Elias Jahshan picks some of his favourite books for Pride Month 2022.
- Jhalak Prize
- Jun 30, 2022
- 2 min read
Elias Jahshan, the editor of the extraordinary new anthology, This Arab Is Queer (Saqi Books) picks some of his favourite books for Pride Month 2022.
I absolutely adored this book. The prose is a joy to read, and coupled with fab dialogue and wonderful characters (including queer characters), the coming-of-age story of Nnenna Maloney was hard to put down. Most importantly though, themes of generational clashes, class, gender, sexuality, and race and skin colour are explored deftly and with nuance. Okechukwu Nzelu is a promising, talented writer and I can't wait to read his latest book, Here Again Now.
I had known about Rabih Alameddine for so long since his seminal work Koolaids: The Art of War is regarded as a trailblazer of sorts for queer Arab fiction. But it was this novel that introduced me to him and made me a lifelong fan. An allegory of death and loss; sex and religion; war; acceptance and stigma; art and love; politics and AIDS; and the need to remember – The Angel of History is simply as wonderful as it is moving.
This is a powerful, compelling travelogue memoir interspersed with anecdotes and essays that delve into sexuality and body image, religion and culture, childhood and family, and forgiveness and reconciliation. Honest and unflinching, Love Is an Ex-Country highlights the power and love we can derive from fighting for ourselves and living unapologetically - even if it takes a journey of complex, nuanced experiences to reach that stage
This is one of the most beautifully written novels I have ever read. The exploration of family history, the Vietnam, war and the trauma and displacement that comes with it, masculinity and sexuality, immigration and the matriarchy, all against a backdrop of working class America. It all comes together so beautifully. Ocean Vuong's prose is poetic and emotive, and truly, a pleasure to read.
You Exist Too Much follows an unnamed bisexual Palestinian-American woman, as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery while caught between two worlds. Arafat's writing is honest and she doesn't shy away from themes around mental health, sex, family, and the fragmented sense of home that comes with being part of the Palestinian diaspora. The narrator's cultural background and sexuality are also just able to be, without the white gaze interfering.
Geometry Dash offers a very clear sense of accomplishment. There are levels that you have to try many times before you can complete them.
Great picks for Pride Month! I'm always on the lookout for new books, and these sound fantastic. If you're looking to enhance your photos to share with friends, I recommend checking out Photo Enhancer. It's a great tool!
Great selection of books! It’s always inspiring to see curated lists for Pride Month, especially when they highlight diverse voices and meaningful stories. Picks like these help readers discover new perspectives and connect with important themes. I enjoy content like this, even while working on creative projects such as pvc keychain where inspiration can come from many different sources.
Installed Pixel Flow app because I wanted something brain-light, then the game started asking for way more planning than I expected. Those layered voxel shapes hide useful colors inside less useful outer shells, and because the pigs arrive in a queue, you’re constantly deciding whether to clear now or save the waiting space for later. Really smart setup for such a simple game.
Elias Jahshan's slope run list of favorite books for Pride Month 2022 reflects his interest in queer works that are rich in depth and cultural and social diversity. Most notably, The Private Joys of Nnenna Maloney stands out, a novel he highly regards for its style and content.