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Published by She Writes Press
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About The Book
Set against the backdrop of the early American presence in Iran under the Shah, and the burgeoning years of Kuwait’s early oil boom, Dancing into the Light is Kathryn Abdul-Baki’s memoir of growing up within both the expatriate Western communities and the larger Middle Eastern society of Kuwait and Jerusalem. Hers is a story of belonging to two vastly different cultures and finding her place within both, and the search to find the inherent harmony in worlds at odds with each other. She is already caught in both the joys of and the struggle to be both Arab and American, yet not fully either, when her young life of promise is disrupted by tragedy. But instead of derailing her life, her mother’s death opens the door to deeper love and support from other places within Kathryn’s family.
Dancing into the Light is a story of love, loss, and renewal, and of overcoming devastating early trauma through music, dancing, and the love and devotion of strong American and Arab women.
Dancing into the Light is a story of love, loss, and renewal, and of overcoming devastating early trauma through music, dancing, and the love and devotion of strong American and Arab women.
Product Details
- Publisher: She Writes Press (September 5, 2023)
- Length: 336 pages
- ISBN13: 9781647425388
Raves and Reviews
2023 Sarton Awards Shortlist: Memoir
Silver Medal from Nonfiction Authors Association
“This eloquently composed remembrance has a musical lilt and emotionality, and it effectively relates the joys, fears, and tragedies the author experienced during a youth spent learning to navigate two cultures. . . . filled with detailed descriptions of Arab food and dress, and of the warmth and closeness of family connections, while offering an intriguing view of expatriate life. A well-composed, poignant reflection on an international childhood.”
—Kirkus Reviews
PAST PRAISE FOR THE AUTHOR:
For A MARRIAGE IN FOUR SEASONS:
“An often beautifully written work that lays its characters low with grief and lifts them high with the bliss of travel.”
— Kirkus Reviews
“The drama, serene Spain setting, and complicated family relations make A Marriage in Four Seasons a must-read.”
—Bookbub
For FIELDS OF FIG AND OLIVE:
“It is difficult to heap enough praise on this author for her astonishingly vivid depictions of landscape and her ability to evoke spirit of place.”
—Seattle Times
“The skillful and realistic presentation of characters…along with other narrative techniques, contributes to making her collection one of the most successful of its kind.”
—World Literature Today
“She has been blessed with the ability to make foreignness familiar.”
—Chicago Sun Times
“Her politics are feminist, her theme is human ethics, and her writing is finely honed.”
—Ms. Magazine
“She challenges Western ways of thinking about the nature and behavior of Arab women and men.”
—The Trenton Times
For TOWER OF DREAMS:
“She shines in her ability to penetrate the psyche of young Arab women.”
—Seattle Times
For GHOST SONGS:
“A tranquil and beautiful novel.”
—Philadelphia City Paper
“She presents Arab culture in narratives of exquisite technique, deep insights, and beautiful English. It bids fair to establish her as an Arab-American fiction writer worthy of wide recognition.”
—World Literature Today
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): Dancing into the Light eBook 9781647425388
