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Please post your list for 2021 challenge in here :
1. a book, fiction or non-fiction book about the Palestine conflict.
/topic/show/...

2. a book, fiction or non-fiction based on or about MENA history
/topic/show/...

3. a book, fiction or non-fiction for "Empowering women"
/topic/show/...

/topic/show/...

4. a book, fiction or non fiction. written by an author from Iraq
/topic/show/...

5. book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Al Sham (Lebanon, Jordan, Syria)
/topic/show/...

6.A book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from The Arabian Peninsula - ( Yemen, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia , the United Arab Emirates )
/topic/show/...

7. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from The Maghreb ( North Africa) - ( Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya,Mauritania
/topic/show/...

8. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Egypt
/topic/show/...

9. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by a Turkish author
/topic/show/...

10. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an Iranian author
/topic/show/...

11. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an author from Sudan and the Horn of Africa (Somalia , Djibouti and Eritrea)
/topic/show/...

12. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an author from the "Stan" countries or Central Asia ( Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan , Uzbekistan) and Afghanistan or Pakistan
/topic/show/...

I am already looking forward to it!

I’m starting to make my list and checking books I already have but have not read. And then there the books I don’t have but want to read. Big decisions!

Here's my 2021 list at the moment...

1. a book, fiction or non-fiction book about the Palestine conflict.
The Blue Pool of Questions (not directly about the conflict, but maybe loosely defined)

2. a book, fiction or non-fiction based on or about MENA history
Medieval Andalusian Courtly Culture in the Mediterranean: Hadîth Bayâd wa Riyâd

3. a book, fiction or non-fiction for "Empowering women"
A Border Passage: From Cairo to America �� A Woman's Journey

4. a book, fiction or non fiction. written by an author from Iraq
Impostures

5. book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Al Sham (Lebanon, Jordan, Syria)
Emily Nasrallah's Flight Against Time (and also in Arabic: طيور أيلول)

6.A book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from The Arabian Peninsula - ( Yemen, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia , the United Arab Emirates )
Voyage of the Cranes over the Agate Cities

7. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from The Maghreb ( North Africa) - ( Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya,Mauritania
Feminist Traditions in Andalusi-Moroccan Oral Narratives

8. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Egypt
Granada
(in Arabic: دارية )

9. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by a Turkish author
A Recipe for Daphne

10. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an Iranian author
Vis and Ramin

11. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an author from Sudan and the Horn of Africa (Somalia , Djibouti and Eritrea)
- None yet

12. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an author from the "Stan" countries or Central Asia ( Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan , Uzbekistan) and Afghanistan or Pakistan
- poetry by Rumi (born in present-day Afghanistan)

This is my plan at the moment. We'll see if I stick to it, but I'm trying to read more of the books I've already got on my shelves before buying too many more. Some of these authors have been on my TBR for ages, but I do need to find someone from the Horn of Africa.

1. about the Palestine conflict.
Victims of a Map: A Bilingual Anthology of Arabic Poetry by Mahmoud Darwish, Samih al-Qasim, & Adonis

2. based on or about MENA history
A History of Saudi Arabia by مضاوي الرشيد (Madawi al-Rasheed)

3. for "Empowering women"
Opening the Gates: An Anthology of Arab Feminist Writing

4. by an author from Iraq
Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi

5. by an author from Al Sham
The Hakawati by Rabih Alameddine

6. by an author from The Arabian Peninsula
The Bamboo Stalk by Saud Alsanousi

7. by an author from The Maghreb
The Swallows of Kabul by Yasmina Khadra
OR
Le racisme expliqué à ma fille by Tahar Ben Jelloun (I'm trying to read more in French because I'm so slow!)

8. by an author from Egypt
American War by Omar El Akkad

9. by a Turkish author
Three Daughters of Eve by Elif Shafak

10. by an Iranian author
The Republic of Imagination: America in Three Books by Azar Nafisi
OR
Daughters of Smoke and Fire by Ava Homa (as much as I like Azar Nafisi, I don't think I've read a book by a Kurdish author before, so I might go with this one)

11. by an author from Sudan or the Horn of Africa
???

12. by an author from the "Stan" countries
The Shadow of the Crescent Moon by Fatima Bhutto

I have no idea what I am am going to read yet except for the 12. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an author from the "Stan" countries or Central Asia category. Because I loved Jamilia so much, I am going to read The Day Lasts More Than a Hundred Years by the same author Chingiz Aitmatov

This is really exciting! I will definitely join in later in the second half of December and upload my list!

I like the idea of discovering one author, Jalilah, so I have also had a look at Chingiz Aitmatov's other works and must say that Ein Tag länger als ein Leben : Roman sounds quite interesting! I am astonished at how many of his books have been translated into German!

I have decided to fill the list as I go. At the moment I am determined to stick to the books already sitting on my shelves, but I will probably end up with some new titles as well :))

4/12

1. about the Palestine conflict
- planned reading:

2. about MENA history
- planned reading:

3. for "Empowering Women"
April: Our Women on the Ground: Essays by Arab Women Reporting from the Arab World

4. by an author from Iraq
- planned reading: The Madman of Freedom Square by Hassan Blasim

5. by an author from Al-Sham
January: Flight Against Time by Emily Nasrallah ☆☆☆☆

6. by an author from The Arabian Peninsular
- planned reading: The Girl Who Fell to Earth by Sophia Al-Maria (Qatar/US)

7. by an author from The Maghreb
March: The Curious Case of Dassoukine’s Trousers by Fouad Laroui ☆☆☆☆��
additional reading: Dreams of Maryam Tair: Blue Boots and Orange Blossoms by Mhani Alaoui

8. by an author from Egypt
- planned reading: The Quarter by Naguib Mahfouz

9. by a Turkish author
February: My Name Is Red by Orhan Pamuk ☆☆☆☆

10. by an Iranian author
March: Women Without Men: A Novel of Modern Iran by Shahrnush Parsipur ☆☆☆☆

11. by an author from Sudan / the Horn of Africa
- planned reading: In the United States of Africa by Abdourahman A. Waberi (Djibouti)
or
some novel by Leila Aboulela (Sudan)

12. by an author from the -stan countries
- planned reading: some title published by Glagoslav Publications

My first attempt and I probably won't to get them all, but I seem to own some options and will try to participate in the group reads, so let's see how far we get:

12/12

1. a book, fiction or non-fiction book about the Palestine conflict.
/topic/show/...
Completed Mornings in Jenin 29 November 4 stars
I own Once Upon a Country: A Palestinian Life and The Blue Between Sky and Water and The Hundred Years' War on Palestine: A History of Settler-Colonial Conquest and Resistance, 1917-2017

2. a book, fiction or non-fiction based on or about MENA history
/topic/show/...
Completed Jerusalem: The Biography Completed 25 December 5 stars
I own The History of Persia. I have Midnight at the Pera Palace: The Birth of Modern Istanbul and Midnight in Cairo: The Divas of Egypt's Roaring '20s on my Amazon wishlist

3. a book, fiction or non-fiction for "Empowering women"
/topic/show/...
Completed Women Without Men: A Novel of Modern Iran 14 March 4 stars


4. a book, fiction or non fiction. written by an author from Iraq
/topic/show/...
The Gardener of Baghdad Completed 16 September 3.5 stars
Maybe The Corpse Washer.

5. book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Al Sham (Lebanon, Jordan, Syria)
/topic/show/... Amin Maalouf
Completed Flight Against Time 10 January 4 stars

6.A book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from The Arabian Peninsula - ( Yemen, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia , the United Arab Emirates )
/topic/show/...
Mama Hissa's Mice Completed 30 July 4 stars
Celestial Bodies?

7. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from The Maghreb ( North Africa) - ( Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya,Mauritania
/topic/show/...
The Bridges of Constantine Completed 18 April 4 stars
The Curious Case of Dassoukine’s Trousers Completed 30 March 4 stars
Dreams of Maryam Tair: Blue Boots and Orange Blossoms Completed 23 April 4 stars

8. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Egypt
/topic/show/...
Palace Walk Completed 14 May 5 stars

9. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by a Turkish author
/topic/show/...
The Bastard of Istanbul Completed 22 December 5 stars



10. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an Iranian author
/topic/show/...
Disoriental Completer 8 September 4 stars
I own Tehran at Twilight or The Stationery Shop or Tehran Noir

11. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an author from Sudan and the Horn of Africa (Somalia , Djibouti and Eritrea)
/topic/show/...
I own Black Mamba Boy or Amid the Chaos
The Translator Completed 15 June 3.5 stars

12. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an author from the "Stan" countries or Central Asia ( Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan , Uzbekistan) and Afghanistan or Pakistan
/topic/show/... I own A Fort of Nine Towers: An Afghan Family Story
Completed The Pearl That Broke Its Shell 28 February 4 stars

My list which will be updated:

1. a book, fiction or non-fiction book about the Palestine conflict.
The Invention of the Jewish People
Jerusalem: The Biography


��2. a book, fiction or non-fiction based on or about MENA history
The Harem Conspiracy: The Murder of Ramesses III

حاكم جنون ابن الهيثم
فردقان: اعتقال الشيخ الرئيس
ابن سينا أو الطريق إلى أصفهان
The Hand of Fatima
Hatchepsut: The Female Pharaoh
Cleopatra: A Life

��3. a book, fiction or non-fiction for "Empowering women"
Women Without Men: A Novel of Modern Iran




4. a book, fiction or non fiction. written by an author from Iraq
Gilgamesh of Uruk

5. book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Al Sham (Lebanon, Jordan, Syria)
The Night Counter: A Novel


6.A book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from The Arabian Peninsula - ( Yemen, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia , the United Arab Emirates )
Celestial Bodies
Mama Hissa's Mice

7. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from The Maghreb ( North Africa) - ( Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya,Mauritania
The Pillar of Salt
Fantasia: An Algerian Cavalcade

��8. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Egypt
دارية
Warda


9. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by a Turkish author
The Architect's Apprentice
My Name Is Red

��10. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an Iranian author
The Stationery Shop


��11. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an author from Sudan and the Horn of Africa (Somalia , Djibouti and Eritrea)
African Titanics
The Kindness of Enemies

12. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an author from the "Stan" countries or Central Asia ( Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan , Uzbekistan) and Afghanistan or Pakistan
A Bed of Red Flowers: In Search of My Afghanistan
Games Without Rules: The Often Interrupted History of Afghanistan

1. A Mountainous Journey by Fadwa Tuqan
2. Azazeel by Youssef Ziedan
3. In The Eye of the Sun - Ahdaf Soueif
4. Revolt Against The Sun - Nazik al-Malaika
5. Pillars of Salt by Fadia Faqir
6. Wolves of the Crescent Moon by Yousef Al-Mohaimeed
7. The King’s Fool by Mahi BineBine
8. The Pistachio Seller by Reem Bassiouney
9. 10 Minutes 38 Seconds In This Strange World by Elif Shafak
10. A Teaspoon of Earth and Sea by Dina Nayeri
11. Transit by Abdourahman A. Waberi
12. Mother’s Testament by Durnyam Mashurova

Since I didn’t finish my 2020 List I’m going to continue with that List till it’s finished.

1. طائر الرعد #٢ , Sonia Nimr

2. Ashraf Fagih, رسم العدم

3. A Bed for the King’s Daughter, by Shahla Ujayli, tr. Sawad

4. Except for This Unseen Thread: Selected Poems, by Ra’ad Abdulqadir, tr. Mona Kareem -- if poetry allowed, but also in case

I’m in Seattle, Where Are You? by Mortada Gzar, tr. William Hutchins

5. Bareed al-Layl / Voices of the Lost, by Hoda Barakat, tr. Marilyn Booth

6. The Critical Case of a Man Called K, by Aziz Muhammad

7. Straight from the Horse's Mouth by Meryem Alaoui / tr. Emma Ramadan

8. Slipping, by Mohamed Kheir, tr. Robin Moger *
&
Ahmed Naji's حرز مكمكم

9. Memed, My Hawk, by Yaşar Kemal

10. Mahmoud Dowlatabadi, Thirst

11. Abdelaziz Baraka Sakin's Jungo

12. Of Strangers and Bees: A Hayy ibn Yaqzan Tale
by Hamid Ismailov and translated by Shelley Fairweather-Vega

For the first time. I want to try to read books of some of this areas, and I'm not sure ob I get them all.

Hier my list:

1. a book, fiction or non-fiction book about the Palestine conflict.

2. a book, fiction or non-fiction based on or about MENA history

3. a book, fiction or non-fiction for "Empowering women"

4. a book, fiction or non fiction. written by an author from Iraq

5. book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Al Sham (Lebanon, Jordan, Syria)

6.A book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from The Arabian Peninsula - ( Yemen, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia , the United Arab Emirates )

7. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from The Maghreb ( North Africa)

8. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Egypt

9. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by a Turkish author

10. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an Iranian author

11. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an author from Sudan and the Horn of Africa (Somalia , Djibouti and Eritrea)

12. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an author from the "Stan" countries or Central Asia ( Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan , Uzbekistan) and Afghanistan or Pakistan

This is my placeholder which I will keep updating as I go along :
Edited to add: My Challenge is Completed!
1. a book, fiction or non-fiction book about the Palestine conflict.
Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa

2. a book, fiction or non-fiction based on or about MENA history
The Rock of Tanios by Amin Maalouf

3. a book, fiction or non-fiction for "Empowering women"
Femininity and Dance in Egypt: Embodiment and Meaning in Al-Raqs Al-Baladi

4. a book, fiction or non fiction. written by an author from Iraq
The Book of Collateral Damage by Sinan Antoon

5. book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Al Sham (Lebanon, Jordan, Syria)
The Arsonists' City by Hala Alyan

6.A book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from The Arabian Peninsula - ( Yemen, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia , the United Arab Emirates
That Other Me by Maha Gargash

7. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from The Maghreb ( North Africa) - ( Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya,Mauritania)
Guantánamo Diary: Restored Edition by Mohamedou Ould Slahi

8. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Egypt
Sunset Oasis by Bahaa Taher

9. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by a Turkish author
Bliss by Zülfü Livaneli

10. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an Iranian author
Women Without Men: A Novel of Modern Iran by Shahrnush Parsipur

11. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an author from Sudan and the Horn of Africa (Somalia , Djibouti and Eritrea)
Lyrics Alley by Leila Aboulela

12. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an author from the "Stan" countries or Central Asia ( Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan , Uzbekistan) and Afghanistan or Pakistan

The Tale of Aypi by Ak Welsapar

My blog post for this month is Favorite MENA-related books read in the past year:


It includes some that are on my challenge list :)

Melanie wrote: "My blog post for this month is Favorite MENA-related books read in the past year:


It includes some that are on my challenge list :)"

Thanks a lot for sharing your thoughts! Quite inspirational!

Hi! I am afraid I will be able to do 6 out of 12 at most, work, life, another bookclub, etc.

4. Iraq: The president’s gardens حدائق الرئيس by Mohsin Al Ramli.

5. Mashriq/Sham: will consider that covered by Flight against time by Emily Nasralla.

6. Arabian Peninsula: An apartment called freedom has been on my list and also appeared here.

7. Maghrib: Le Racisme expliqué à ma fille, by Tahar Ben Jelloun, I love his work but has never read this one recommended here.

8. Egypt: I want to read Iman Mersal’s book في أثر عنايات الزيات please let me know if anyone reads it and wants to discuss.

9. Turkey: Last train to Istanbul, recommended here, needed to read new Turkish authors.

The Horn of Africa recommendations are all on my to read shelf, will check if I can read one of them if done with the above.

Nan wrote: "Since I didn’t finish my 2020 List I’m going to continue with that List till it’s finished."

This is my list

This list is my attempt to stay focused on reading books I already have.

1. Of Nobel Origins, Sahar Khalifeh or
The Secret Life of Saeed The Pessoptimist, Emile Habiby. Or
2. Zayni Barakat, Gamal al-Ghitani.
3. Velvet, Huzama Habayeb or
The Story of Zahra, Hanan al- Shaykh.
4. The Book of Collateral Damage, Sinan Antoon or
The Long Way Back, Fuad al-Takarli.
5. Whatever Happened To Antara and Other Stories, Walid Iklassi,
Land of No Rain, Amjad Nasser
6. The Dove’s Necklace, Raja Alem.
7. The Theocrat, Bensalem Himmich or
Maps Of The Soul, Ahmed Fagih.
8. Using Life, Ahmed Naji or
Ice, Sonallah Ibrahim.
9. Motherland Hotel, Yusuf Atilgan or
A Mind At Peace.
10. The Owl,
11. The Longing Of The Dervish, Hammour Ziada.
12. Broken Verses, Kamila Shamsie

reply | edit | delete | flag *



Richard wrote: "1. A Mountainous Journey by Fadwa Tuqan
2. Azazeel by Youssef Ziedan
3. In The Eye of the Sun - Ahdaf Soueif
4. Revolt Against The Sun - Nazik al-Malaika
5. Pillars of Salt by Fadia Faqir
6. Wolve..."

Up to now I have read Against the Loveless World for # 1
That Other Me for #6
Women Without Men: A Novel of Modern Iran for #10
And The Tale of Aypi for # 12

I also read Tuareg and am considering it for #7 , but the author is not from a MENA country, so I am looking girl something else.

Nan wrote: "Nan wrote: "Since I didn’t finish my 2020 List I’m going to continue with that List till it’s finished."

I just finished The Story of Zahra. It too a long time to read. I kept hoping that somehow her life would change for the better.

This is my list

This list is my attempt to stay focused on reading books I already have.

..."

Inji wrote: "Hi! I am afraid I will be able to do 6 out of 12 at most, work, life, another bookclub, etc.

4. Iraq: The president’s gardens حدائق الرئيس by Mohsin Al Ramli.

5. Mashriq/Sham: will consider that ..."

I have added Femininity and Dance in Egypt: Embodiment and Meaning in Al-Raqs Al-Baladi for #3 and just started Guantánamo Diary: Restored Edition for #7

One has to wonder just how dangerous it is to write a story in the Middle East that is sketch. I mean do these authors have to write under a pen name?

Curt wrote: "One has to wonder just how dangerous it is to write a story in the Middle East that is sketch. I mean do these authors have to write under a pen name?"

I don't think many write under a pen name

For #9 Turkish, I am happy to have discovered an author I didn't know about Zülfü Livaneli I read his novel Bliss. I highly recommend it!

I read My Father's Notebook: A Novel of Iran by Kader Abdolah for #10 of the challenge.

Written in Dutch by an Iranian exile living in the Netherlands, translated by Susan Massotty, the novel weaves the story of Aga Akbar and his son, Ishmael, against the turbulent background of 20th Century Iran. Persian songs, myths, and legends thread the narrative. The novel is a poignant portrayal of the enduring love between a father and son. A great story.

My review: /review/show...

I read The Wild Fox of Yemen: Poems by Threa Almontaser for #6 of the challenge (Yemen)
It's been a while since I read a collection of poetry. Almontaser's voice is vigorous, authentic, and unflinchingly honest. Winner of the Walt Whitman Award of the Academy of American Poets, the collection is breathtaking, drawing the reader into Almontaser’s world imbued with personal and political intensity. It's very powerful and I highly recommend it.

My review: /review/show...

For #11 Sudan/Horn of Africa I read Lyrics Alley by Leila Aboulela

Wrapping up 2021, I finished all the books in my Challenge...

1. a book, fiction or non-fiction book about the Palestine conflict.
The Blue Pool of Questions (not directly about the conflict, but maybe loosely defined)

2. a book, fiction or non-fiction based on or about MENA history
Medieval Andalusian Courtly Culture in the Mediterranean: Hadîth Bayâd wa Riyâd

3. a book, fiction or non-fiction for "Empowering women"
A Border Passage: From Cairo to America �� A Woman's Journey

4. a book, fiction or non fiction. written by an author from Iraq
Impostures

5. book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Al Sham (Lebanon, Jordan, Syria)
Emily Nasrallah's Flight Against Time

6.A book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from The Arabian Peninsula - ( Yemen, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia , the United Arab Emirates )
Voyage of the Cranes over the Agate Cities

7. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from The Maghreb ( North Africa) - ( Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya,Mauritania
Feminist Traditions in Andalusi-Moroccan Oral Narratives

8. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Egypt
Granada
(in Arabic: دارية )

9. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by a Turkish author
A Recipe for Daphne

10. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an Iranian author
Vis and Ramin

11. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an author from Sudan and the Horn of Africa (Somalia , Djibouti and Eritrea)
- None

12. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an author from the "Stan" countries or Central Asia ( Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan , Uzbekistan) and Afghanistan or Pakistan
- poetry by Rumi (born in present-day Afghanistan)

Well done, Melanie! You read some interesting ones. I'll add some to the list for next year.

Thank you! It's fun to look ahead to the new year and make a reading wish list :)

I have completed all 12 books for the challenge:

1. a book, fiction or non-fiction book about the Palestine conflict.
The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East by Sandy Tolan.

2. a book, fiction or non-fiction based on or about MENA history.
History Begins at Sumer: Thirty-Nine Firsts in Recorded History by Samuel Noah Kramer.

3. a book, fiction or non-fiction for "Empowering women"
Consorts of the Caliphs: Women and the Court of Baghdad by Ibn al-Sai, translated from the Arabic by Shawkat M. Toorawa.

4. a book, fiction or non fiction. written by an author from Iraq
Absent: A Novel by Betool Khedairi translated from the Arabic by Muhayman Jamil.

5. book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Al Sham (Lebanon, Jordan, Syria)
The Arsonists' City by Threa Almontaser.

6. A book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from The Arabian Peninsula - (Yemen, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia , the United Arab Emirates)
The Wild Fox of Yemen: Poems by Threa Almontaser.

7. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from The Maghreb (North Africa) - (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Mauritania
In the Country of Men by Hisham Matar (Libya)

8. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by an author from Egypt;
A Quiet Revolution: The Veil's Resurgence, from the Middle East to America by Leila Ahmed.

9. a book, fiction or non-fiction, by a Turkish author;
10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World by Elif Shafak.

10. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an Iranian author;
My Father's Notebook: A Novel of Iran by Kader Abdolah translated from the Dutch by Susan Massotty.

11. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an author from Sudan and the Horn of Africa (Somalia , Djibouti and Eritrea)
Season of Migration to the North and The Wedding of Zein by Tayeb Salih, translated from the Arabic by Denys Johnson-Davies (Sudan).

12. a book, fiction or non-fiction by an author from the "Stan" countries or Central Asia ( Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan , Uzbekistan) and Afghanistan or Pakistan.
The Patience Stone by Atiq Rahimi; translated from the French Polly McLean (Afghanistan).

I have posted reviews of all these books on ŷ������ and on my website at

I've enjoyed the challenge because it made me read books by authors I had never heard of before. It's been a lot of fun. I hope to do it again next year.

Congratulations, Tamara! I haven't read anything on your list, so I'll be able to find some ideas here. Thank you for the reviews.

Carolien wrote: "Congratulations, Tamara! I haven't read anything on your list, so I'll be able to find some ideas here. Thank you for the reviews."

You're welcome!

Tamara wrote: "I have completed all 12 books for the challenge:

1. a book, fiction or non-fiction book about the Palestine conflict.
The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East..."

Mabrouk Tamara!

Shukran, Jalilah!

I just added The Rock of Tanios by Amin Maalouf for 2. a book, fiction or non-fiction based on or about MENA history

With Sunset Oasis by the Egyptian author Bahaa Taher my 2021 Challenge is now completed! My placeholder is further up.
Thank you Middle Eastern and North African Lit group for these challenges that push me to read books I might not have otherwise even known about!

Congratulations, Jalilah! I've added a few books to my TBR based on your reads this year, thank you!

Congrats from me as well, Tamara and Jalilah! It is always inspiring to browse through your lists and recommendations!

Orgeluse wrote: "Congrats from me as well, Tamara and Jalilah! It is always inspiring to browse through your lists and recommendations!"

Carolien wrote: "Congratulations, Jalilah! I've added a few books to my TBR based on your reads this year, thank you!"

Thank you Orgeluse and Carolien!
I would never have been able to find most of these books had I not been in the group!

I absolutely agree on this group being the best resource to find these books. It has opened a new reading world for me.

My 2021 challenge is now complete. Like others, I would never have found these books without others in the group, so thank you! These included some of the best books I read this year.

Congratulations to all who finished the challenge. I was very happy to read your lines:)