A Country Called AmreekaWhat does American history look and feel like in the eyes and skin of Arab Americans? In A Country Called Amreeka:  Arab Roots, American Stories (Free Press; October 6, 2009; $25.00), Syrian-American civil right lawyer Alia Malek weaves the stories of the Arab-American community (3.5 million strong) into the story of America, using lively and moving narratives of real people who have lived history all around the country.  Just as the recent award-winning National Geographic Entertainment film AMREEKA, by Cherien Dabis, blazed new ground in its depiction of a mother and son from the West Bank trying to assimilate in America, Alia Malek’s In A Country Called Amreeka brings to captivating life true stories of a wide variety of Arab Americans navigating the divide between their original heritage and their new world in the United States.

Novelist Orhan PamukOrhan Pamuk in conversation with Reza Aslan is a rare treat indeed for Los Angeles. Orhan Pamuk is one of Turkey's most prominent novelists. He also the Robert Yik-Fong Tam Orhan Pamuk Professor in the Humanities at Columbia University, where he teaches comparative literature and writing. His work has sold over seven million books in more than fifty languages, making him the country's best-selling writer.

with Drs. Nubar Hovsepian and Gabriel PiterbergThis program intends to encourage intellectual discussion surrounding the history and present political landscape in which Palestinians, Israelis and Lebanese find themselves, in the context of the nation-state, "peace," "war," "justice" and other such terms often bandied about in the mainstream media without the time to closely analyze just what is meant. In a progressive yet playful spirit, professors Hovsepian and Piterberg examine the region and open the conversation to your questions and comments.

7:00 pm social
7:30 presentations
8:30 moderated Q & A
9:00 pm book signing & close of event

Levantine BookGroup Relaunches With The Lemon Tree, Snow, and We Look Like the Enemy

The Lemon Tree Recounts Personal Stories of Palestinians and IsraelisOn the first Wednesday of each month, from 7:30-9:30 pm, starting on October 7th with The Lemon Tree by Sandy Tolan, the Levantine BookGroup resumes as the only progressive Middle East book group in Southern California.

With meetings free to the public at Levantine Cultural Center and discounted books available at the Levantine bookshop, the new Levantine BookGroup returns from its early roots as a staple of the center. This book group offers the opportunity to discuss books written by authors of Middle Eastern origin or writing about Middle Eastern cultures and societies. Non-fiction and fiction will alternatively be selected to cover the rich literary production emanating from or about this region.

8th Annual West Hollywood Book FairLevantine Cultural Center will be participating in the 8th annual West Hollywood Book Fair, Sunday October 4th, 2009 with a booth featuring authors and musicians/peformers, and a panel discussion with Tamim Ansary and Reza Aslan. Directions/map.

For the past seven years, this event has attracted many avid readers and book enthusiasts alike. Over 400 authors and artists will be in attendance during the 2009 edition of the WeHo Book Fair, with some 100 discussion panels, book signings, writing workshops, poetry readings, storytelling and theatre. As ever, there will be a children’s area to entertain kids.

Come visit the Levantine Cultural Center’s booth (# E47-48, located in “The Field”), where we will have a comfortable lounge area to relax in, interesting books, CDs and DVDs available for purchase and some free goodies for those who come by. We will also be hosting a number of book/CD/DVD signings with authors and musicians:

8th Annual West Hollywood Book FairSee event photos below.

Levantine Cultural Center participated in the 8th annual West Hollywood Book Fair, Sunday October 4th, 2009 with a booth featuring authors and musicians/peformers, and a panel discussion with Tamim Ansary and Reza Aslan.

For the past seven years, this event has attracted many avid readers and book enthusiasts alike. Over 400 authors and artists will be in attendance during the 2009 edition of the WeHo Book Fair, with some 100 discussion panels, book signings, writing workshops, poetry readings, storytelling and theatre. As ever, there will be a children’s area to entertain kids.

Come visit the Levantine Cultural Center’s booth (# E47-48, located in “The Field”), where we will have a comfortable lounge area to relax in, interesting books, CDs and DVDs available for purchase and some free goodies for those who come by. We will also be hosting a number of book/CD/DVD signings with authors and musicians:

Khaled HosseiniKhaled Hosseini's bestselling novels The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, have transformed the understanding of Afghanistan and its history for millions of readers. His riveting and heart-wrenching tales capture everyday Afghans' struggles to raise families and find happiness while facing violent political upheavals, devastating wars and entrenched inequity.

Born in Kabul in 1965, Hosseini's family sought political asylum in the United States in 1980 during the Soviet invasion. This much-loved author discusses his life, work and insights on Afghanistan's people and future. Visit Khaled Hosseini's web site. Read his blog page.

Get tix for Sept. 30.

 

Levantine Cultural Center in association with The Writing Studio^TM offers ongoing classes in creative writing, autobiography, memoir and fiction, with Elana Golden.

Every Saturday except the 4th Saturday in the month

CLASS CAN BE JOINED AT ANY TIME, SIGN UP FOR A SET OF FOUR CLASSES.
2:15 - 5:15 PM

At Levantine Cultural Center, 5998 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90035
$120 for four (4) consecutive classes paid in advance
Suitable for new and experienced writers - limited to 10 participants

In each class, participants write and read in the group in an atmosphere of respect and artistic passion. The skills of creative writing are taught and explored, as well as methods to put aside the critical mind and free the writer's personal voice.

Levantine Cultural Center in association with The Writing Studio^TM offers ongoing classes in creative writing, autobiography, memoir and fiction, with Elana Golden.

Every Saturday except the 4th Saturday in the month

Beginning Saturday, September 12th, 2009
2:15 - 5:15 PM

At Levantine Cultural Center, 5998 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90035
$120 for four (4) consecutive classes paid in advance
Suitable for new and experienced writers - limited to 10 participants

In each class, participants write and read in the group in an atmosphere of respect and artistic passion. The skills of creative writing are taught and explored, as well as methods to put aside the critical mind and free the writer's personal voice.

An assignment exploring a topic such as childhood, immigration, relationships, sexuality, prejudice, war, addiction, financial crisis, grief and hope is presented in each class. World myths, and music, painting and literature of the great masters are used to inspire the work. The classes are cathartic, educational, transformational and fun.

Levantine newsletter of August 1, 2009