Jasmine and Fire by Salma Abdelnour (Giveaway)

June 24, 2012  •  Category:

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

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  1. Mariana Catrangiu says:

    I would really like to be part of the draw. Thank you in advance.

  2. Paula says:

    Mememememememe!! Sounds like a great book. Perhaps an idea for my book club…

  3. 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.

  4. Angel of the North says:

    PS Oops – that should be Anna CieZadlo!

  5. Marie says:

    Can’t wait to read it 🙂

  6. Rosa says:

    A wonderful sounding book! Thanks for the giveaway.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

  7. Nawal says:

    I really would enjoy this book too 🙂

  8. Diana says:

    Seems like an interesting read.

  9. PJ says:

    Great book for a giveaway and wish to be a part of it.The theme of the book sounds interesting 🙂

  10. 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!

  11. lisa says:

    Im a librarian and i just ordered this book for our collection 🙂

  12. Bo W says:

    I’d love to read this.

  13. michael Thomas says:

    Thank you for this opportunity. It looks like a great read!

  14. Alison Snyder says:

    Yes Please, I’d enjoy reading this one

  15. 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.

    • Joumana says:

      @Patricia: Glad to hear it, cooking to me is such a creative occupation, an escape, an incursion into other cultures,, etc etc

  16. 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.

  17. 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!

  18. Anonymous says:

    Awesome; pencil me in.

  19. Christine @ Fresh says:

    This sounds like a well-written book with a theme that I can relate to.

  20. Aesha says:

    Would love this book! Thanks.

  21. va says:

    if our giveaway is open internationally then I would love to enter . thanks
    tumblemumbo at gmail dot com

  22. 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!

  23. Joanna says:

    I’d love this book, too.

  24. 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.

  25. kim says:

    I would love to join in! I collect cookbooks. 🙂

  26. 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.

  27. Samantha Angela says:

    I would love to win this book!

  28. Linda Mercier says:

    This book sounds wonderful, Joumana! I’d love the opportunity to win a copy. Thanks 🙂

  29. Christine T says:

    Love to be in the draw. Thank you

  30. 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

  31. 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!

  32. Ed Habib says:

    Sounds like a wonderful book. Please include me in the draw.
    Regards
    Ed

  33. 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!

  34. nicole says:

    Sounds like a great book…I would love to be part of the draw. Thank you!

  35. Alia says:

    Sounds great and I would love to join in!

  36. Hannah K says:

    this sounds wonderful! I would love to be part of this drawing!

  37. 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.

  38. 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!

  39. Mona says:

    I’d love to give this book a try!

  40. Anna says:

    Looks like a great book! Thanks for the opp!

  41. 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

  42. Roger says:

    You are very responsible on what you post, so this book must be good!

  43. Michelle says:

    Sounds like a great book; I’d love to be part of the draw!

  44. Kristin says:

    Sounds like a great book! Thanks for sharing 🙂

  45. Chocolatesa says:

    I’d love to read it 🙂

  46. 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

    • 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!

  47. 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

  48. Huda says:

    Would love to read this book! I’m second generation, but beirut is still a special type of home.

  49. 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!

  50. Katherine says:

    Id love to be entered for the draw! I would love to read this book! Thanks so much for the consideration 🙂

  51. talush says:

    hello
    pourquoi pas ? i am entering all your contests :))) i wish u the best in ur move !

  52. 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!

  53. Souzi says:

    I love your blog Joumana!

  54. karen says:

    I’d love to read this book, please put me in for the draw. Fingers crossed!

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