A Thousand Farewells

by Nahlah Ayed 

A national bestseller with a new epilogue

  Even though this book was and will always be special for me, I took a very long time to finish reading it (you can see it on Goodreads).  That was for two main reasons. 

  First of all, the book was a gift from a Canadian friend with whom I spent my four months visit there in Canada. So, whenever I pick up this book, I remember her, her little house, our walks, and her long talks about the Middle East situation. She never judges us (Arabs and Muslims). she respects me and my traditions and culture so much. I really liked her. Especially when she starts analyzing my personality and suggesting some solutions and habits to move out of my dark spot I was in by that time. She keeps saying I am exactly like her young daughter (she is as old as me). 

  Reading this book, kept me in a state of confused emotions: missing my friend and her company, yearning for those peaceful cold nights in Ottawa, and facing the painful reality about my Arab world ... Therefore, I wanted -unconsciously- to go slow with it, and let my heart read it a long with my mind.  

  The second reason was my new routine. Once I came back home from Canada, I faced a new environment, new tasks, and new friends. Getting used to this new rhythm of life too a lot of my time and energy. Thus, it was hard to find a moment to read deeply. 

  I liked the book since I started reading it. Basically, because it was a gift from a person I admire. But, as I went deeper with Nahlah stories in the Arab world, I got really interested. 

  I confess, I don't follow the Arab's conflicts and problems news seriously, because it is depressing for me, and it makes me feel helpless and hopeless. Reading this book was like watching from my balcony all those conflicts and wars in the present time. It was really painful and sad, sometimes depressing. But it was also a touchy book. Nahlah was able to make me feel her sorrow. She didn't make me imagine those -real- stories, but live them in reality while I am so far from where they took place. That's what we expect from a good journalist, right? 

  I hope you will find the book interesting as well. Enjoy!!

       

  

                                                                                                                                   Merry