![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GNOBDDYCWVDUXP2KQ5WEKTJ44A.jpeg?smart=true&auth=f08ac0b83755d3b9e5d6955cbeaf35c325a4e5a5ab1aa421ad92427bee37d1e3&width=400&height=225)
'No Land to Light On' by Yara Zgheib
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DCUCVAWLNNBQRCTX6FNR5PFPQM.jpg?smart=true&auth=587f13b8be57649c7b7e20111791ebad51cbc92fe1b94953c67843433ac252bb&width=400&height=225)
These contemporary Arab novels cover a range of themes from immigration, broken families, identity and lost histories
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KO6E4DMX3BCZ7NSBFTUMBWXZKM.png?smart=true&auth=a6874c54210b6d4665944e0fc5750857a037edcc9a0a7cdf5312e4ab62f8b209&width=400&height=225)
'Bird Summons' by Leila Aboulela
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WRLTRW557JH6XC7246U5IMOVQY.png?smart=true&auth=0f2a7ad8e47bbb48640c68e3af202a1326f20e1b7f40538d0da8abfd8970a6f6&width=400&height=225)
'Against the Loveless World' by Susan Abulhawa
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JNNGFRLTAVFM5AIRV3RNK4WSJE.png?smart=true&auth=df55e85b96e5f11c95ff442d64e65a822a1e855499510af920178107cd3c1beb&width=400&height=225)
'An Unlasting Home' by Mai Al-Nakib
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FWYQN2X3C5BMLOV5IA4M5ZEUPM.jpeg?smart=true&auth=47fd61f9e67891d889b6461597ceb051e13f6ffaf297400f08188803d792d251&width=400&height=225)
'The Arsonists' City' by Hala Alyan
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OTB67SYKERBLJEFILHZ7AAI5WM.png?smart=true&auth=36d769cb74018154b655479cb44c0fd444c9570cf5bb94a1ee8a986843cbe0da&width=400&height=225)
'Mother of Strangers' by Suad Amiry
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3LAQTOOVBFDOPMAWNOYEARZHM4.jpeg?smart=true&auth=239f07a928dbbcc581eed36d309cb14ec1dc0a87057fc1ffad3bbcc31b73c14b&width=400&height=225)
If An Egyptian Cannot Speak English by Noor Naga.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NSJ6UVZESVE7FOXZVIRYEOVOSY.png?smart=true&auth=020925c3216516c6027c6c91974b57c8590749616dd8edc69c9e7ff1172a22db&width=400&height=225)
'Country of Origin' by Dalia Azim
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3FKHKABNGJGJHO6WBDLRV34LIE.png?smart=true&auth=14b444ba0364c6381ff9ec2fcc240ca744d9bf3e378716407f5b1e973c6aacd4&width=400&height=225)
'The Watermelon Boys' by Ruqaya Izzidien
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EOP3RIJRTNC2TOO5VA3R4DGTXA.jpeg?smart=true&auth=a27446b99845f99983dad11ada50c1b1a504eb35a787db9d1a67ff4c19a06817&width=400&height=225)
'Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria' by George Jreije
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L4VWMPNPYJAMDPHBOXT5PIV34A.png?smart=true&auth=ed5fd28bd599d788ad6fc3e00bb182f8e8729c13e90786eac7172eb3d0499664&width=400&height=225)
'As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow' by Zoulfa Katouh
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SMTSNA2ORRFKRKGLHMXLKXPJ2U.jpeg?smart=true&auth=ad5ef9051c5d90165f714ba4253f3c7c4a1e31a7e8d47e2a898233f099e61997&width=400&height=225)
'The Beauty of Your Face' by Sahar Mustafah
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4NIZKBRDPRBBXOBIDYP6U6ZMCI.jpeg?smart=true&auth=01b2ba66f10df1d43e274d5e13d0644e86aee2ee156a1291758ae86daae365ca&width=400&height=225)
'Bride of the Sea' by Eman Quotah
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GNOBDDYCWVDUXP2KQ5WEKTJ44A.jpeg?smart=true&auth=f08ac0b83755d3b9e5d6955cbeaf35c325a4e5a5ab1aa421ad92427bee37d1e3&width=400&height=225)
'No Land to Light On' by Yara Zgheib
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DCUCVAWLNNBQRCTX6FNR5PFPQM.jpg?smart=true&auth=587f13b8be57649c7b7e20111791ebad51cbc92fe1b94953c67843433ac252bb&width=400&height=225)
These contemporary Arab novels cover a range of themes from immigration, broken families, identity and lost histories
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KO6E4DMX3BCZ7NSBFTUMBWXZKM.png?smart=true&auth=a6874c54210b6d4665944e0fc5750857a037edcc9a0a7cdf5312e4ab62f8b209&width=400&height=225)
'Bird Summons' by Leila Aboulela
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WRLTRW557JH6XC7246U5IMOVQY.png?smart=true&auth=0f2a7ad8e47bbb48640c68e3af202a1326f20e1b7f40538d0da8abfd8970a6f6&width=400&height=225)
'Against the Loveless World' by Susan Abulhawa
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JNNGFRLTAVFM5AIRV3RNK4WSJE.png?smart=true&auth=df55e85b96e5f11c95ff442d64e65a822a1e855499510af920178107cd3c1beb&width=400&height=225)
'An Unlasting Home' by Mai Al-Nakib
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FWYQN2X3C5BMLOV5IA4M5ZEUPM.jpeg?smart=true&auth=47fd61f9e67891d889b6461597ceb051e13f6ffaf297400f08188803d792d251&width=400&height=225)
'The Arsonists' City' by Hala Alyan
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OTB67SYKERBLJEFILHZ7AAI5WM.png?smart=true&auth=36d769cb74018154b655479cb44c0fd444c9570cf5bb94a1ee8a986843cbe0da&width=400&height=225)
'Mother of Strangers' by Suad Amiry
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3LAQTOOVBFDOPMAWNOYEARZHM4.jpeg?smart=true&auth=239f07a928dbbcc581eed36d309cb14ec1dc0a87057fc1ffad3bbcc31b73c14b&width=400&height=225)
If An Egyptian Cannot Speak English by Noor Naga.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NSJ6UVZESVE7FOXZVIRYEOVOSY.png?smart=true&auth=020925c3216516c6027c6c91974b57c8590749616dd8edc69c9e7ff1172a22db&width=400&height=225)
'Country of Origin' by Dalia Azim
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3FKHKABNGJGJHO6WBDLRV34LIE.png?smart=true&auth=14b444ba0364c6381ff9ec2fcc240ca744d9bf3e378716407f5b1e973c6aacd4&width=400&height=225)
'The Watermelon Boys' by Ruqaya Izzidien
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EOP3RIJRTNC2TOO5VA3R4DGTXA.jpeg?smart=true&auth=a27446b99845f99983dad11ada50c1b1a504eb35a787db9d1a67ff4c19a06817&width=400&height=225)
'Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria' by George Jreije
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L4VWMPNPYJAMDPHBOXT5PIV34A.png?smart=true&auth=ed5fd28bd599d788ad6fc3e00bb182f8e8729c13e90786eac7172eb3d0499664&width=400&height=225)
'As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow' by Zoulfa Katouh
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SMTSNA2ORRFKRKGLHMXLKXPJ2U.jpeg?smart=true&auth=ad5ef9051c5d90165f714ba4253f3c7c4a1e31a7e8d47e2a898233f099e61997&width=400&height=225)
'The Beauty of Your Face' by Sahar Mustafah
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4NIZKBRDPRBBXOBIDYP6U6ZMCI.jpeg?smart=true&auth=01b2ba66f10df1d43e274d5e13d0644e86aee2ee156a1291758ae86daae365ca&width=400&height=225)
'Bride of the Sea' by Eman Quotah
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GNOBDDYCWVDUXP2KQ5WEKTJ44A.jpeg?smart=true&auth=f08ac0b83755d3b9e5d6955cbeaf35c325a4e5a5ab1aa421ad92427bee37d1e3&width=400&height=225)
'No Land to Light On' by Yara Zgheib
Top 12 contemporary novels by Arab writers you should read
These novels explore the Middle Eastern experience in diverse and profound ways
![Maan Jalal](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Ff4334dea-76c8-44d3-9186-3b33904bc077.png?smart=true&auth=b5db40c4ebe192d7fbb1db21df087f413a321555a7788b8a7dcd5f7c66b7a599&width=70&height=70)
Maan Jalal
22 December, 2022
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- Listen In Arabic