Sept Lectures D’automne pour le Monde D’aujourd’hui, Choisies par la Librairie Maktaba

For this guide, we initially set out to curate a list of fall reads and new releases, perfect for gift-giving or perusing as the weather gets colder. We asked Sundus Abdul Hadi, multimedia artist, author, and founder of Old Montreal’s Maktaba Bookshop, for her recommendations. From there, Sundus transformed our request into a multi-dimensional TBR.

Ranging from a look into a seventh century BCE library and an account from a Palestinian writer in an Israeli prison to a meditation on plants, soil, gardening, and time and a Beirut-based magazine, this list of seven reads challenges the idea of a “seasonal read,” pushing us to slow down, look past the calendar, and reckon with the histories, cultures, and quiet moments that have shaped how we arrived at this one.

Sundus explains it best: “Although we don’t generally focus on new releases at Maktaba, we do stay relevant with the times. Each book here reflects something we are collectively experiencing and a reminder of the bigger picture.”

A Mask, the Colour of the Sky

“This rich and layered novel is written entirely by Palestinian writer Basem Khandakiji during his time in Israeli prison. I chose this book because it’s important to uplift the voices and stories of political prisoners.”

Journal Safar Issue #9: Protests

“This Beirut-based, Montreal-affiliated annual magazine covers visual culture from the Arab world and beyond. Magazines are truly a labour of love, and an archive of time.”