Items related to Once in a Promised Land: A Novel
Synopsis
A BookSense Notable Title for February 2007
Once in a Promised Land is the story of a couple, Jassim and Salwa, who left the deserts of their native Jordan for those of Arizona, each chasing their own dreams of opportunity and freedom. Although the two live far from Ground Zero, they cannot escape the nationwide fallout from 9/11. Jassim, a hydrologist, believes passionately in his mission to keep the water tables from dropping and make water accessible to all people, but his work is threatened by an FBI witch hunt for domestic terrorists. Salwa, a Palestinian now twice displaced, grappling to put down roots in an inhospitable climate, becomes pregnant against her husband's wishes and then loses the baby. When Jassim kills a teenage boy in a terrible accident and Salwa becomes hopelessly entangled with a shady young American, their tenuous lives in exile and their fragile marriage begin to unravel . This intimate account of two parallel lives is an achingly honest look at what it means to straddle cultures, to be viewed with suspicion, and to struggle to find save haven.
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About the Author
Laila Halaby was born in Beirut, Lebanon, to a Jordanian father and an American mother. She speaks four languages, won a Fulbright scholarship to study folklore in Jordan, and holds a master's degree in Arabic literature. Her first novel, West of the Jordan, won the prestigious PEN Beyond Margins Award. She lives in Tucson, Arizona, with her family. Visit www.lailahalaby.net for more information on Laila Halaby and her work.
Review
Laila Halaby is a deeply gifted writer. She describes complicated, culture-spanning lives in a poetic prose that is clean and compelling. There is no glossing over pain here, but the power of telling—richly human voices and the redemption of honesty.—Naomi Shihab Nye
"Once in a Promised Land is an intricate braid of secrets, some intimate, some the brutal and nasty ones abroad these days in a land whose promise and promises have been shattered by suspicion and hostility. Laila Halaby, who still dares to dream of an intact culture, has written a forceful novel that catches innocence and the hope for wholeness in the web of its complex plot and squeezes them until they bleed." —Rosellen Brown, author of Before and After
"Set in the early days of post-September 11th America, Once in a Promised Land draws its structure from Arabian folklore and the western fairy tale, turning both inside out to illuminate the mythic search for home and identity, the universal hunger of the soul for the genuine, and the wounding yet redemptive nature of love itself. In this timely and utterly original novel, Laila Halaby has crafted a deeply resonant tale of out tangle and common humanity.—Andre Dubus III
"Once in a Promised Land uses the novel form to bring to life the roots of prejudice and cultural differences, making it a top pick for readers seeking something with more depth than your usual novel."—Diane C. Donovan, Midwest Book Review
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- PublisherBeacon Press
- Publication date2007
- ISBN 10 0807083909
- ISBN 13 9780807083901
- BindingHardcover
- Edition number1
- Number of pages352
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Once in a Promised Land : A Novel
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Once in a Promised Land : A Novel
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Hardcover. Condition: Good. A BookSense Notable Title for February 2007Once in a Promised Land is the story of a couple, Jassim and Salwa, who left the deserts of their native Jordan for those of Arizona, each chasing their own dreams of opportunity and freedom. Although the two live far from Ground Zero, they cannot escape the nationwide fallout from 9/11. Jassim, a hydrologist, believes passionately in his mission to keep the water tables from dropping and make water accessible to all people, but his work is threatened by an FBI witch hunt for domestic terrorists. Salwa, a Palestinian now twice displaced, grappling to put down roots in an inhospitable climate, becomes pregnant against her husband\'s wishes and then loses the baby. When Jassim kills a teenage boy in a terrible accident and Salwa becomes hopelessly entangled with a shady young American, their tenuous lives in exile and their fragile marriage begin to unravel . This intimate account of two parallel lives is an achingly honest look at what it means to straddle cultures, to be viewed with suspicion, and to struggle to find save haven. Seller Inventory # AMPLE0807083909
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Once in a Promised Land
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Paper-covered Boards. Condition: As New. Dust Jacket Condition: As New. First Edition. A story of Jordanian immigrants in Arizona, blending fairy tales and Arabian folklore, set immediately post September 11. INSCRIBED and DATED by author on title page. ALL DUST JACKETS ARE PROTECTED IN PLASTIC SLEEVES. Inscribed by Author(s). Seller Inventory # 002710
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Hardcover. Condition: Good (ex-library). Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. Hardcover. 338 pages. *** PUBLISHING DETAILS: Beacon Press, USA, 2007. *** CONDITION: The book itself is in good (ex-library) condition and comes in near fine dust jacket. More specifically: Text and spine/cover marked with Library stamps, in all other respects in very good condition throughout. Boards have no wear, rubbing or soiling. Spine has minor lean. Edges of dust jacket have light bumping. Dust jacket is unclipped. Dust jacket is protected in clear, plastic sleeve. *** ABOUT THIS BOOK: "Once in a Promised Land" is the story of a couple, Jassim and Salwa, who left the deserts of their native Jordan for those of Arizona, each chasing their own dreams of opportunity and freedom. Although the two live far from Ground Zero, they cannot escape the nationwide fallout from 9/11. Jassim, a hydrologist, believes passionately in his mission to keep the water tables from dropping and make water accessible to all people, but his work is threatened by an FBI witch hunt for domestic terrorists. Salwa, a Palestinian now twice displaced, grappling to put down roots in an inhospitable climate, becomes pregnant against her husband's wishes and then loses the baby. When Jassim kills a teenage boy in a terrible accident and Salwa becomes hopelessly entangled with a shady young American, their tenuous lives in exile and their fragile marriage begin to unravel . This intimate account of two parallel lives is an achingly honest look at what it means to straddle cultures, to be viewed with suspicion, and to struggle to find save haven. *** Quantity Available: 1. Category: Fiction; General; ISBN: 0807083909. ISBN/EAN: 9780807083901. Inventory No: 19070174. Seller Inventory # 19070174
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