Meander Valley’s Middle Eastern book club

By Jane Phillips

About a year ago, a few of us here in the Meander Valley decided to start a book club with a bit of a difference. Given everything going on in the world at the moment, particularly in the Middle East, we wanted to learn more about the culture and the people of that region, and we figured reading their stories was a pretty good place to start.

So far we have worked our way through some wonderful novels and short stories, and we are hoping to branch out into other genres before too long. Books we have read so far have included Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa, The Old Woman and the River by Ismail Fahd Ismail and the July book will be The Book of Disappearance by Ibtisam Azem.

A few things have really struck us along the way. The turn of phrase in these stories is so poetic and so captivating that our own English language can almost feel a bit flat by comparison. There is also a real sense of faith and the divine woven through everyday language, in a way that feels quite different from how we speak here. And time and again, the stories reveal just how deeply connected these people are to their land, in a way that has given us all plenty to think about.

What we have found is that reading fiction from another part of the world gives you a real window into other people’s lives. And honestly, sitting here in Tasmania, about as far from the Middle East as you can get, we have discovered that people are not so very different after all. We all have similar dreams, the same frailties and strengths, and the same hopes for our families and communities.

Through all this reading and talking, we have come to appreciate just how much common humanity we share, and how valuable it is to really listen to one another, especially in times as complex as these. We have made a bit of a pact among ourselves too, to listen respectfully and genuinely try not to interrupt each other, which is harder than it sounds!

We meet on the fourth Thursday of every month at The Empire Hotel, downstairs in the Ladies Lounge, from 6pm to 7.30pm. By the end of each session we have usually landed on what we will read for next month. There is no cost involved.

If you love a good book and enjoy interesting conversation, come and join us. We would love to have you.

For more information, feel free to give me a call on 0407 856 573, or reach out to Catherine Smith on 0427 509 409.