What books can one read to educate themselves upon Syria?
I would like to also know some books about the history, what the people have experienced living there, etc. Biographies, history books, reference novels, anything like that I would love to try and read for myself to help educate myself and hopefully others, about Syria's situation.
I would also like to know any books you know of Syrian culture, food, tradition, etc.
Thank you for any input you may have, and I hope peaceful days be upon you and everyone else in the world soon.
[I apologize if this response feels robotic, I struggle with communicating with others and I hope that explains the shortness of the message, I mean to come off genuine and willing to learn, if that helps indicate tone :)]
I apologize for the late response, I was swamped with exams 🫠 I have actually been compiling a list on my phone for a while so I am happy to share resources! :)
*this list is incomplete. I will be updating it in the coming days as I have more time to gather resources and check them out myself. Feel free to suggest any additions and I will add them to the list.
**Trigger warning that a lot of these books will have a lot of graphic/violent content. Be aware of that.
The Impossible Revolution - by Yassin al-Haj Saleh
Assad or We burn down the Country - by Sam Dagher
Burning Country - by Leila Al-Shami and Robin Yassin-Kassab
The Shell - by Mostafa Khalifa
The Book Collector of Darya - by Delphine Minoui
Just Five Minutes Nine Years in The Prisons of Syria - by Heba Dabbagh
A Woman in the Crossfire - by Samar Yazbek,
As long as the Lemon Trees Grow - by Zoulfa Katouh
The Next New Syrian Girl - by Ream Shukairy
People/Accounts to Check Out on Instagram
These are either accounts that share educational resources on Syria, Syrian voices speaking about their experiences, or Syrian journalists on the ground
***some of these only make videos in Arabic. I am sharing those for any Arabic speakers.
Omar Alshogre - Syrian human rights activist. He was arrested by the regime and even held at Saydnaya prison. He shares his experience in Assad’s torture prisons (makes videos in Arabic and English)
Hadi Abdullah - Syrian journalist on the grounds (only makes videos in Arabic)
Jamel Alhasan - another Syrian journalist on the grounds (also only makes videos in Arabic)
For live news on Syria, I would check Al Jazeera as it has pretty good covering on this particular conflict.
Sadly, most books you will find on Syria are the ones about the civil war or the refugee crisis as it is the most significant event in recent Syrian history. It is hard to find books about Syrian culture in general, especially translated in English. I will add anything I can find.
blakekathryn
dededos
areudirty
ellievsbear
origamiaround
vaporwave
discoholicmusic
izzy806
jbbartram-illu
annaxmalina
stormborns
