Last week, we shared 5 1/2 books from Christian-Muslim Studies post-9/11. This week, we look at some non-academic fare. Below is a sampling of five contributions to Christian-Muslim Studies from novels and popular literature.
1) Baghdad Eucharist by Sinan Antoon (2017) A Catholic family navigates inter-generational conflict heightened by memories of an Iraq where peace seemed more promising.The story is set in a single day in Baghdad and offers a vivid picture of the struggle for life faced by all faiths in wartime. This book was originally published in Arabic as يا مريم Ya Maryam.
2) The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (2003) The Kite Runner draws the reader from a religiously diverse childhood in rural Afghanistan, to the Soviet invasion, and through the struggles and opportunities of emigration to the United States. On 11 September, 2001, planes in the sky end the novel but hint at a new chapter in Afghan history.
3) Guests of the Sheikh by Elizabeth Warnock Fernea (1965) Ms Fernea and her husband, an American anthropologist, spend two years in a Shiite village in Iraq. From friendship to misunderstanding and back again, Fernea paints a picture from the Muslim-majority world with a continuous and lively commentary on a story of profoundly personal interfaith engagement.
4) The Last Supper by Klaus Wivel (2016) Klaus Wivel offers a journalistic telling of the modern Middle East. Mr Wivel describes the ongoing struggle of Christian-Muslim relations in the cradle of both faiths.
5) White Teeth by Zadie Smith (2000) This novel plunges into the personal lives of modern-day London. Ms White Teeth tells the story of Britain’s postcolonial relationships with the Commonwealth, through a diverse host of characters.
Please comment below if we have missed any favourites, or let us know if you were surprised by anything new on this list.