Read Palestine

Welcome to Read Palestine!

Who We Are: 

This is a dedicated space for Palestinian literature. I am hoping to explore and immerse myself in more Palestinian-authored history, fiction, poetry, non-fiction, memoir, fantasy, etc. and follow up readings with discussions, questions and reviews. My intention with this book club is to not limit myself to just the suffering of Palestinians, as is far too commonplace due to the ongoing genocide in Palestine, but to also explore the strength, resilience, history, and extraordinary culture of Palestine and Palestinians. The intention behind this book club is not only to read books exclusively ON Palestine, but literature BY Palestinian (and other SWANA* folks and people of the global majority) authors.  While I, Sarah, am creating this book club without expectations for a large group, I welcome anyone to join! This club does not meet virtually, but it’s something we can absolutely discuss, if folks are open to it. The majority of us are located in occupied Lenapoehoking (Philadelphia) so an optional in-person book club + Zoom participants could be fun to discuss. I (we) will be reading a different book each month, chosen via vote, and then folks are welcome to respond to the posted discussion questions, if they would like. There is no pressure to participate, but participation is welcome. 

Who We Are Not: 

This is not a space dedicated to unlearning zionism. While disentangling zionism from Judaism is an incredibly important endeavor, especially for those who have once ascribed to the ideology, this work still centers the identities of Palestine’s occupiers, not indigenous Palestinians. Centering Palestinian voices and lived experiences when expanding knowledge on Palestine is vital. Additionally, while many texts on/about Palestine written by non-SWANA authors are valid and insightful (with the exception of any texts written by zionists), that is not something I want to focus on, as European and American voices have been far too centralized for far too long. 

*SWANA (South West Asia and North Africa)

This region includes countries in North Africa and Southwest Asia, emphasizing geographic and cultural diversity beyond the colonial term "Middle East." The SWANA region generally includes the following countries:

• North Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia
• Southwest Asia / West Asia: Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, (some of) Turkey.

Key Points About “SWANA”

• Decolonial framing: SWANA is used to avoid Eurocentric and colonial connotations associated with terms like "Middle East" or "Arab World". 
• Cultural diversity: The region encompasses a wide range of ethnolinguistic groups, including Arabs, Kurds, Amazigh (Berbers), Armenians, Assyrians, Copts, Druze, Turks, Yazidis, Azeris, and others. 
• Flexible boundaries: Unlike MENA, SWANA does not have a standardized definition; the included countries can vary depending on academic, activist, or institutional context. 
• Purpose: The term emphasizes geographic accuracy and cultural inclusivity, highlighting shared histories and environmental challenges across the region.

With that, feel free to join and invite others. FREE PALESTINE!

— Sarah