Stories from the Center of the World

“A lively and diverse set of tales from a complex region.“—Kirkus Reviews

“A deeply satisfying collection showcasing an array of brilliant writers who deserve to be better known… . Whether personifying the chaos of the Israeli occupation of Palestine as actual madness or poking fun at the remnants of British colonialism in Egypt, many of the stories confound common stereotypes about the region.“—Booklist, Starred Review

“A truly ambitious mix of established and emerging literary stars from a region of the world too often viewed through the lens of religion and politics. The stories collected by Elgrably reflect almost every corner of the mosaic that is the modern Middle East, giving practically everyone a voice and serving as a reminder of our common humanity. A timely and necessary collection for anyone who loves good stories.” —Reza Aslan, author of An American Martyr in Persia

“Many in America hold onto broad, centuries-old misunderstandings of Arab and Muslim life and politics that continue to harm, through both policy and rhetoric, a perpetually embattled and endangered region. With luck, these 25 tales by writers of Middle Eastern and North African origin might open hearts and minds alike.“—The Millions

“From students in Istanbul grappling with one another’s differing faiths to former ISIS-fighting combatants coping with PTSD, the narratives here illuminate the heartbreak, rage, and hopes of people from a vastly misread region of the world.“—Alta Magazine

“Iconoclastic, intimate and powerful, this ample collection gathers unforgettable short stories from just-emerging diasporic writers as well as the region’s stars, covering a wide range of experiences from Edward Said’s ‘exiles, emigrés and refugees.’ A balm for our time, when much of what the world hears about the Middle East has to do with numbers and political ideologies. In this collection, we hear intelligent, distinctive voices, expressing joy, humor, pain and irony in stories about love, exodus, renewal and assimilation.” —Mona Simpson, author of Commitment

” … the anthology fulfills Elgrably’s stated vision of creating ‘a collective orchestra of voices and … the beginning of an east-west conversation.’ The highlights alone are worth the price of admission.“—Publishers Weekly

“This volume is loaded with two dozen stories of exile, love, and magical realism. The characters that populate them are a patchwork of ethnic identities, as it is the case in the ‘center of the world’. What is impressive about this collection is how culturally informed and varied it is… . I highly recommend that readers of this rich anthology take time to rinse their palate between each story.”—Zein El-Amine, author of Is This How You Eat a Watermelon?

Jordan Elgrably is based in Montpellier, France and California.