Culture on the Move: Autumn book recommendations

If summer is for lighter content, then autumn is for more serious reflections.

Whether you’re a history buff, devotee of contemporary fiction, or someone who prefers short (and sometimes spiritual) contemplations, here’s our roundup.

Diriyah Culture At-Turaif
(ASSOULINE)

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This book is a captivating exploration of Diriyah, the birthplace of modern Saudi.

It reveals the town’s journey from modest beginnings to a national capital, tracing its evolution along vital trade routes connecting Arabia, India, Mesopotamia, and the Levant. Discover the history of the Kingdom through the lovingly restored At-Turaif, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that offers a glimpse into Saudi’s past.

With its mesmerising visual narrative (a mix of archive images and exclusive photography by Ziyad Alarfaj), this book breathes life into the region's culture and historical heritage, bridging the past and present.

Furtive Glimpses - Flash Fiction from the Arab World - A Small Anthology
(White Falcon Publishing)
By Essam M. Al-Jassim

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Although Saudi editor Essam M. Al-Jassim calls his anthology “small,” it includes hundreds of stories from more than 20 countries, including 21 short-short stories from across Saudi,

with contributions by popular and emerging authors. Many of these ultra-short fictions are under 200 words, and the stories range from the poetic to the epigrammatic. Most have been translated by the editor himself. These short- shorts are perfect for the reader who wants to dip into a book for only a few minutes at a time.

Lost in Mecca
(Dar Al Adab)
By Bothayna Al-Essa & Translated by Nada Faris

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Popular Kuwaiti novelist Bothayna Al-Essa, who penned Jarir Bookstore bestseller All That I Want to Forget, has a new novel out in English translation this autumn. In this harrowing novel, a couple travels from Kuwait to Makkah with their young son, Mishari.

While circumambulating the Kaaba, they lose track of their child. The book takes readers on a race to find the boy, first in Saudi and then across the Red Sea, in Egypt. As translator Nada Faris notes, it is both fast-paced and claustrophobic, giving readers the feeling that they – like Mishari’s parents – are running forward at top speed without getting anywhere. Although not an easy read, it’s a rewarding one.