A story of love, loss, and renewal, and of overcoming devastating early trauma through music, dancing, and the love and devotion of strong American and Arab women.
Meet Kathryn K. Abdul-Baki
Award-winning author Kathryn K. Abdul-Baki was born in Washington DC to an Arab father and an American mother. Her books are taught at universities in Multicultural Literature and Arab Studies departments, and she is a frequent lecturer at universities and schools on these subjects.
Books By Kathryn K. Abdul-Baki
Acclaim For Kathryn K. Abdul-Baki
“[An] elegantly composed remembrance…A poignant reflection on an international childhood.”
“It is difficult to heap enough praise on this author for her astonishingly vivid depictions of landscape and her ability to evoke spirit of place.”
“The stories offer insights into the cloistered world of Arab women…how women find means of expressing themselves in severely circumscribed settings.”
“In her Middle East world, sexual roles are sternly defined and jealously protected. But you don’t have to be antediluvian to love the exotic settings and the humanity of the people in the 14 stories by Abdul-baki. She has been blessed with the ability to make foreignness familiar.”
“An excellent ‘translator’ of Middle East sensibilities, particularly those of women. Her politics are feminist, her theme is human ethics, and her writing is finely honed.”
“This collection is truly a breakthrough in the world of Middle Eastern literature…written in English by someone who has a foot planted…in both the West and the Middle East.”
“She challenges Western ways of thinking about the nature and behavior of Arab women and men and causes us to question some of our assumptions about the intricate relationships of families and lovers.”
“Abdul-Baki’s skillful and realistic presentation of characters, along with her masterly use of flashback and other narrative techniques, contributes to making her collection one of the most successful of its kind.”
“She does what every Arab leader would like to do—humanize the people of Arab descent, something long overdue in American literature.”
“She is a skilled craftsman…The spirit of place and landscape are palpable…she shines in her ability to penetrate the psyche of young Arab women.”
“A tranquil and beautiful novel…it gradually heats up into a thorough and tense examination of culture mores—both Arabic and American—without ever becoming judgmental.”
“…It bids fair to establish Kathryn Abdul-Baki as an Arab-American fiction writer worthy of wide recognition….she presents Arab culture to readers in narratives of exquisite technique, deep insights, and beautiful English.”