Friday, August 7, 2020

A Lantern in the Shade: An Arab-American Historical Fiction Novel of Love, Family and Self-Discovery

 



If there is one thing about me that my readers know about me is that I love to travel the world, see new places and meet the wonderful people who represent their different cultures. I have traveled over the years to  thirty-eight countries and have loved every minute of it. With that said, my travel days halted on March 13, 2020 when a "Stay at Home" order was mandated with the outbreak of COVID-19. I had a cruise planned, a 21-Day through the  Panama Canal to celebrate my husband's retirement, which sadly to say, was cancelled. Now what? That's the beauty of reading. A fantastic novel, well-written, can transport me anywhere into the world and allows me to visit the countries, meet the people, and get a glimpse into their culture. I love that about reading. Today's book by Jacob Nader, "A Lantern in the Shade: An Arab-American Historical Fiction Novel of Love, Family, and Self-Discovery," is one of those novels. Thank you Jacob for allowing me to travel in my mind as I read your glorious book.  Take a look at it.

 

A Lantern in the Shade: An Arab-American Historical Fiction Novel of Love, Family and Self-Discovery  – July 26, 2020

by Jacob Nader  (Author)

 

An Arab-American Historical Fiction Novel of Love, Family and Self-Discovery.

“I really enjoyed reading this book, it made me feel heard in some ways, most of the topics he talked about felt very real and hit home, and he did a wonderful job shining the light on important [Middle East and Arab] regional topics. I teared up at the end of it." – Reader Review

A Lantern in the Shade is an epic historical fiction saga that draws on a blend of Middle Eastern cultures and poignant, dramatic prose to tell the story of an Arab immigrant family's quest for truth and honor –– offering a unique perspective that heralds the rich and vibrant history of the Middle East, while unveiling oppressive challenges some marginalized communities face in their day-to-day lives, including the struggles for women’s rights and LGBTQ acceptance.

Nour is a young Arab woman with a coming of age story desperate to be told –– she is faced with the impossible task of reconciling with her father’s heavily-guarded secrets and her mother’s deteriorating mental health. She struggles to prevent her own dreams from falling by the wayside, as she fights to hold her family together.

Years later, Nour’s son Jacob takes a harrowing journey to Saudi Arabia, fraught with peril and wonder, to be closer to his family’s homeland -- yearning to uncover lost details about his mother's life. Should Jacob succeed, he will finally achieve his life-long aspiration to honor his mother's dreams and shed light on their family’s deepest-held mysteries. But if he fails, he might just become a lost soul consumed by the sinking sands of the Arabian Desert…



Reader Reviews

“I truly enjoyed reading this book, it made me feel heard in some ways, most of the topics he talked about felt very real and hit home, and he did a wonderful job shining the light on important [Middle East and Arab] regional topics. I teared up at the end of it."

This book is a game-changer. Nader's writing is transporting - offering his readers a warm & engaging glimpse into a world they may have never entered before while introducing a deeply engaging & relatable family of characters. There is a magical charm that pervades his writing, as he guides us from the past to the present, from deep comfort & familiarity to heart-pounding seduction and danger. Would be great for book clubs. Definitely a must-read!

Product Details

·  Paperback: 374 pages

·  Publisher: Independently published (July 26, 2020)

·  Language: English

·  ISBN-13: 979-8644467372

·  ASIN: B08DG1G6TB

·  Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.9 x 9 inches

 


Jacob Nader is an author and visual artist. He wrote his debut novel, A Lantern in the Shade, while living in Saudi Arabia. Jacob hopes his writing sheds light on people from the Middle East, while dispelling the myths and misconceptions around their history and way of life and introduces his readers to their many rich and vibrant cultures. Jacob was born in Cleveland, Ohio, to a Syrian/Lebanese-American mother and Italian-American father. He now lives in New York City and has plans to write his second novel.