Quarter Books, 1999. With the unfolding mystery of an ancient fable, this short novel tells a richly-layered story set in an oasis village in contemporary Palestine, against the political backdrop of the Israeli occupation. With her father ailing and unable to perform the duties he has faithfully rendered for 30 years, Ruhiya heads for the minaret of the village mosque. At the same time, her childhood love, a young man who has recently embraced fundamentalist politics, is setting off on a suicide mission. The very same day, a foreign journalist arrives in the village to cover the story but encounters an impenetrable wall of silence.
Conflicts shaped by cultural, sacred, and emotional allegiances emerge.
For example, Ruhiya, an intensely spiritual young woman ponders why the female voice is not allowed to be raised in prayer. This is the first novel by Zeina B. Ghandour, who was born in Beirut in 1966 and studied at Kent University, specializing in Islamic and Jewish law. Each character is one piece of this complex puzzle, built around the themes of liberation and suicide. Something mellifluent runs through it, much like the healing properties of the honey which plays an important role both in the storyline and in its symbolic significance as the lifeblood of the land. Revealing the Secrets of Levantine Recipes Secrets of Healthy Middle Eastern Cuisine by Sanaa Abourezk.