If you enjoy reading books by Elias Khoury then you might also like the following authors:
Mahmoud Darwish is one of the most important Palestinian poets, celebrated for the lyrical beauty of his works and deep reflections on identity, exile, and belonging. His poetry captures the struggles, dreams, and experiences of Palestinians.
A great example is his collection Memory for Forgetfulness, where he explores memory, history, and the sorrow of displacement with powerful simplicity.
Ghassan Kanafani was a Palestinian writer known for stories filled with realism, compassion, and political insight. He vividly portrayed the daily lives and realities faced by Palestinians, often highlighting themes of displacement, injustice, and struggle against occupation.
One of his most influential works is Men in the Sun, a moving novella about Palestinian refugees in search of hope and survival.
Naguib Mahfouz was an Egyptian novelist admired for his rich storytelling, deep humanism, and his insightful depiction of Egypt's urban life and social transformations.
His characters are relatable and authentic, often revealing the tensions and complexities of everyday existence. His novel Palace Walk, the first in the Cairo Trilogy, beautifully captures family dynamics and cultural shifts in early 20th-century Cairo.
Edward Said was a Palestinian-American scholar whose writings helped shape our understanding of cultural representation, identity, and the impact of colonialism. He wrote with clarity and intellectual rigor, always deeply concerned with justice and the Palestinian experience.
His book Orientalism is essential reading, examining how Western culture has represented—and misrepresented—the Middle East.
Adonis is a Syrian poet celebrated for his imaginative, innovative verse and bold intellectual style. His poetry challenges traditional perspectives and engages deeply with themes of identity, exile, and sweeping political changes in the Arab world.
His collection Songs of Mihyar the Damascene is seen as groundbreaking, combining myth, history, and personal reflection into striking poetry.
Hanan al-Shaykh is a Lebanese author known for her honest storytelling that explores women's lives and the complexities of Middle Eastern society.
Her novel The Story of Zahra examines the struggles of a young woman's personal identity against the backdrop of Lebanon's civil war. Readers who appreciate Elias Khoury's sensitive portrayal of human struggles and social realities will find al-Shaykh's work captivating.
Rawi Hage's writing combines gritty realism with vivid prose, often tackling themes of displacement, identity, and the immigrant experience. His novel De Niro's Game portrays two friends trying to survive the violence and chaos of civil-war-era Beirut.
If you're drawn to Elias Khoury's layered characters and urban narratives shaped by conflict, you'll likely connect with Hage's powerful storytelling.
Hisham Matar writes with graceful clarity, combining compelling personal narratives with broader political realities. His memoir The Return centers on his return to Libya in search of answers about his missing father amidst the country's turbulent history.
Matar shares with Elias Khoury a thoughtful exploration of personal and national histories woven together.
Ahdaf Soueif is an Egyptian author whose fiction thoughtfully addresses cross-cultural relationships, identity, and political tensions. Her novel The Map of Love weaves romance and history through the stories of two women discovering family secrets and cultural ties.
Like Elias Khoury, Soueif guides readers through human narratives that reveal deeper social and historical layers.
Tayeb Salih, the Sudanese author, is best known for illustrating themes of cultural conflicts, colonialism, and the search for identity.
His novel Season of Migration to the North portrays a man's struggle with identity after returning home from Europe, highlighting post-colonial tensions and personal dilemmas.
Those who appreciate Elias Khoury's reflections on identity, exile, and cultural clashes will find Salih's writing thought-provoking and memorable.
Amin Maalouf often writes stories that blend historical moments with personal journeys, touching on questions of identity, cultural intersections, and belonging. His engaging narrative style makes complex histories accessible and relatable.
A great example is Leo Africanus, which follows the rich life of Hasan al-Wazzan, a traveler and scholar crossing continents and cultures during the Renaissance period.
Rabih Alameddine is noted for his sharp wit and thoughtful insights into issues of alienation and cultural identity. His novels move fluidly between humor and seriousness, embracing characters who sit comfortably outside of traditional norms.
His book, An Unnecessary Woman, provides a touching portrait of Aaliya, a reclusive translator in Beirut, who navigates solitude, literature, and survival in a troubled city.
Emile Habibi skillfully combines humor, irony, and political commentary to portray complicated Palestinian realities. His writing balances playfulness with deep, thought-provoking observation on identity and the absurdities of daily life under occupation.
His novel The Secret Life of Saeed: The Pessoptimist shows the ironic adventures of a character who, struggling to balance optimism and pessimism, exposes the contradictions of his political experience.
Samar Yazbek writes brave, honest portrayals of conflict and the toll it takes on human lives, especially women's. Her style merges literary expression with eyewitness testimony, providing deeply humane accounts of Syrian experiences.
In A Woman in the Crossfire, Yazbek shares her personal accounts of witnessing the early months of Syria’s civil war, exposing courage amidst tragedy.
Sonallah Ibrahim employs a minimalist, straightforward style that criticizes social and political injustices in Egyptian society. His narratives often highlight corruption and stagnation through humor, irony, and quiet storytelling.
In The Committee, a satirical novel, Ibrahim tells of a man facing absurd bureaucratic obstacles, effectively capturing the frustrating relationship between individuals and powerful systems.