I’ve been going deep into my head, to the point of being there more often than I should. The reason is simple. I needed to heal. I still need to, still have stuff to do, to figure out, to fix, to own, and while the solitude has helped, there is another thing that has done it: writing. Poetry, stories, novels, journaling, free writing… Anything that I could think about, I tried my hand at it, and the effects are showing.... Read more
There’s a book I’ve wanted to read for a while: Blood Orange, by Yaffa AS. Just read the summary and you will know why. Format: 65 pages, Paperback. Published: November 13, 2023, by Meraj Publishing. Genres and Tags: Poetry, social commentary, nonfiction, Palestine, genocide, mental health. “Blood Orange” is a highly emotional, important and timely poetry collection by Mx. Yaffa (They/She), a trans Muslim displaced Indigenous Palestinian. Their writings probe the yearning for home, belonging, mental health, queerness, transness, and other... Read more
I recently finished a book that I didn’t expect to feel so emotional with. Even though there’s been only one book that has made me cry, ever, Liberty Walks Naked: Poems, by Maram Al-Massri, translated by Theo Dorgan, made it hard to keep reading, not because it’s bad, but because of how raw, honest, and unfiltered it is. And still, it’s impossible not to love it. Format: 60 pages, Paperback. Published: April 24, 2018 by Southword Editions. Genres and Tags: Poetry,... Read more
It feels like forever since I wrote here. It’s embarrassing, to say the least. However, one of the things I learned from last year is that it’s okay not to write every day, but that it should also get as much attention as my daytime, 9-to-5 job that puts food on the table. And so I started thinking: Should I make more plans for this year? Considering that I hadn’t done a good job at it the last times, I... Read more
I read Shubeik Lubeik, by Deena Mohamed, a while ago for different reasons. However, one of the biggest ones was that I was curious about Arab comics and graphic novels. For once, I allowed myself to have big expectations, so I’m glad to say that this book filled all of them, and then some! Format: 528 pages, Hardcover. Published: January 10, 2023 by Pantheon. Genres and Tags: Fantasy, Social commentary, transgenerational trauma, queer, drama. A brilliant and imaginative debut graphic novel that... Read more
I’ve been embarrassingly silent about something I care a lot about: Palestine. The other day, I told someone that I wanted to stay as away as possible from the current events for my own mental health because of all the things that have been going on. However, it would be irresponsible on my part not to say at least something about it, I would be a hypocrite and would be lying to myself, trying to stay silent about something as... Read more
I’ve been an avid reader for a long time, a lover of fantasy and folklore, mythology and legends. However, most of the stories that I read were inspired by Greco-Roman or Egyptian myths, or highly based in Medieval Europe. It wasn’t until relatively recently that I got an interest in Arabic-inspired fiction. While searching for potential readings, I was surprised at how many are there, and how many of them have been awarded. They might not be as famous as... Read more
I’ve never cried with a book. Maybe movies, TV shows, definitely with music and music videos, but books? Never. Ever. In my life. That changed recently, however, when I read a book the war in Syria, and saw exactly what has been happening for years in the country I’ve wanted to visit since I was a kid, the one I saw in pictures and videos when my family went there, I couldn’t help it. This is: Witnesses to War: The Children... Read more
For a long time, my favorite myth was that of Medusa’s. The different version, interpretations, how she could be included in a spiritual practice, and also the symbolism, they were all fascinating. However, as I learned more about Arabic mythology and folklore, the story of Zarqa al-Yamama became more interesting. Just a word of caution here: the story contains graphic descriptions of violence, mass murder, and torture. The Legend There are longer and shorter version of her story but, in... Read more
Since I started writing poetry again, I’ve learned a lot of things about myself, both as a person and as a spiritual being, unearthed trauma, past experiences, healed, and realized many things. One of those is that I’m finding a voice that I thought I didn’t have. I’ve had a complicated, tumultuous relationship with poetry, but I’m glad to say it’s changing for the better. One of the things I’ve wanted to learn, get better at, and understand better was... Read more
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In