Jasmine and Fire by Salma Abdelnour (Giveaway)
June 24, 2012 • Category: Main Dish
This book is an account of American/Lebanese writer Salma Abdelnour‘s stay in Beirut after a life spent in the US. This is a book that hundreds of thousands of Lebanese expats throughout the world could easily relate to. Salma Abdelnour is a gifted writer; she manages to write a 300 page book in which very little happens, yet you find yourself engrossed in the book. I read it in two days. The main theme of the book is one of identity and how one who is straddled between two cultures resolve this issue. Salma’s writing style is so fluid that her search is enjoyable (while the outcome remains nebulous). A much more casual read than Amin Maalouf Identités Meurtrières, the French-Lebanese writer who was recently crowned académicien (belonging to the French Académie, a lifelong honor) and tackles the same issue in his book. I will enter a draw at the end of July (Salma has a couple of book signings in Beirut this coming month) and you may be the lucky winner. Just leave a comment here if you’d like to be part of the draw.
Comments
60 Comments • Comments Feed
Mariana Catrangiu says:
I would really like to be part of the draw. Thank you in advance.
On June 24, 2012 at 1:12 am
Paula says:
Mememememememe!! Sounds like a great book. Perhaps an idea for my book club…
On June 24, 2012 at 1:30 am
Angel of the North says:
One other great book about Lebanon is Day of Honey by Anna Ciexadlo. I know I’m not eligible for this draw because I don’t live in the qualifying area but wish enjoyment to whioever gets it. It is published in the UK in paperback so am ordering it. I still live in hope of being able to source a couple of ma-amoul moulds!
Many thanks for drawing this book to our attention.
On June 24, 2012 at 1:33 am
Angel of the North says:
PS Oops – that should be Anna CieZadlo!
On June 24, 2012 at 1:34 am
Marie says:
Can’t wait to read it 🙂
On June 24, 2012 at 2:30 am
Rosa says:
A wonderful sounding book! Thanks for the giveaway.
Cheers,
Rosa
On June 24, 2012 at 3:04 am
Nawal says:
I really would enjoy this book too 🙂
On June 24, 2012 at 3:56 am
Diana says:
Seems like an interesting read.
On June 24, 2012 at 4:35 am
PJ says:
Great book for a giveaway and wish to be a part of it.The theme of the book sounds interesting 🙂
On June 24, 2012 at 4:37 am
Emily says:
I would love to be included in the contest. Reading books is one of my favorite ways to understand my husband’s culture!
On June 24, 2012 at 5:07 am
lisa says:
Im a librarian and i just ordered this book for our collection 🙂
On June 24, 2012 at 5:31 am
Bo W says:
I’d love to read this.
On June 24, 2012 at 7:42 am
michael Thomas says:
Thank you for this opportunity. It looks like a great read!
On June 24, 2012 at 8:18 am
Alison Snyder says:
Yes Please, I’d enjoy reading this one
On June 24, 2012 at 8:47 am
Patricia Boustany says:
Looks like a great cookbook; love the title. Cooking is my passion lately. You have been quite an inspiration to me. Thank you and consider me for this cookbook. Would love to be inspired once again.
On June 24, 2012 at 9:51 am
Joumana says:
@Patricia: Glad to hear it, cooking to me is such a creative occupation, an escape, an incursion into other cultures,, etc etc
On June 24, 2012 at 11:45 am
Kathleen says:
Can’t learn enough about my family’s culture. Thank you Joumana for all you post simply about life in a beautiful country with the most amazing people.
On June 24, 2012 at 9:58 am
Shaz says:
This looks so interesting, and I’m glad to hear easier than Maalouf. He tackles ’em tough.
I would love to be a part of the draw, thanks in advance.
Have a great day to all!
On June 24, 2012 at 11:13 am
Anonymous says:
Awesome; pencil me in.
On June 24, 2012 at 12:06 pm
Joumana says:
@Anonymous: I would need your name.
On June 24, 2012 at 12:57 pm
Christine @ Fresh says:
This sounds like a well-written book with a theme that I can relate to.
On June 24, 2012 at 12:31 pm
Aesha says:
Would love this book! Thanks.
On June 24, 2012 at 12:54 pm
va says:
if our giveaway is open internationally then I would love to enter . thanks
tumblemumbo at gmail dot com
On June 24, 2012 at 1:14 pm
Anonymous says:
Good point; it’s David Macleod; As a side note, using the e-mail addresses makes the entries unique with no possibility for name collisions. Thanks!
On June 24, 2012 at 1:32 pm
Joanna says:
I’d love this book, too.
On June 24, 2012 at 3:54 pm
Mira says:
I would love to be in the draw. Like you said, all Lebanese expats have the same dilemma.. We feel lost between the cultures and don’t seem to feel fully comfortable with either one.
On June 24, 2012 at 4:38 pm
kim says:
I would love to join in! I collect cookbooks. 🙂
On June 24, 2012 at 4:59 pm
Georgia says:
I would love to be part of this opportunity to read more about Lebanon.
Thank you Joumana for your descriptive and educational information you
impart on your beautiful website.
On June 24, 2012 at 7:58 pm
Samantha Angela says:
I would love to win this book!
On June 24, 2012 at 8:11 pm
Linda Mercier says:
This book sounds wonderful, Joumana! I’d love the opportunity to win a copy. Thanks 🙂
On June 24, 2012 at 9:56 pm
Christine T says:
Love to be in the draw. Thank you
On June 24, 2012 at 10:05 pm
hannan says:
I love your wonderful stories and I feel very inspired by your delicious recepies! Thank you for that. If the draw is open for international paricipants I would love to have the chace of winning this beautiful book.
شكرا
On June 25, 2012 at 5:01 am
Ozlem's Turkish Tabl says:
What a gem of book; growing with multiple cultures, I am sure we may all find a way to relate to us, I will look out for it, many thanks!
On June 25, 2012 at 5:04 am
Ed Habib says:
Sounds like a wonderful book. Please include me in the draw.
Regards
Ed
On June 25, 2012 at 5:29 am
Julie says:
This looks like a really interesting read! As someone who spent her childhood as an expat and early adulthood trying to figure out where ‘home’ is, the theme of this book really resonates with me. Please include me in the draw! Merci et bonne continuation!
On June 25, 2012 at 7:59 am
nicole says:
Sounds like a great book…I would love to be part of the draw. Thank you!
On June 25, 2012 at 8:31 am
Alia says:
Sounds great and I would love to join in!
On June 25, 2012 at 1:11 pm
Hannah K says:
this sounds wonderful! I would love to be part of this drawing!
On June 25, 2012 at 1:34 pm
Paula says:
Sounds interesting and I would love to be part of the draw. I have fallen in love with Lebanese food via your site. Thanks.
On June 25, 2012 at 2:07 pm
Seyyada Burney says:
This sounds like a fascinating book. I love the topic and I love your blog! Please enter me in the raffle. Thank you for all of your lovely work!
On June 25, 2012 at 7:25 pm
Mona says:
I’d love to give this book a try!
On June 25, 2012 at 10:13 pm
Anna says:
Looks like a great book! Thanks for the opp!
On June 26, 2012 at 12:06 am
Nadji says:
Le problème de l’identité se pose différemment selon le niveau social auquel on appartient mais il se pose quand même.
J’aurai aimé lire ce livre mais je vais attendre qu’il soit traduit (je l’espère) en français.
A bientôt
On June 26, 2012 at 12:38 pm
Roger says:
You are very responsible on what you post, so this book must be good!
On June 26, 2012 at 1:35 pm
Michelle says:
Sounds like a great book; I’d love to be part of the draw!
On June 27, 2012 at 4:01 am
Kristin says:
Sounds like a great book! Thanks for sharing 🙂
On June 29, 2012 at 7:08 am
Chocolatesa says:
I’d love to read it 🙂
On July 5, 2012 at 9:19 am
Joan Hornbuckle says:
Looks like a great book. I collect cookbooks and would love to include this one in my collection. I visited Lebanon a couple of years ago and loved it. It is a beautiful country and the food was fantastic. I live in a rural area in NC and we have no Lebanese restaurants locally so I have to cook my own. This book would help.
Love the blog and read it every day.
Joan
On July 7, 2012 at 3:14 pm
Joumana says:
@Joan: This is more like a diary than a cookbook; there are a few recipes at the end of the book, but not much more. If you are looking for a Lebanese cookbook, there are several excellent ones like the one by Anissa Helou, which covers all the traditional homestyle cuisine. I am working on a cookbook but it is taking me a lot longer to get the manuscript done!
On July 7, 2012 at 11:05 pm
Jasmine1485 says:
Even if I hadn’t read your review above, I would’ve been suckered in by the beautiful cover (I know! I’m not supposed to judge by that). I’ll be crossing my fingers that I win it, it sounds like exactly the sort of book I enjoy. 🙂
kate1485 at hotmail dot com
On July 9, 2012 at 1:50 am
Huda says:
Would love to read this book! I’m second generation, but beirut is still a special type of home.
On July 16, 2012 at 1:50 pm
Julia says:
I’ve had this book on my Amazon wishlist for a while, and LOVED Amin Maalouf’s “On Identity.” I would love to win this!
On July 19, 2012 at 4:41 pm
Katherine says:
Id love to be entered for the draw! I would love to read this book! Thanks so much for the consideration 🙂
On July 30, 2012 at 12:41 pm
talush says:
hello
pourquoi pas ? i am entering all your contests :))) i wish u the best in ur move !
On October 10, 2012 at 5:11 pm
journaliste alexia says:
Hi! I’ve been reading your weblog for some time now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Porter Tx! Just wanted to tell you keep up the fantastic job!
On January 26, 2013 at 8:51 pm
Joumana says:
@jounaliste alexia: Thanks so much for your praise! that’s what keeps me going!
On January 27, 2013 at 3:03 am
Souzi says:
I love your blog Joumana!
On March 14, 2013 at 9:03 am
karen says:
I’d love to read this book, please put me in for the draw. Fingers crossed!
On July 12, 2013 at 12:16 am
Joumana says:
@Karen: sorry the giveaway had a deadline several months ago and I have already sent the book to the winner.
On July 12, 2013 at 4:40 am