm Amira Awaad, 35 year old Egyptian woman who fancies she as a 7000 year old soul :)

I'm a writer of fantasy fiction and poetry, as well as an avid reader whose love of language tends to border on "grammar nazi".

I grew up all over the world (diplomatic brat and such), and then returned to Egypt at the age of 18. It has become my heart and soul :)

A pleasure to meet you all!

Welcome Amira , glad to have you with us :)

Amira wrote: "Hi you guys! I'm Amira Awaad, 35 year old Egyptian woman who fancies she as a 7000 year old soul :)

I'm a writer of fantasy fiction and poetry, as well as an avid reader whose love of language ten..."

Ahlan wa Sahlen Amira!

Hello everyone:)
My name is Ruwa, I'm from Jordan and living in the states. Am so happy to join the group.
My most recent reads by ME authors includes Mourid Barghouti's I saw Rammallah and the sequel as well as Ibrahim Nasrallah's زمن الخيول البيضاء
My next book is hopefully one by Radwa Ashour, الله يرحمها
Excited to meet everyone
X

Welcome Ruwa!