• Munif, Abdelrahman. 1987. Cities of Salt. Vintage: New York

We will plan to discuss the first half or so of the book on Tuesday and the second half for Thursday. As you read think about how the landscape serves not just as the backdrop for the actions of the various characters. In what ways does it become itself a character whose transformations are central to the development of the narrative and its commentary?

This NYT article about being young and Arab in Dubai speaks directly to many of the themes that Munif raises in his novle about early 20th century Saudi Arabia.