Writing Worth Reading
Writing Worth Reading
American citizen of Palestinian descent flies to Israel, aiming to visit sister in West Bank. On landing in Tel Aviv she faces immigration. Despite best preparations, it doesn't go well. Soon she's sent to the "Arab room"
There really isn't much of a theme to tie these 39 photographs together, other than that they were all taken in the air, looking down. But, my, there are some beauties. Worth a few minutes of anyone's time
Report from post-revolution Egypt. Away from Tahrir, life on the ground is a confusing mix of aspirations and fears. “It’s as if we have been lost in the desert. We have found our way, but it will still take a long time to get out”
Rare pictures of desperately sad situation in city of Saada, northern Yemen. A historic city in ruins thanks to fighting between government forces and Shia rebels. A must-see for anyone remotely interested in Yemen
Nice mix of travelogue and political analysis as Sky returns to country she worked in as adviser to US army. A rounder picture of Iraq than one usually gets, with some cause for optimism. But fears loom over PM's power play
Miscellaneous photographs from Iran that may knock down a preconception or two. Christmas decorations and an Iranian Santa, the largest population of Jews in the region outside Israel, women's rollerblading races. All are here
Many have tried to write about Jerusalem; few have really succeeded. Too often the result is either partisanship or pallid tact. Not so with Simon Sebag Montefiore, whose recent biography receives Thubron's admiring attention
Dubai never had the money, Saudi Arabia lacked the ambition. Tiny Qatar, now exploiting vast natural gas reserves, has both. Its capital, Doha, has been transformed from Gulf backwater. But it's a fragmented, self-conscious place
Vivid account of everyday life in Syria. "The government urges people not to believe the propaganda that members of the military are deserting. State TV blames Islamic fundamentalists, criminals, and gangs for the unrest"
On the complicated history of Hatay. Province in south-east Turkey now. But old disputes and rivalries are being stirred up as Syrians flee over the border to escape their government's violent response to protests
Former political adviser to Generals Petraeus and Odierno returns to Iraq as a tourist (albeit a well connected one) to see how things have changed. Nice mix of travelogue and political analysis. Scant grounds for hope though
American Zionist organisation "sells Jewishness to Jews", by giving young American-born Jews free guided trips around Israel. Many fall in love with the country. And if they fall in love with an Israeli soldier, so much the better
Image by Pierre Metivier on Flickr
