Aug 8th: Launch of Alia Yunis' The Night Counter
Cover of The Night Counter
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Saturday, August 8, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
California Building Gallery
2205 California Street NE
Minneapolis, MN
[Directions]
612-788-6920
$5 includes reception and book signing
ABOUT THE BOOK
An enchanting debut that asks, Which stories would you tell, if you only had nine days left to tell them?
Fatima Abdullah has been alive 85 long years, and she knows when her time will come. In fact, it should come just nine days from tonight, the 992nd nightly visit of the beautiful and immortal Scheherazade.
Each night, Fatima has told Scheherazade her life stories, all the while knowing that on the 1001st night, her storytelling will end forever. But between tonight and night 1001, Fatima has a few loose ends to tie up. She must find a wife for her openly gay grandson, teach Arabic (and birth control) to her 17-year-old great-granddaughter, make amends with her estranged husband, and decide which of her troublesome children should inherit her family's home in Lebanon--a house she herself has not seen in nearly 70 years. All this while under the surveillance of two bumbling FBI agents eager to uncover Al Qaeda in L.A.
In a debut that charms and bewitches, Alia Yunis unravels four generations of Abdullah family secrets with a great sense of comic timing and a deft touch of magical realism. Touching on the histories of both the United States and the Middle East over the last one hundred years, this is the heart-warming story of a family just as crazy as yours.
Thank you for your generosity in supporting Mizna, a Minneapolis-based Arab American cultural organization with a mission to celebrate expression and diversity in the Arab community!
Mizna was formed in 1998 and has done much work to promote Arab American artistic expression since that time. We publish a nationally recognized literary journal, and have presented several well-attended community arts events as well.
We do all of this work as a volunteer-run, non-profit organization that survives on grants and donations. Your donation will greatly help us to continue our important mission. Mizna is a 501(c)(3) organization and donations are deductible for U.S. taxpayers. Learn more or donate now.
FEATURED STORIES
 Beginning February 1, Mizna will be offering three classes in spoken and written Arabic: Arabic I, II, and III. The classes will take place in the Mizna office in Northeast Minneapolis with instructors Antoine Mefleh and Sondes Douzi Wooldridge. MORE >> |  |
 Mizna is partnering with the Loft Literary Center to present a spoken word performance by Remi Kanazi as part of the Loft's Equilibrium series. Remi is an amazing Palestinian American spoken word artist, and his performance on Saturday, December 3 is not to be missed! Also, the following day, Remi will be leading a spoken word workshop. Lunch will be provided and there will be an optional sharing of work. Space is limited, so sign up for the workshop today: mizna@mizna.org or 612-788-6920. The workshop is co-presented by Mizna, the Loft, and the Twin Cities chapter of the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (IJAN). MORE >> | |
 Mizna, a journal of Arab-American literature, is seeking original writing for our upcoming publication, with a focus on the so-called "Arab Spring." We welcome journal entries and writing from the ground, poetry, short stories, personal essays, theatrical pieces, creative non-fiction, and reflections from abroad and at home on any aspect of the theme of revolutions and uprisings, and the ensuing backlashes and military incursions. Submission deadline has been extended: September 9, 2011
MORE >> |
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About Mizna
Mizna's award-winning journal, published since 1999, continues to be the singular journal of Arab American literature in the United States.
Mizna has been honored to present the annual Twin Cities Arab Film festival in Minnesota since 2003 and has hosted some of the most talented Arab American artists in the visual arts, on stage, in music, and in film—including Simon Shaheen, Suheir Hammad, Hakim Belabbes, Nadia El Fani, Jack Shaheen, Raed Al Helou, Mai Masri, the Iron Sheik, Elias Khoury and others.
In 2004, we opened our Mizna Center, which has given us a physical home to hold meetings, classes, and events.
Learn more about Mizna, subscribe to our journal, or join our e-mail list below today! 
RECENT ADDITIONS
 | Events: Arabic classes, beginning in February! (January 4th, 2012) | | Events: Remi Kanazi: Performance & Workshop (November 16th, 2011) | | Events: 7th Twin Cities Arab Film Festival (October 13th, 2011) | | Events: Zafira the Olive Oil Warrior (September 9th, 2011) | | Events: Perspectives on Borders and Occupation (August 25th, 2011) | | Events: Registration closed for Arabic classes, beginning in September! (July 5th, 2011) | | Events: "Food and Fadwa" workshops July 28 to 31 (June 20th, 2011) | | Events: Journal Release Party, Saturday, July 9 (June 19th, 2011) |
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