Al Majalla's Book Watch

A tour of the latest releases from Arabic publishing houses on topics covering fiction, philosophy, science, history, and politics.

Khodr Al Agha

From Marvel to Reality

[caption id="attachment_55248860" align="alignnone" width="620"] Image from All-New Marvel Now featuring the first published adventure of the new Ms. Marvel Kamala Khan in costume by Adrian Alphona. …

Faiz Sheikh

That’s Turkey for You

[inset_left]The Assassin from Apricot City: Reportage from TurkeyBy Witold SzabłowskiTranslated by Antonia Lloyd-JonesStork Press, 210 pagesLondon, UK, 2013[/inset_left] The juggling balls of…

Hugh Pope

The Ghost of Saddam

[caption id="attachment_55248725" align="alignnone" width="620"] Jamal PenjwenyPhotograph from the series Saddam is Here, 2009-2010. ©Jamal Penjweny, Courtesy of the artist.[/caption] Saddam Hussein…

Mina Al-Droubi

The Syrian Ulama at Peace and War

[inset_left]Religion and State in Syria: The Sunni Ulama from Coup to RevolutionBy Dr. Thomas PierretCambridge University Press, 287 pagesCambridge, UK, 2013[/inset_left]When I met Sheikh Walid, a…

Tam Hussein

Surreal Syria

[caption id="attachment_55248566" align="alignnone" width="620"] Still from the film Ladder to Damascus, Mohamad Malas, 2013.[/caption] Ever since he produced his first film in 1970, Syrian auteur…

Sheyma Buali

Sochi’s Buried Tragedy

[caption id="attachment_55248352" align="alignnone" width="620"] Turkish citizens of Caucasian descent demonstrate outside the Russian embassy in Ankara, Turkey on February 1, 2014. (Adem Altan/AFP…

Barçin Yinanç

The Arab Film Moment

[caption id="attachment_55248340" align="alignnone" width="620"] Still from Yemeni documentary Karama Has No Walls, directed by Sara Ishaq. (Courtesy of the film's website)[/caption] Without a doubt…

Ati Metwaly

A Theater of Limitless Possibilities

[caption id="attachment_55248323" align="alignnone" width="620"]Akram ZaatariStudio Shehrazade Reception Space. Excerpt, 2006.© Akram Zataari, Courtesy of the artist[/caption] In the video Nature…

Juliet Highet

Past meets Present in Egypt

[caption id="attachment_55248216" align="alignnone" width="620"] Jamal Suliman as Gamal Abdel Nasser in Egyptian documentary drama series Sadik Al-Omr. (Courtesy of Osman Abou Laban)[/caption] They…

Mina Al-Droubi

Police Day or Protest Day?

[caption id="attachment_55248208" align="alignnone" width="620"] Muslim Brotherhood supporters (background) clash with supporters of the Egyptian government in Cairo on January 25, 2014. (AHMED…

Sophie Anmuth