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There are a couple reasons I am excited for this month’s book club selection: All Strangers are Kin. To start, the author of All Strangers are Kin is local to Astoria, Queens here in New York City where I live. When I went to my favorite local bookshop, Astoria Bookshop, and randomly selected this book I was pleasantly surprised to learn the author lives just a few blocks from me.
As someone in the throes of working on her very first book, I found some sort of solace in the fact that a local author published a travel memoir and that it is being sold locally. The other reason I was drawn to this book is because it deals with the Arabic world. It’s no surprise that Arabic countries get bad press these days. Travelers have become wary of traveling to Arabic-speaking destinations while many people (Americans in particular) can be quick to write off an entire population of people because of the actions of few.
I once read that travel is our biggest defense against bigotry, racism and sexism. It’s through travel that we open our eyes, step into other cultures and reach across boundaries to understand one another. At a time when people (especially in the United States) are becoming increasingly polarized; I think it’s crucial to remember that regardless of religion, ethnicity or appearance we are all connected as a human race.
When I spotted Zora’s book, I was excited to select a novel that explored travel in the Arabic world and the nuances of Arabic culture-from language to cuisine. My hope in choosing this book-especially for any readers who have not yet traveled to Arabic or Muslim countries-is that Zora’s writing shines light on this culture, challenges fears and brings us all just a little bit closer together.
Enjoy this month’s book club selection and see you back here on October 1st to discuss the book!
