WhatsOn brings the book selection for the week. Immerse yourself in the books on the list to feed your inner bibliophile. Enjoy yourself this week by occupying yourself with the new books in your home.
A Year Under Sharia Law: Memoir of an American Couple Living .And Working in Saudi Arabia by Alex Fletcher, Liz Fletcher
Amidst a persistent financial crisis, a young couple takes the unconventional route of teaching English in Saudi Arabia. With the lure of a lucrative salary package, including an all-expenses-paid round trip flight. They set out to discover the enigmatic and taboo country. However, the journey unfolds in ways they never expected, exposing them to the harsh realities of human rights violations that remain unchecked to this day. They find themselves in a society that grapples with the tension between tradition and modernity, where an ultra-conservative culture prevails.
A Year Under Sharia Law is a travel memoir that chronicles their daily life in Saudi Arabia. Providing glimpses of the community they encounter along the way. While the book explores their personal experiences, it also highlights the plight of impoverished women who journey to Saudi Arabia in hopes of supporting their families. Often exploited as nannies and housemaids, these women stripped of their rights in a patriarchal system. That makes them vulnerable to unspeakable abuses. The memoir sheds light on their struggles and serves as a tribute to journalists. Who tirelessly report on Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, despite the risks they face. Some have even paid the ultimate price for speaking out.
Maid in Dubai: Dusting sand. Changing a life by Zana Bonafe
Dubai is a city of contrasts where over two million expats lead the high life in luxurious surroundings. While battling traffic, property bubbles, and scorching summer heat. Amidst this world of privilege and mystery, thousands of maids work tirelessly to keep their employers’ homes spotless. MAID IN DUBAI tells the compelling story of Aubrey, a Filipino girl working for a cleaning agency in the city.
Despite the promises of a better life, Aubrey finds herself facing the harsh realities of living . And working in a city that harbors many secrets. From the betrayal of her fellow maids to the corrupt employers, illegal schemes, and pervasive greed. Aubrey struggles to build a better life for herself while trying to survive in the infamous “City of Gold.” Through ironing competitions and banned sex toys, MAID IN DUBAI offers a poignant glimpse into the oddities of everyday life in one of the world’s wealthiest cities. It is a captivating, often heartbreaking tale of one maid’s quest for empowerment in a challenging industry. With its diary format and realistic point of view, MAID IN DUBAI delivers a unique perspective on the city and will challenge your perceptions of it.
One State: The Only Democratic Future for Palestine-Israel By Ghada Karmi
For 75 years, Palestine has a target of constant attacks, and the supposed ‘peace process’ advocating for a two-state solution has now exposed as a guise for the expansion of Israel’s apartheid regime. Ghada Karmi and her family were among the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians exiled during the Nakba in Jerusalem. And Karmi now a leading advocate for a single democratic state in Palestine-Israel.
Karmi’s powerful argument is that a single secular state in historic Palestine would the most suitable settlement for all Palestinians. Including refugees, where everyone would be entitled to the same rights. To achieve this, the land from the Mediterranean Sea to the River Jordan must united. And the Palestinian right of return must recognized, as this is the only way to put an end to the exclusive and undemocratic nature of the Israeli state.
Karmi’s writing is compelling and poignant, demonstrating that the Palestinian people will not passively accept the fate imposed on them by other. And will always persist in their fight for their homeland.
Voices of the Nakba: A Living History of Palestine Rosemary Sayigh (Contributor), Diana Allan (Editor)
The English PEN Award 2021 granted to Voices of the Nakba, a book that sheds light on the Palestinian plight. In 1948, over 750,000 Palestinian Arabs were forced to leave their homes during the war, leaving behind a legacy of devastation and pain known as the Nakba. Many of these refugees were first-generation and had to flee because of Zionist militias. Their stories are a reminder of the hardship faced by those who are forced to leave their homes.
Voices of the Nakba is a collection of interviews with these refugees, offering a unique perspective into the history, politics, and culture of Palestine. The book, accompanied by analysis and insight from leading scholars of Palestine. And the Middle East, presents a vivid and multi-dimensional account of the Palestinian popular memory. It is a significant contribution towards defining the Palestinian narrative on its own terms. Presenting a complex and diverse reality that challenges the dominant Western discourse.
In summary, Voices of the Nakba is an important book that captures a watershed moment in the modern Middle East. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the Palestinian cause. As it offers a powerful and compelling insight into the human cost of the conflict and the enduring resilience of the Palestinian people.
