Welcome to a new series of Reading Is Political.
My first guest is debut novelist Amy Abdelnoor, whose extraordinary novel Ever Land draws on her experiences living and working in the West Bank and Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. Through the intertwined stories of two young women, Amy explores identity, belonging, memory and the lasting impact of political conflict.
We discuss why she chose fiction rather than non-fiction to tell this story, how her own experiences shaped the novel, and why storytelling can sometimes achieve something history books cannot.
Amy also talks candidly about writing and publishing a novel about Palestine during one of the most significant periods in the region's recent history, and reflects on the responsibility of telling stories that have so often been overlooked.
As always on Reading Is Political, Amy also recommends the books she believes everyone should read to better understand this subject, from powerful Palestinian fiction to moving memoir and thought-provoking non-fiction.
Whether you're looking to understand more about Palestine, discover outstanding literary fiction, or simply hear a fascinating conversation about the power of books, this is an episode not to miss.
Books discussed:
Minor Detail – Adania Shibli
Enter Ghost – Isabella Hammad
A Diary of a Young Doctor: Notes from the Genocide in Gaza – Dr Ezzideen Shehab
Apeirogon – Colum McCann
Home Fire – Kamila Shamsie
Daybreak in Gaza – edited by Matthew Teller and Mahmoud Muna
Bel Canto – Ann Patchett
Sex and Stravinsky — Barbara Trapido
You can find Amy here: https://www.instagram.com/amyabdelnoor/
Buy Ever Land here: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/ever-land-amy-abdelnoor/ee13136a5140c89a?ean=9781529155129&bkshp-astro=t
If you enjoyed this episode, please follow In My Good Books, leave a rating or review, and share the podcast with a fellow reader.
