The Lemon Book Club - Books on Palestine

I wanted to put together a collection of books that I have read through the years about Palestine. This list is not exhaustive, and there are several books I am currently reading or would like to read, so I hope to come back and continually update this list. There are so many works by Palestinian authors which showcase the country’s stories, history, culture, food, and daily life. I hope this can be a starting point for those who would like to learn more about Palestine, or for those who would like to deepen their knowledge.

Personal Narratives:

Sharon and my Mother-in-Law, Ramallah Diaries, by Suad Amiry

This book is based on collections of diaries of the author’s life since moving to Ramallah, with several experiences she has had over the decades, and especially recollections from emails sent to friends abroad during the Second Intifada (early 2000s). A glimpse into the reality of Palestinian lives then and very much still today, Amiry details the daily experience of life in occupied territory that can be heart-breaking and also humorously absurd.

I Saw Ramallah, by Mourid Barghouti

Returning to his homeland and hometown after 30 years of exile, poet Barghouti beautifully weaves tales from his life abroad together with moments from his long-awaited return. His prose is lyrically poetic and his story is heart-wrenching, but not at all unique. It is a story that many Palestinian families can tell by heart, using their own names and hometowns. I read this book during my stay in Ramallah, and for that fact it was an especially poignant read.

Poetry:

At the Educational Bookshop, East Jerusalem

A River Dies of Thirst, Journals, by Mahmoud Darwish

On of my favorite poets, Mahmoud Darwish writes elegantly, longingly about his homeland, about love, and about the absurdity and meaning of life. Some of my favorite poems are in this collection, made all the more special because I purchased this copy in Jerusalem.

Fiction:

Returning to Haifa, by Ghassan Kanafani

One of Ghassan Kanafani’s most well-known stories, this novella can be found inside the collection of Kanafani’s works Palestine’s Children, translated by Barbara Harlow and Karen E. Riley. It tells of a couple who, expelled from Haifa in 1948, return two decades later to find the house - and the son - they were forced to leave behind.

Mornings in Jenin, by Susan Abulhawa

A family saga beginning before the Nakba and telling both the story of a family and of Palestine and Palestinians throughout the decades. Historical and personal events are one, making this a captivating read that is accessible even to those who do not yet know the history, but who, through reading this work, will surely learn more.

History:

The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 1917 - 2017, by Rashid Khalidi

One of the first books I would recommend to someone who is interested in learning about Palestine. Khalidi thoroughly and meticulously takes the reader through the history of Palestine, many seasons of which he witnessed himself or heard about through his family.

All That Remains: The Palestinian Villages Occupied and Depopulated by Israel in 1948, edited by Walid Khalidi

At over 600 pages long, this tome details the history of over 400 villages depopulated by Israel in the 1948 Nakba. It tells about who lived their, their economy, their lifestyle. It tells when and how the village was depopulated, and its fate. An important document, to provide evidence of the past, I wonder who could collect information on all the villages that have been depopulated since, about the cities and towns which continue to be threatened with erasure today.

Cookbooks:

The Gaza Kitchen: A Palestinian Culinary Journey (3rd Edition), by Laila El-Haddad and Maggie Schmitt

A beautifully presented cookbook filled with traditional recipes from the Gaza region, along with tales and memories associated with the dishes. Laila El-Haddad also features stories of daily life in Gaza and of Gazans themselves. I cherish this book, and as I gaze into the photos of Palestinians going about their lives in Gaza - at home, at the market, at the sea - I can’t help but wonder where those people are today, in 2024. I pray for their safety.

Note: The header image was taken at Haifa.