Palestinian Books for Your Fall Reading List
Few things help you understand Palestine like its literature. Novels, memoirs and short stories capture loss, exile and resilience in a way that sticks with you long after you close the book.
Every title below is available in English at US bookstores and libraries.
Where to start
Men in the Sun by Ghassan Kanafani (1963) is a short, unforgettable novella about three refugees trying to reach Kuwait. I Saw Ramallah by poet Mourid Barghouti is a memoir about returning home after thirty years away.
Novels
Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa traces four generations of one family from 1948 onward. Minor Detail by Adania Shibli, a National Book Award finalist for translated literature, connects a 1949 crime to a woman's search decades later. The Parisian by Isabella Hammad is a sweeping historical novel set between Nablus and France.
Memoir
Palestinian Walks by Raja Shehadeh, which won the Orwell Prize in 2008, follows the author on hikes through the hills around Ramallah and shows how occupation has reshaped the land.
Voices from Gaza
Gaza Writes Back, edited by writer and professor Refaat Alareer, brings together short stories by young Gazan writers. Alareer was killed in an Israeli airstrike in December 2023, and his work has since found readers worldwide.
Start a book club, swap copies with friends or gift one to someone who wants to learn more. For more on Palestinian culture, check out our guide to tatreez.
FAQ
+What's the best-known Palestinian novel?
Men in the Sun by Ghassan Kanafani is considered a classic of modern Arabic literature.
+Which Palestinian book was a National Book Award finalist?
Minor Detail by Adania Shibli was a finalist for the National Book Award for Translated Literature.
+Are there books by writers from Gaza?
Yes. Gaza Writes Back, edited by Refaat Alareer, features short stories by young writers from Gaza.
Shop the designs in this article
Keep exploring: Shop our Best Sellers
