This was such a wonderful list! I've added so many to my own tbr. Really hope to get to The Book of Disappearance this year, as well as The Parisian.
Also find myself so drawn to A Mouth Full of Salt and the Granada trilogy too! Visiting the Alhambra in Granada is such a vivid childhood memory for me—may just have to get my hands on the new volume.
Thank you! Similarly, I very much found myself drawn to Granada because of my own trips in my younger years, as well as the fact that I don’t think I’ve read a historical fiction novel set in that particular period. With that said, I’m glad it was published as a single volume because I was a little disappointed by the last book and a particular aspect annoyed me but I can’t say what without giving some of it away! If I’d been eagerly anticipating the third instalment I think I’d have been left a little underwhelmed. It’s worth reading and I love that a book like this is more readily available in English but the caveat just feels necessary. With that said, you might feel differently!
I saw that you recently got a copy of The Parisian and am definitely interested to see what you make of it, especially as it’s quite different to Enter Ghost in so many ways. Hopefully this new reading year is off to a good start for you ☺️
Thank you for such a wonderful and inspiring suggestion and if you wouldn’t mind my presumptuous recommendation of a book ‘the ministry of utmost happiness ‘by one of my favourite authors Arundhati Roy
Thank you once again and May The Almighty be pleased with you
Ameen and thank you! And thank you for your recommendation. I've had The Ministry of Utmost Happiness and The God of Small Things on my list for many years so you've just given me one more reason to read them soon insha'allah :)
The humungousest of thanks for this incredible list. I’ll keep returning to it through 25. I’m finding reading difficult and I miss it so. Some of my already favs are on here and then there are so many more. 🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉
You are more than welcome! And I can definitely relate to finding reading tricky, especially through harder times. I hope you find your reading mojo again soon!
I loved every moment of this, and echo your sentiment about your reading tastes lying in what is happening around the world. I personally find it so hard for the state of the world *not* to guide my reading life.
I am very intrigued in The Watermelon Boys by Ruqayya Izzidien & Co-Wives, Co-Widows by Adrienne Yabouza (translated by Rachel McGill) - especially the co wives one. I feel I missed that original rec? Anyway - deeply appreciate it. I trust your taste impeccably.
I have been patiently waiting for an entire year for A Mouth Full of Salt to come out in Paperback (I just cannot be sustaining hardback pricing on more than like 2 new releases a year in this economy)!! We're in the home straight now - it comes out in April I think? Anyway - very excited to read, I know you loved it and I enjoyed seeing your love for it articulated again.
I bought Forbidden Notebook off your original rec - so its extra fun to see it in here!
Ok final thoughts - I loved seeing a Foundry Edition here because for my birthday I received 4 of their books (although not Samahani, but feel inspired to add it to the collection). I love your Beloved copy (and agree re forcing yourself to read Morrison is just not how to do it. You really do have to wait until you feel like it, and the whole experience is 10x more beautiful). Should I read The Parisian? I had no idea it was so long - but I do love a big book now. How does it compare to Enter Ghost??
Martha, you are so kind, thank you! I actually only read co-Wives, Co-Widows at the end of December so hadn't mentioned it previously. There's something delightfully simple about it- kind of my idea of a palate cleanser.
I had a proof copy of Mouth of Salt but I gave it to my sister to read and didn't anticipate ever seeing it again so I bought the hardcover when the publisher was doing a half price sale. If not for that, I definitely would've held out for the paperback! These hardback prices are getting so outrageous (I saw several for £22 the other day and I was stunned) so paperbacks for the win.
I would love to get hold of some more Foundry titles so I'll be eagerly looking out for your thoughts on them as and when you read them. Can I ask which ones you got?
I would absolutely recommend you read The Parisian. It's historical fiction and has a different feel to Enter Ghost but it's so interesting to read Isabella Hammad's debut because it's just so evident that she's always known what she's doing. As someone who doesn't always lean towards bigger books I can also say that it didn't feel particularly lengthy at all. If there was anything I didn't enjoy about it it must have been fairly insignificant because I cannot recall. Another one I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on for sure!
Loveee this post! Added A Mouth Full of Salt and Samahani to my list for this year, iA! Also, it makes me soo sad that I feel the same way about Palestinian poetry — that it’s just completely different than most poetry I’ve read and it’s hard to compare it with anything else. It’s unfortunate that such pain was experienced for the poetry to be “powerful” or “good”. May we see the liberation of all suffering countries and people this year🤍
Insha'Allah ameen! I completely with you re Palestinian poetry. It's in a league of its own but there's something so tragic about how so much of it is borne from so much pain.
I think you'll appreciate both of those books - I've got my fingers crossed!
Loved this! Always looking for new suggestions and I pieced your breakdown. Which of these authors mentioned are Muslim please? I have a Bookclub focussing on Muslim authors so any suggestions would be greatly welcomed inshaAllah 💗
Thank you for reading- I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I think it can be hard to know if some authors are Muslim vs have Arabic names/ come from Muslim backgrounds (I believe Isabella Hammad is of a Christian Palestine background, for example). Ruqayya Izzidien, Mosab Abu Toha, and I think most of the contributors of Daybreak in Gaza are Muslim. I'm not entirely sure about some of the others but it'd be worth investigating further if you're intrigued by a particular title as the books would make for great discussion!
I have just discovered substack (I am usually at least a decade late to all social media trends it seems), and am very excited by the world of wonderful reviews & recommendations I am discovering.
I got Grenada for Xmas, and am very much looking forward to it, but am making a note of Mouth Full of Salt, and No-one Knows Their Blood Type, which I hadn't heard of before. I had just been looking at Samahani the other day, as I really like the look of Foundry Editions, so it is good to read such a ringing endorsement of it.
The Book for Disappearance was already a priority for this year, but it's always good to read more about it.
I look forward to scrolling back through your previous recommendations.
I agree about not reading Toni Morrison's books, or any writer really, for the sake of reading them. I loved her writing before I had any concept of big name writers, but Beloved was one that I initially could not get through. After a second failed attempt I accepted I just wasn't ready for it yet. I only finally read it a few years ago and the timing was perfect. It was as you say, a rewarding experience.
Like you mentioned, it has been hard for books told my attention. All of the novels you’ve mentioned sound like they could though! Beloved, I have plans to read again, it’s one I think can be read slightly differently every time. I also have a copy of The Parisian that I’ve been meaning to read
This was such a wonderful list! I've added so many to my own tbr. Really hope to get to The Book of Disappearance this year, as well as The Parisian.
Also find myself so drawn to A Mouth Full of Salt and the Granada trilogy too! Visiting the Alhambra in Granada is such a vivid childhood memory for me—may just have to get my hands on the new volume.
Thank you! Similarly, I very much found myself drawn to Granada because of my own trips in my younger years, as well as the fact that I don’t think I’ve read a historical fiction novel set in that particular period. With that said, I’m glad it was published as a single volume because I was a little disappointed by the last book and a particular aspect annoyed me but I can’t say what without giving some of it away! If I’d been eagerly anticipating the third instalment I think I’d have been left a little underwhelmed. It’s worth reading and I love that a book like this is more readily available in English but the caveat just feels necessary. With that said, you might feel differently!
I saw that you recently got a copy of The Parisian and am definitely interested to see what you make of it, especially as it’s quite different to Enter Ghost in so many ways. Hopefully this new reading year is off to a good start for you ☺️
Thank you for such a wonderful and inspiring suggestion and if you wouldn’t mind my presumptuous recommendation of a book ‘the ministry of utmost happiness ‘by one of my favourite authors Arundhati Roy
Thank you once again and May The Almighty be pleased with you
Ameen and thank you! And thank you for your recommendation. I've had The Ministry of Utmost Happiness and The God of Small Things on my list for many years so you've just given me one more reason to read them soon insha'allah :)
I’m really pleased to know that you already had the book in your library and hope you enjoy reading it inshallah May the Almighty be pleased with you
Adding every single one of these to my tbr. Well worth the wait!
Oh thank you, Ariana! I'm so pleased you think so and I hope you enjoy any you get to!
The humungousest of thanks for this incredible list. I’ll keep returning to it through 25. I’m finding reading difficult and I miss it so. Some of my already favs are on here and then there are so many more. 🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉
You are more than welcome! And I can definitely relate to finding reading tricky, especially through harder times. I hope you find your reading mojo again soon!
I loved every moment of this, and echo your sentiment about your reading tastes lying in what is happening around the world. I personally find it so hard for the state of the world *not* to guide my reading life.
I am very intrigued in The Watermelon Boys by Ruqayya Izzidien & Co-Wives, Co-Widows by Adrienne Yabouza (translated by Rachel McGill) - especially the co wives one. I feel I missed that original rec? Anyway - deeply appreciate it. I trust your taste impeccably.
I have been patiently waiting for an entire year for A Mouth Full of Salt to come out in Paperback (I just cannot be sustaining hardback pricing on more than like 2 new releases a year in this economy)!! We're in the home straight now - it comes out in April I think? Anyway - very excited to read, I know you loved it and I enjoyed seeing your love for it articulated again.
I bought Forbidden Notebook off your original rec - so its extra fun to see it in here!
Ok final thoughts - I loved seeing a Foundry Edition here because for my birthday I received 4 of their books (although not Samahani, but feel inspired to add it to the collection). I love your Beloved copy (and agree re forcing yourself to read Morrison is just not how to do it. You really do have to wait until you feel like it, and the whole experience is 10x more beautiful). Should I read The Parisian? I had no idea it was so long - but I do love a big book now. How does it compare to Enter Ghost??
Martha, you are so kind, thank you! I actually only read co-Wives, Co-Widows at the end of December so hadn't mentioned it previously. There's something delightfully simple about it- kind of my idea of a palate cleanser.
I had a proof copy of Mouth of Salt but I gave it to my sister to read and didn't anticipate ever seeing it again so I bought the hardcover when the publisher was doing a half price sale. If not for that, I definitely would've held out for the paperback! These hardback prices are getting so outrageous (I saw several for £22 the other day and I was stunned) so paperbacks for the win.
I would love to get hold of some more Foundry titles so I'll be eagerly looking out for your thoughts on them as and when you read them. Can I ask which ones you got?
I would absolutely recommend you read The Parisian. It's historical fiction and has a different feel to Enter Ghost but it's so interesting to read Isabella Hammad's debut because it's just so evident that she's always known what she's doing. As someone who doesn't always lean towards bigger books I can also say that it didn't feel particularly lengthy at all. If there was anything I didn't enjoy about it it must have been fairly insignificant because I cannot recall. Another one I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on for sure!
Loveee this post! Added A Mouth Full of Salt and Samahani to my list for this year, iA! Also, it makes me soo sad that I feel the same way about Palestinian poetry — that it’s just completely different than most poetry I’ve read and it’s hard to compare it with anything else. It’s unfortunate that such pain was experienced for the poetry to be “powerful” or “good”. May we see the liberation of all suffering countries and people this year🤍
Insha'Allah ameen! I completely with you re Palestinian poetry. It's in a league of its own but there's something so tragic about how so much of it is borne from so much pain.
I think you'll appreciate both of those books - I've got my fingers crossed!
Loved this! Always looking for new suggestions and I pieced your breakdown. Which of these authors mentioned are Muslim please? I have a Bookclub focussing on Muslim authors so any suggestions would be greatly welcomed inshaAllah 💗
Thank you for reading- I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I think it can be hard to know if some authors are Muslim vs have Arabic names/ come from Muslim backgrounds (I believe Isabella Hammad is of a Christian Palestine background, for example). Ruqayya Izzidien, Mosab Abu Toha, and I think most of the contributors of Daybreak in Gaza are Muslim. I'm not entirely sure about some of the others but it'd be worth investigating further if you're intrigued by a particular title as the books would make for great discussion!
I have just discovered substack (I am usually at least a decade late to all social media trends it seems), and am very excited by the world of wonderful reviews & recommendations I am discovering.
I got Grenada for Xmas, and am very much looking forward to it, but am making a note of Mouth Full of Salt, and No-one Knows Their Blood Type, which I hadn't heard of before. I had just been looking at Samahani the other day, as I really like the look of Foundry Editions, so it is good to read such a ringing endorsement of it.
The Book for Disappearance was already a priority for this year, but it's always good to read more about it.
I look forward to scrolling back through your previous recommendations.
Many thanks,
Roisi
Loved Cowives, Cowidows too! I didn’t think I’d love it so much
I agree about not reading Toni Morrison's books, or any writer really, for the sake of reading them. I loved her writing before I had any concept of big name writers, but Beloved was one that I initially could not get through. After a second failed attempt I accepted I just wasn't ready for it yet. I only finally read it a few years ago and the timing was perfect. It was as you say, a rewarding experience.
Like you mentioned, it has been hard for books told my attention. All of the novels you’ve mentioned sound like they could though! Beloved, I have plans to read again, it’s one I think can be read slightly differently every time. I also have a copy of The Parisian that I’ve been meaning to read
Thank you and thank you, Mia! So glad you think so :)