Lead:
Palestinian novelist Marwan Abdel Aal has released his ninth novel, "Ashira… and in Another Story" (Dar Al-Farabi, 2026), tracing Palestinian displacement from the Nakba through the Gaza war via a female protagonist who embodies an ancient goddess and carries the memory of dispossession and keys to return.
Top Stories:
Marwan Abdel Aal's ninth novel — Abdel Aal weaves myth and reality in "Ashira… and in Another Story," centering a Palestinian woman who resists erasure through knowledge and hope, chronicling uprooting, refuge, and resistance across generations. The work explores how literature preserves collective memory against historical loss.Syrian nationality reform sparks debate — Syria's new authorities have reopened discussion on granting Syrian mothers the right to pass citizenship to their children, an issue affecting thousands of women married to foreign nationals. Activists warn the proposal risks conditioning children's rights on paternity and political affiliation rather than recognizing mothers' citizenship equality.Ugarit Dandash explores war's psychological aftermath — In her novel "We Do Not Return from War" (Al-Farabi), Dandash examines a former fighter who physically survives conflict but remains psychologically unable to return to civilian life, serving as guardian of his village cemetery. The work interrogates how political allegiance complicates individual conscience and the impossibility of genuine homecoming.Fadel Shaker resumes performances across Gulf — Singer Fadel Shaker performed in Riyadh after a thirteen-year absence, followed by concerts in Qatar's Katara Theatre, where he performed alongside his son Muhammad and guest artists including Yara and Turkish oud player Aitash Junior. Shaker expressed gratitude to Qatar's leadership for enabling his artistic return.Lebanese visual art pioneers exhibited in Bikfaya — A retrospective titled "A Century and Three Visions" runs through November 20 in Bikfaya, gathering works by three Lebanese modernist sculptors and painters: Shafiq Abboud, Paul Guiragossian, and Eli Kanaan. The exhibition traces three distinct artistic visions that shaped Lebanese modernism while preserving individual expression.Egyptian actor Mohamed Ramadan escalates rivalry — Ramadan and Ahmed El-Awadi traded sharp verbal exchanges on social media ahead of Ramadan 2027 television season, with Ramadan promoting his series "Eshmawi" and a new song that dominated trending topics. The dispute marked a return to classic celebrity competition, moving from screen competition to online confrontation.Coming Up:
A writing workshop titled "Amnesia" convenes November 17 at Marbuta Library in Beirut, inviting participants to explore memory and forgetting through collaborative writing exercises rooted in personal narrative and recollection.